The PGC told the House Game and Fisheries Committee back in '98 or '99 when they last applied for and were granteda license increase, that said increase would last about5to 7 years and then the reserve fund would have to be tapped into. That time has come and gone.

Several months ago HG&FC chairman Bruce Smith claimed he was "blind sided" by the PGC's testimony that a license increase was needed. No idea why he was blind sided, since he was chairman when they last asked for an increase and told him it would need another increase in the next5to 7 years. Maybe he and the rest of the legislators were too busy working on their own pay increases and forgot about the game commission?

Now the Houseclaims there are too many questions concerning deer management to grant the needed license increase. Not sure what perceptions ofdeer management has to do with running the agency. Sounds to me like they're using the fuss about "no deer" to curry favor with those constituents who have complained,at the expense of granting the needed license increase.

Personnel costshave risen due to state employee contracts that the game commission has no control over; insurance costs have risen; the cost of vehicles, equipment, materialsand gasoline keepsincreasing.

DCNR secretary DeBerawhatis keeps saying they have no interest in a merger, so does Fast Eddie. Don' t knowif I believe them or not, but nothing has emerged from the adminstration to indicate they're lying.

All the other things I see mentioned here sound more like theignorant rantings of those that don't have a clue. Sorry.