The problem is,if you clearcut too much timber,you end up with browse that's out of the deer's reach within 15 years.Then you're back at square one until the trees begin producing mast which can take another 50 years.We simply can't cut too much because in most cases,we'll end with junk.The major point I'm trying to make is that so many people are belly-aching about the PGC getting a fee increase.Guys want more deer than the habitat can support and they expect the PGC to fix the habitat.unfortunately the PGC controls a very small percentage of the land.They can't fix the problems on private land and on state forests.Simply clearcutting the state is not the answer and it's something thePGC can't do anyway.I don't mean to direct this at you butI just hear it all the time and it isn't that simple to do.

I don't think the deer caused all of these habitat problems.I think they were a major cause but I think the manner in which it was cut was just as much to blame.What everyone needs to understand is that we're facing a much different situation today that we did 50 years ago.We have a maturing forest that definately slows regeneration.We have a lack of forest fires and very little understory that should be present in a healthy forest.Because of these conditions,the carrying capacity is much lower and it takes fewer deer to impact any regeneration.People also have to realize that hunters didn't kill all the deer.We had two brutal winters back to back in 2003 and 2004 with hardly any mast crop.Alot of deer died in the northern tier and fawn recruitment went down the drain.Once a doe loses 25% of her body weight,she'll most likely lose her fawns or actually reabsorb them.That's something most hunters never consider because they don't see it.That's a sign of poor habitat conditions and the first thing that's needs tdone is fixing the habitat.No one should be demanding more deer until that's fixed.

Most maples are very shade tolerant and hard maple is worth as much right now as red oak is.Black cherry is another speciesthat's worth alot of money but it's not a preferred browse species.If this was all about money,they'd be encouaging a black cherry forest to grow.it's easy to grow.the seeds can lay dormant in the soil for a decade and the deer generally leave it alone.This is about having a balanced ecosystem and right now,it's out of wack.