ORIGINAL: R.S.B.
ORIGINAL: M.Hensler/PA
I hate to get into this whole debate over QDM, overall, I believe the intentions are good, but license allocation (in SOME WMUs) was overboard. I, for one, live and hunt in 2G, and can attest to the drastic decline in the deer population in the past 3 years in particular. It's obvious the PGC is aware of this due to the drastic decrease in license allocation, so let's hope we start to see a turn around in 2G.
Actually there is has not been an increase in the antlerless allocations for unit 2G or the north central part of the state.
I will post the five average antlerless license allocations since 1957 along with the allocations for unit 2G so you can see the real facts about the number of license allocated.
Years……………allocation per square mile of land mass
57-61…………………………8.08
62-66…………………………7.06
67-71………………………..11.73
72-76…………………………9.93
77-81………………………..12.18
82-86………………………..11.68
87-91………………………..16.47
92-96………………………..13.49
97-01………………………..12.83
2002…………………………18.06 (single year of data)
2003…………………………12.64 (first year of management units – data for unit 2G)
2004…………………………12.64
2005…………………………..7.05
2006…………………………..4.62
03-06………………………….9.24 (average 2G antlerless license allocation)
I will agree that it appears the deer numbers are once again on the increase in unit 2G this year. That is most likely the result of the past year’s low harvest, due to so few antlerless license, combined with the good mast crop and mild winter allowing for increased fawn recruitment this spring and summer.
But this is all off topic, so I will also post that it appears to me that antlerless license sales are right on par with what would be expected.
Ok, so maybe I worded that incorrectly...I meant in conjunction with the new extended two week concurrent season, specialy muzzleloader, youth hunts, etc. The majority of the data you provided were allocations when there was only a 3-day doe rifle season, late muzzleloader season, and archery of course. I'm not even blaming you guys over attempting to drive the deer herd into the ground, I simply am observing what I've experienced...I've grown up on that same 90 acres that I know like the back of my hand, as well as the 1200 acres at our cabin, and I can tell you there are drastically fewer deer. The cabin herd isn't as bad as my nearby land, and I do attribute that to my original point of allowing so many extended seasons and special seasons while maintaining the current allocations of previous years. Like I stated in another post, my neighbor in the first year of the two week rifle doe season shot 10-11 doe on their 100 acre tract. Considering it was post rut, that was even more detrimental on the local population.
But like I said, I'm not going to jump on the PGC witch hunt bandwagon, I'm just stating my opinion on my local area. I'm glad to see the decreased allocation.
P.S. My dad has been a HTE instructor for 20+ years, so again, you know where I'm coming from.