I guess not everyone has had the results that the USP members are having......

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/136-12102006-754096.html

Regulations getting rave reviews


The opinions poured in last week regarding the effect of antler restrictions
in Pennsylvania. As Mark Polatty of Salford put it, "You don't have to go to
Illinois or out west anymore to have a good chance at a nice buck."

Stephen Cloak, Chief Engineer Naval Air Systems Command stationed in
Maryland, returns to Tioga County every year to hunt. He summed up the last
few years by saying it is only getting better. "I hunted Monday, Tuesday and
(half) of Wednesday before returning home and saw 61 deer," Cloak wrote.

Joe Pano of Langhone said: "Though I've never been a fan of Gary, 'I'll
bring back the flora and fauna to PA no matter what the costs.' I have to
admit the antler restriction idea has been great. I have had tremendous
success over the last four years hunting the state game lands of north
central PA (Clearfield, Cameron and Elk counties). I took another 8-point
this year. Of the 7 guys in camp we took three 8-points and three of the
other four had a shot or opportunity at a legal buck."

That's just a sample of the overall rave reviews of the deer regulations now
in effect in the state. For the last several years many have shouted that
the Pennsylvania Game Commission is guilty of everything from stocking
wolves to mountain lions in their quest to kill all the deer in the
Commonwealth. Most of us laughed it off as the rants of the minority that
make the most noise.

As this deer season continues it is becoming more and more evident that the
regulations considered drastic and risky, and some said down right crazy,
are paying dividends to those who are venturing out of the parking lots and
into the field and deep woods.

I wanted some more proof of what many of us suspect so I visited East Coast
Taxidermy in Telford. Joe and Eric were only too happy to show me a mountain
of racks to be mounted. What they were really anxious to show was how many
were from the counties where the naysayers are saying the deer are all gone.

Pike, Wyoming, Clarion, Union, Bradford Potter, Tioga, Sullivan, Clearfield,
McKean, Wayne, Pike, Forest and most of the traditional "northern tier"
counties that are rapidly becoming a veritable hotbed for large bucks were
all represented. I hunted for years in Clarion County and never saw a buck
like the one I saw at East Coast. It was easily a 4-½ year old deer. We used
to joke that Clarion was good for does but if you wanted a buck it was a
matter of choosing the size of the spikes or "spatch."

Not all hunters had success in the northern counties. Many had great success
right here at home. Jim Stone of Yardley had a hunt that he and his sons
will never forget.

"Hunting in Bucks County, my son Cory (15) and his younger brother Sean (13)
both got their first bucks this year. Cory shot his buck at 7:30 on the
opening day. It was an 8-point with a 17-inch spread that dressed at 140
pounds. Then it was Sean's turn. On Tuesday at about 3:30 in the afternoon
he shot his buck. It was a 4-point that also dressed at 140 pounds. The
excited look on their faces was priceless. I've been hunting for 25 years
and have some fond memories, but none of them come close to this year.
Especially as a father waiting until they were old enough to hunt, and
having them not only get their first bucks but to get them the same year. I'
m so proud of them. This will be a year we will never forget," a very proud
Dad stated.

I'm proud of them, too. I'm hoping I have a similar story to share someday.

And this from Mark Arsenich of Upper Black Eddy. "I was lucky enough to
shoot the biggest 9 point buck of my life all because of my daughter's great
ears and eyesight in Upper Black Eddy. My daughter Julie who is 12 was
sitting with me in our stand and hoping to get a deer her first year
hunting. But at 7:30 a.m. opening day the big 9-pointer came crashing past
us and only I was able to get that one lucky shot off to bring down the
deer. She made me so proud and if it wasn't for her we might have come home
with nothing. It was a day we will both remember for the rest of our lives."