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01-29-2007 | 12:14 PM

#41

LineHog

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 14

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From:

RE: A Crack in the "Rock?"

Quote:

ORIGINAL: DougE

Most hunters have no idea how deer impact the habitat and most have no idea what good habitat should look like.I'd make a bet that the vast majority of hunters couldn't pick out preferred browse species and and identify non-preferred species.If hunters don't have this knowledge,they shouldn't have much of a say.It's as simple as that.There's many habitat tours accross the state each year and they illustrate exactly what impact the deer have on the habitat.I go on several each year and learn something new each time.I know of three tours this spring and I'll challenge anyone who disagrees with this deer management plan to come and prove that the PGC is wrong.Many baulk at these tours but we can never get any of the naysayers to show up.the evidence is out there that proves the need for herd reductions is real.Unfortunately,only a very small percentage of hunters ever make the effort to go out and see for themselves what's really happening.The UBP sponsors these tours every year and alot of their membership shows up.This organization has programs to get their membership involved with what's going on so they canhave informed opinions.When was the last time the USP offered a tour that shows exactly what's happening to the habitat?It's easier for them to make up wild accusations about montain lions and deer pawing trees.

DougE, I am quoting just the habitat part of your reply to me. I feel you need to look at the habitat issue with a more open view. Blaming only the deer for regeneration problems is easy for many to do. Blaming tree regeneration problems on man-made pollution such as acid rain would cause a fight the deer blamers do not want to attempt to fight. It is cheaper now to remove the deer so the new saplings grow. Going after the power generation industry with money and their political clout would give them a expensive fight over acid rain vs tree regeneration. Poor soil pH from acid rain is effecting tree regeneration. If soils were healthy the saplings would out grow the browsing from deer. The fenced areas by the PGC and the DCNR are not scientifically sound methods of determining deer impacts. You must put deer in the fenced areas in varying quantities to measure their impact. Fenced areas with no deer only prove that PA must go to zero deer densities to achieve regeneration. New York State with eight other states sued the Ohio coal burning power plants for acid deposition and won that case in federal court. The Ohio coal burners were ordered to install millions of dollars of scrubbers to reduce their emissions. Funny how New York and eight other eastern states identified acid deposition as a severe forestry problem, but PA denies its' impact. Sportsmen are not a powerful corporation that have the money, resources or ranks to fight this tree regeneration problem. Let alone stopping the killing of the deer so another industry can make money now. They are a pawn being traded off so another move can be made to grow hardwood trees.

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