Just recently spot lighted in a field near shawville.Both elk and deer were {grazing}in that field.If elk and deer both browse on oaks and red maples then they are competing for that food.An elk eats alot more browse then a deer.I've seen them browsing young red maples and oaks on plenty of occasions.And the trees were saplings which deer could easily reach.And acorns are also an important diet for the white tailed deer.They {rendell and debernliberal}feel elk will bring money via tourism that's why it's OK.Personally I can't figure out what tourists have against seeing a nice 8 or ten point but I guess eddie knows that answer.
After reading through this thread I have to assume the clubs being discussed are in fact losing members.And I'm sure deer management is a reason.HR has different meanings in different parts of the state.The forests of the DCNR want low numbers and it's going to stay that way.Case closed.Then there's the private landowners who don't want to be void of deer so they either post their land or show dissatisfaction.Then there's the public lands in the southern parts of the state that don't have the NC habitat problems but are seeing overharvests.So it just doesn't come down to the NC or state forest,HR affects other areas and that's also where you are seeing the complaints.It's just not about the NC.So unlike what some think or want to think there are places in PA that need more adjustments and are suffering from overharvests.If the clubs ignored this I'm sure members would get upset.