ORIGINAL: 4evrhtn
Ok maybe in Never never land is it necessary to knock off the deer herd to those extremely low levels.
Check stations work and it is proven, even the check in method (such as in Illinois)done over the phone is more exact than the system we have inPa.I have huntedeverywhere fromhere to WV, VA, NY, OH,FL,IL and Alaska and our system isfar from efficient. It isn't about just reporting a harvest it's about measuring the antler size (not just points per side and the sex of the animal) as one measure of the effectiveness of the managemnet policy they have in place. How many hunters throw away or lose their handbook. If this was more enforced as it is in other states the lazy hunter will be more inclined to report. Also if you would have read further it also has proven to benefit the small businesses doing these check ins or are you against that too?
Who has more to gain by eliminating deer populations than the insurance companies? Who has more $ to influence deerpopulations than insurance companies?
If you are satisfied with everything in Pa than Good for you. I couldn't be happier for you.
The Illinois system is one I have experience with and it is extremely efficient. I certainly hope we go to that once the new license vendor works out their problems and I agree it is high time to hold their feet to the fire.
As for the insurance company conspiracy theory, you are mistaken there. I worked for 30 years in the industry as both a company guy and then as an independent and
never once heard a complaint about Pa deer from the many dozens of car insurance comanies I worked with. You gotta remember that insurance companies are a bit like the casinos annd racetracks. It's a carefully calculated business where the house always wins. Deer claims are something they can accurately predict and charge accordingly for sodeer accidents are actually a profit center. Anything that causes consistent claims is actually good for the insurance industry much like the fact that the casinos know some gamblers will win big but, over time, the average gambler loses.
Both industries make money when large quantities of money pass through their hands. Just like the casinos encourage play, the insurance companies do well when people pay premiums for a risk that the insurance companies know how to charge for.