"Simply not true. According to the NSSF who has been monitoring hunting license sales for years, we are solidly on the middle of the national average.
According to US fish and wildlife the national averagefrom 2001 to 2006 has been a 4% per year decline. According to PGC's own website and license sales record, the decline in that exact same period in Pennsylvaniawas 10%.THATS OVER DOUBLE.
"Now there we have some gross exaggerations! "
Not hardly. I wish it was.
"Funny howmost articles outside of the USP publications tell a bit different story. Most articles I see are very much like the one Muzzyman linked us to here. "
Ive never seen a "usp publication" and havent seen many rave reviews in any other where our herd level currently and doe allocations are concerned.
"One contest one example. Funny though, most archery shops around here that run contests will tell you that it's always slow till around the end of October for the big bucks "
Yes. One example, to counter ONE EXAMPLE that was given. I have plenty of others... Also, no kiddin' about slower in early season. But funny thing is, up to this point, its even far slower than it used to be. Even though the season started later than many years and even though the first week had excellent weather with very nice cool morning temps compared to most years.
"That is true, but the overwhelming reports from taxidermists tell a story of more nice bucks than ever before "
Ha ha ha. Wanna talk about OPINIONS! (LOL) Most Ive spoken with are madder about the results than most hunters are!
"The doe allocations were dropped considerably"
OVerall the total allocation isnt significantly lower. Nowhere near appropriate. How many doe tags do you think are necessary to keep so many fewer deerstable anyways? The cuts were very insignificant across most of the state, and in some areas not cut at all. Others were cut, but only because they have ROCK BOTTOM deer numbers and thats all they need to prevent single and barely double digit densities from expanding!
As only one example. 2A had reduction with 16,500 harvest and 45k tags. The goal ever since was 18k, 55-60,000 tagswith a goal of stabilization for the last 3 years!! Can you say CONTRADICTION! The allocation here is a rediculous 55k, again this year,the herd health fine, the habitat here NEVER rated as poor and human conflict rated as loweven by pgcs standards...Yet we were ripped, and the slaughter continues... Cut that allocation backto lower than reduction days levels and see if that herd doesnt respond accordingly.
