Cardeer, I guess I did misunderstand you. If your saying they should cancel the timber company's rights, and lease it out to farmers, I'd be all for it. They have a program out west like that, but I forget the name?? They also have the CPR program, which I'm sure could be utilized here. I just don't feel stocking will make any difference. There's plenty of good genetics right now, we just need to give them plenty to eat, and let them live long enough. Improving the habitat has been the answer to just about any similar problem.
BTW, I buy 3-4 nonresident liscenses each year, so I do know what's out there. They didn't get that way by stocking, though, just good habitat and sound management. I'm sure you've been on some great private ranches, but to categorize the whole state as giving up B&C bucks left and right just ain't true.
Pennsylvania, well I sure don't look at as some kind of model program. I think NJ has a way better management program. Smaller zones, good harvest numbers. Same with MD and DE. They've been shooting does in the gun seasons for years, and they give up alot bigger bucks than PA. It just seems to me that PA is getting a late start, but seems to be on the right track?? Just keep shootting the does, letting the bucks grow up, and most importantly, improve the habitat. Why spend $100 dollars to buy deer whn we could spend it to buy land, and then lease it out to farmers? We can grow our own deer.