The Park service was sued in November by animal rights groups for attempting to reduce the deer herd. An article in the Chester county "Daily Local News" talked about it. Some things that I found interesting. Since 1983 the population has grown from 31-35 dpsm to an estimated 241 dpsm. The estimate the current population to be 1,277. Their management plan included killing 1,000 of those deer over the next four years, to attain a target herd of 165-185 deer (I know the math dosen't add up, but I'm gettin the figures directly from the article). Their plan is to then "maintain the deer population through some form of birth control when the technology becomes available." I say good luck with that, PSU has been unsuccessul at developing contraceptives for the last 15 years.

"Park officals say over browsing by deer has led to the decline of the forest...and has resulted in unaceptable changes in the species composition, structure, abundance, and distribution of native plant communities and associated wildlife" The animal rights groups countered saying "the deer management plan is logically and legally misguided...the deer should be protected because the white-tailed deer are a cultural and historic resource to Valley Forge that were present at the time of the Continental Army's encampment in 1777...protecting some of Valley Forge's resources at the expense of another is contrary to Congress' charge to preserve all the park's resources." UMM YEAH...AREN'T THEY SUGGESTING PROTECTING DEER AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE!?!?!? Seems to me that you could use their argument to argue against their point. This kind of bs is the reason hunters need to stay united.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!