Originally Posted by
longbowman2
After reading uncountable numbers of complaints concerning PA's deer hunting policies I've come to a couple of conclusions.
#1 - The Game Commission has painted themselves into a corner that is nearly impossible to get out of. For those who say we need more deer the only way to get more is to shoot less. So if the PGC said we're going back to the old 3 day doe season that means these same people would now have to hunt two weeks and not be allowed to kill a doe when they finally see one. I know of a dozen hunters that would quit if you did that to them and there's probably thousands more. Even more would quit if they shut down doe season for a year or two.
#2 - The PGC thinking that adding new Jr. hunting times to the mix is going to add new hunters is too much for me to compute! If you are a non-hunting father you won't even know about these hunts because you don't buy a license. If you're a hunting father and want to take your kids hunting you'll take them regardless if they have their own season or not!
#3 - Allowing the new "mentor" program only applies to such a small percentage of kids that the PGC needs to figure out they have only created another way for adults to take deer and take the picture with it and their kid. Our papers are full of pictures with little 8 yr. olds who could't shoot any legal gun because of their physical size.
Just Pondering!
Paint themselves into a corner indeed! The PGC is going bankrupt in lieu of a tag fee increase an no increase until deer numbers rebound.
Your "pondering" over hunters whom would quit hunting if they couldn't have 2 weeks of concurrent season to kill a doe is moot 'cause for each that would quit for that reasonten fold are quitting 'cause they aren't see enough deer.
I for one think it's time for the BOC to "ponder" a new approach to deer mamagement that includes letting deer numbers rebound to 12-15 PSM in every WMU.