Cardeer, that post was awsome, it just opened up an entirely new thought to me.

Do you think that the PGC wants the overall number of deer down because it is easier to manage less of something? This might stir up the pot, but just think about it. Cardeer's post was right, we could have the best of both worlds. We could have the same amount of deer overall and we could have alot more food planted on game lands. This would mean that the deer herd will be HEALTHY and it will still be large. The main purpose of Alt's plan is to make a healthy deer herd, well, give them more food and that will definetly make them more healthy. It almost seems that the PGC wants less deer in our state because it would be easier to manage with less deer. This may be a long shot, but who knows, it could be true.

I agree with Cardeer though, I don't like the idea of having the deer herd cut in half. I really love going out in the woods and seeing big bucks, but I REALLY love going out in the woods and seeing lots of deer. Give the deer more food and they will be more healthy. Think about it, what does a deer REALLY need to survive? Food and Water. A deer could live in the middle of New York city if there was ample food and water suplies around. Habitat is important, don't get me wrong, BUT I think food is much more important. That is why I still think that the PGC should plant huge food plots on Public Lands. This could actually help the PGC recieve money. You may wonder how this is, well, if the public lands have more deer and healthier deer the word will spread fast. People who didn't really want to travel to PA for hunting will because they know that they have a good chance at a nice deer. That will bring in money which could pay for the food plots. Heck, if the PGC planted a 50 acre food plot of standing corn on every State Game Land, the quality of dee would rise dramatically.

Another thing that I have been thinking, since the PGC is considering allowing baiting, why not regulate it. They don't want deer to get diseased from too many eating in one area, well, don't allow piles of corn. I think that if the game commission made it legal to bait, and baiting was defined as "hunting around/in/or near a planted food source such as standing corn, alfalfa fields, clover fields, etc..." This would mean that alot of people would try to plant food plots of corn, alfalfa, Mossy Oaks BioLogic, seed blends.... That would intern make the overall quality of deer go up.

I am fortunate enough to live in probablly the best, most UNDER RATED county for deer hunting in Pennsylvania. I am fortunate enough to see deer that are VERY healthy and in large numbers. There are State Game Lands near my house, they don't have food plots on them, but they are surrounded by corn fields and farms. The quality of deer that come off of these State Game Lands is good. I think that six or seven 8 points, and two 10points came out of their this year.

I would go as fas as to say that the PGC/Gary Alt should come to Indiana County, heck, come to my home. I will show them around. They should try to get EVERYWHERE in Pennsylvania to be an exact replica of Indiana County. The overall deer quality would be right up there with Texas, Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
"Hunting is not a sport, it is a passion, it is a WAY OF LIFE"