Crazy Horse RVN

It's really very simple "germain." NO DEER!

Some hunters noted that there seemed to be a "Late Rut." Not true. The problem was NO DEER!

Why belong to an organization that continues to exhault in the slaughter of does, the greatest producer of deer under God's Green Earth. Hunters are finally begining to see the light. Somewhat late in many areas, but they are starting to notice the dramatic decline in deer sightings. The UBP has been instrumental (and they will certainly tell you so) in increasing the length of the archery season.

High Country Kid

I talked and was invited to several campfires withbowhunters at the Forksville Bowhunters Festival this past year that were ex UBP members. To a man they all said they can't support an organization that endorses the current deer management program. Most say they feel betrayed by the current UBP leadership.

Deleted User

[Deleted by Admins]

germain

And the deer wars rage on.I did alittle research on both and found things I agree and disagree with.It would be interesting to see comments from members here that belong to one or both of the orgs and get their take on the declining memberships.

LineHog

I thinkpeople cling to the number because it is the number that was used to start the deer reduction program. The sad part is when the PGC declared the old model flawed. Theyfailed to stopthe program that was started on bad data and continued with the stay the course attitude.

germain

Turkey,I can't answer that question because I'm not a member.I personally put money back each year to pay my memberships to the orgs I do belong to which doesn't amount to much in a year's time.

T_in_PA3

People make claims about an organizations leadership but from what I have seen the direction of the leadership is controlled by a membership poll. Kind of like voting. Wonder how many people supply their input when asked. Bet it is very few.

Mocha Java

Membership renewals are a pretty good poll--in fact, it doesn't get any better. I don't know what kind of issue polling UBP leadership does of its members, but whatever it is, itseems to beabout as accurate as the PGC's deer harvest figures.
My gun club left PFSC in part because of their support of the PGC deer policies (there were other issues too). Anybody remember the "kill the deer" conference that Audubon held a few years ago that they were a part of that got this ball rolling? It's coming back to bite them.

DennyF

Here's a response to similar questions raised about the topic CH posed, from the Exectutive Director of the PFSC:[/align][/align]Nothingwrong with admitting that we have members "concerned" about the effects the declining deer herd is having on hunters' and theirattitudes. The negative comments and fighting amongst hunters is not good for anyone....let alone the young kids whom we are trying to teacha love and respect for hunting,the outdoors and wildlife management. [/align][/align]Anyone who doesn't admit the herd has declined is a fool. But that doesn't mean we still don't support scientific wildlife management. That's what the program was all about....herd reduction.What it does mean is thatwe are acknowledging the concerns of many of our members.Members who for the most part, still support the professionals doing what is right for our wildlife resources, even if it's not what's best for hunters in the short term. But they are still concerned with where it all goes from here. [/align][/align]As to the reports about ourmembership declining.....we did lose a few clubs last year because they didn't agree with PFSC's policy of supporting scientific wildlife management. And we'll probably lose a few more this year. We lose a few clubs every year,but we also picked up a few new clubs last year, and hope to pick up a few more this year. Our overallmembership numbers have only declined slightly. We still represent over 95,000 sportsmen & women. Six years ago, we were below 50,000 members. We were up to just over 100,000 membersa little over a year ago.[/align][/align]And with a membership base of over 95,000, it would be pretty hard to put a number on what percentage the "many" encompass. We won't knowactual numbers till our convention. In some areas, we are getting reports that "many" of the clubs are concerned. In other areas, we aren't hearing any complaints at all. Most of the calls or emails I've received (a half dozen or so)from people complaining aren't even members.[/align][/align]The majority of our members understand that deer are not the only issue we have to worry about. This is going to be an extremely busy year in our legislature. With the Democrats in the majority in the House, our anti-gun legislators feel empowered and have already submitted a package of anti-gun legislation. They believe they will be able to get more bills out of committee and on the floor for votes. Rep. D. Evans has announced that he will be holding at least 6 hearings across the state on Gun Violence. The anti-hunters are forever waiting for us toslip so they can slide their agendas into the mix. We will not be able to let our guard down for one minute.[/align][/align]Will we be strong enough to counter all these attacks, or will we be too busy arguing amongst ourselves over how many deer we expect to see every time we are in thefield, or how many weshould have per square forested mile,or whether or not we ever had 1.6 million deer?[/align][/align]Melody Zullinger[/align]PFSC Exec. Director[/align]

Crazy Horse RVN

That report was from Melody Zullinger, not Rocco Ali. Might as well have come from Carl Roe.

I thinkMr. Ali let the cat out of the bag when he admitted to a 40% disention within the ranks during testimony before the PGC Board of Commissioners. Melody only appears to be trying to fill the crack with mud, that just won't stick.

That little exchange is still ringing within the halls of Elmerton Ave, thanks to the effors of Commissioner (and sportsmen's friend) Tom Boop.