That was the plan to reduce the herd.

But the plan was also to increase breeding, increase productivity, shorten the breeding window, triple the number of 8 pts and have more and bigger buck ,but none of that happened.

The plan also said we would make changes as necessary as we saw what was working an what wasnt. Thats not happening.

It was stated we would strive for a balance between the stakeholders. Thats not happening.

The plan didnt say we would be continuing with allocations that would promote reduction even when we are told its supposed to be stabilization.. That IS happening.

The plan also didnt say we would reduce the herd by over 50% ow in some of the best areas of the state, and continue doing so from therewith no poor habitat and pgc rated low human conflict...For no apparent reason. That IS happening.

Another thing happening is "ecoextremeist types" vying for chairs on the boc....And thanks to the pull from others on the governors advisory council and the good words put in from the current likeminded BOC members, they continue to fill those seats, and another is upcoming.

Hey guys, I recall reading this not that long ago. It's out of North American Whitetail magazine. In my opinion, this publication is one of the best out there.

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/huntingtactics/NAW_0907_10/index.html

If PA is getting the attention from them, we must be doing something right.

Great publication but still disagree on Game Commision goals.Sure everyone would like to kill a 150+ buck,but in a state with the number of hunters we have combined with the genetics and food supply,I think it's foolish to believe this is possible.To try to make the deer in PA the same as those in Iowa,Texas,Illinois and those other states is a pipe dream at best.I find it hard to believe that the normal everyday hunter is willing to wait years in between kills just so he "may" eventually have a shot at a bigger buck.Many hunters are just as excited over killing a nice 4 or 6 point as they are a bigger buck.We constantly preach about getting young kids to hunt,but the antler restrictions handicap them once they reach 16 years old.There's nothing that keeps people interested like sucess,just look at the Pgh Pirates compared to the Steelers.Once again,it seems to me a prime example of
"if it ain't broke,don't try to fix it" !

Muzzyman, only an idiot would disagree with the "basics" of the plan. That is, keeping deer herd within habitat carry capacity and human tolerances etc. These things are only common sense.

Fact is, these things have been far far over-shot. The herd was reduced FAR more than necessary in many areas, and articles such as the one you post say nothing to dispell that concern. Articles with basic "flowery" statements coming straight from Pgc can only be EXPECTED! (LOL)[:'(]

Do you think the attention would be placed on the rediculous 40+ year low buck harvest? The numbers of hunters dropping at over twice the national average? The reproduction rates that didnt increase as predicted, but according to pgc annual reports ACTUALLY DROPPED and are lower for last several years than they were previously? The fact some of the best areas of the state habitatwise had been reduced by over 50% even though habitat wasnt an issue and human conflict was rated as low?? These writers arent gonna study in depth the data and decipher the details when they can be quite happy throwing together, as quickly as possiblenext monthsarticle, by doing an over the phone interview with pgc personell in about 20 minutes.

Sorry my friend. Its gonna take alot more than one highly biased straight from the game commission article to make all well In Pa. I do like the magazine. I also dont blame them for believing they can take things from Pgc at face value. They have no other source for information, and dont look "in depth" at the data in annual reports etc, nor do they know the intracies of our situation and exactly why we are in it to begin with.

Amen brother,amen !!!!