The same could be said about the current deer management objectives. In 2008 all but one WMU reached it objective for herd health even though breeding rates and productivity didn't change. Regeneration in 2f is less than than in 2g yet 2F is being managed at a much higher DD than 2G. can you explain why?

The answer is Twilite zone

The answer my freinds, is blowin in the wind.......

that is about what i would expect from some one that knows so little about deer management in PA.

well at the very least I didnt dissapoint you

I have explained that before yet you don’t want to accept the facts that result in the correct answer. Probably becasue the answer doesn't supportthe total nonsense you want people to believe in and support.

First one has to understand the differences in the geographic structure between the two units. Unit 2F is made up almost entirely of the Allegheny Plateau while unit 2G contains more of the mountains of the Allegheny Front. Therefore unit 2F is not as steep nor does it have the rocky outcroppings on the mountain faces as what occurs in unit 2G.

In unit 2F there are few steep hillsides that are totally covered with rocks, where nothing will grow, while in unit 2G there are many steep hillsides where nothing can grow, short of a few trees that grow up between the rocks. Nothing more can grow on those hillsides because nothing can grow on the huge piles of rocks short of a little moss.
Since unit 2F has more area where plants can grow, instead or just huge piles of rocks, the deer can find more food and exist in higher numbers then can occur in unit 2G. Unit 2G could support more deer if the deer could learn to survive by eating rocks instead of needing plant life for food, but I simple don’t see them making that adaptation anytime in the near future.
Since deer can’t survive by eating rocks, unit 2G will never be able to sustain as many deer as the units that don’t have those steep mountainsides covered with little more then rocks and where nothing can grow because of all the rocks.
If you really knew anything about the topography and geological structure of the two units you wouldn’t even be asking such a question. The answer is pretty obvious to those that truly are familiar with both units.
R.S. Bodenhorn

"In unit 2F there are few steep hillsides that are totally covered with rocks, where nothing will grow, while in unit 2G there are many steep hillsides where nothing can grow, short of a few trees that grow up between the rocks. Nothing more can grow on those hillsides because nothing can grow on the huge piles of rocks short of a little moss."

What areas of 2G are you talking about RSB? I know of a few on the north side of the West Branch between Lock Haven and Renovo, But the majority of the mountainsides that I know of have tree growth.

Despite all your excuses, the regeneration in 2F is less than in 2g , yet 2F is being managed at a much higher DD than 2g. That means the herd is not being managed based on forest health or herd health,which means our current deer management plan is a sham.

Much of southeastern Elk County, central Cameron County, north and central Clinton County, southern Potter and western Lycoming all have large areas of steep rocky mountainous terrain with more rocks then soil. That type of habitat makes up a large chunk of unit 2G. There are some areas of 2g with good soils and good habitat but not as high percentage wise as what occurs in unit 2F.

That is why there is also a difference in the number of deer that each area will support, just as there is a difference in the number of deer that every other unit can support. It is all soil and habitat based and not all areas have the same habitat capabilities. That is why we have the different units and different management objectives for the different units.

R.S. Bodenhorn

I'm not disputing the soil conditions but I am disputing the statement that trees can't/don't grow on the steep mountainsides. I hunt/fish/explore the mountains of northcentralPA from the Pine Creek Valley west to the Sinnemahoning, south toward Snow Shoe and north into Potter county.I've been up and down those mountains since the 60's.My cabin is near Kettle Creek State Park. Some of my favorite memories (recent and long ago)were hunts in the Hammersley Wild Area.