HOW...do we get the changes we need in PA?
12-19-2009, 05:12 AM
#42
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 1,149
I never said anything about the PGC not having an estimate on the herd.I'm talking everone's own little area where they hunt.Nobody,including me has any clue how many deer are in the areas where they hunt.Without knowing that,how can anyone claim what percentage the herd should be increased?
Doug,if you hunt/scout your area practically year round how can you not have an idea how many deer are there?The sign they let tells the story.How big of area are you talking?
12-19-2009, 05:14 AM
#43
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 1,149
I can show you two state game lands within a short drive from your camp where you could expect to see more than just double digits of deer/day on days where people are in the woods moving them around.I've talked to 4 people in the past week that all saw in excess of 20 deer per day on SGL 93 and two others that saw that many ob SGL 77.We'll take a walk in those areas and I'LL SHOW YOU.You'll also be impressed with the huge amounts of habitat improvements.
Sounds like a good place for a grouse hunt.
12-21-2009, 02:56 PM
#44
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: 2G Gaines Pa
Posts: 524
Only way to begin solving the problem is to start trying to control the predator populations. That's hard to do in the way of coyotes, but we can do something about bears and bobcats. It's no secret that bears number in the northern tier are out of control, and that is one predator that we can control. Bobats are another predator that is beginning to get out of hand. No shortage of them at all and I believe they take more deer than most folks think. Closing down doe season isn't an option, but there is a way of satisfying everybody that hunts the northwoods.
Phase 1
Leave doe tag allocations as they are, but limit the firearms doe season to the 2 Saturdays. Cut the Ocober inline season to the same 3 days that juniors and seniors are allowed to use rifles.
Phase 2
Increase the archery bear season to one week. Increase the firearms bear season to one week plus the first 3 days of the firearms deer season. PLUS....give the Executive Director of the PGC the power to extend the season instantly in the case of a low bear harvest.
Phase 3
Allow bobcat permitees to harvest 2 cats.
There ya have it. Doe hunters are happy, bear hunters are happy, bobcat hunters are happy, the PGC loses no doe tag allocation revenue, and the herd may possibly have a chance to rebound in areas where predators are having a significant impact on the recruitment rate.
Phase 1
Leave doe tag allocations as they are, but limit the firearms doe season to the 2 Saturdays. Cut the Ocober inline season to the same 3 days that juniors and seniors are allowed to use rifles.
Phase 2
Increase the archery bear season to one week. Increase the firearms bear season to one week plus the first 3 days of the firearms deer season. PLUS....give the Executive Director of the PGC the power to extend the season instantly in the case of a low bear harvest.
Phase 3
Allow bobcat permitees to harvest 2 cats.
There ya have it. Doe hunters are happy, bear hunters are happy, bobcat hunters are happy, the PGC loses no doe tag allocation revenue, and the herd may possibly have a chance to rebound in areas where predators are having a significant impact on the recruitment rate.
12-21-2009, 03:08 PM
#45
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,879
Leave doe tag allocations as they are, but limit the firearms doe season to the 2 Saturdays. Cut the Ocober inline season to the same 3 days that juniors and seniors are allowed to use rifles.
That is a totally irrational solution since it would take just two days of bad weather to the reduce the doe harvest to next to nothing.
12-21-2009, 03:27 PM
#46
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: 2G Gaines Pa
Posts: 524
Ah but that's where "give the Executive Director of the PGC the power to extend the season instantly in the case of a low bear harvest" comes in. Just switch the word bear to deer. If they have a poor harvest due to weather, that's good for me but bad for them. Doe hunters still had their 2 days to kill a doe during the firearms deer season. They had their chance during the October seasons as well. That's 5 days to kill a doe with a firearm. Plenty of time. Bit IF the weather played a part in a much lower harvest, the Executive Director would have the power to extend a season somewhere along the line. BUT...the goal with my idea is to allow the herd to come back while keeping everyone happy. Worrying about a low weather realated harvest is the least of concern if the PGC was really interested in fixing what's wrong.
Last edited by ManySpurs; 12-21-2009 at 03:37 PM.
12-21-2009, 03:39 PM
#47
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,879
But the PGC has the bear harvest data the day after bear season closes. they don't have the total antlerless harvest until the late ML season closes. furthermore , the legislature isn't about to change the law with the ongoing controversy about the DMP.
12-21-2009, 04:00 PM
#48
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PA USA
Posts: 7,220
Actually, extensions of the doe season when it was 2-3 days were not all that uncommon and the law that allowed for it is still in place. I'm not supporting the idea of a 2 day doe season again but the concern that 2 days of bad weather would negate the season just doesnt hold water.
12-21-2009, 04:04 PM
#49
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: 2G Gaines Pa
Posts: 524
furthermore , the legislature isn't about to change the law with the ongoing controversy about the DMP
12-21-2009, 04:39 PM
#50
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,879
So then we take the ball and run with the 2 day season with the ultimate goal being to allow hunters to have a doe season while at the same time possibly reducing the harvest rate. Nothing irrational about that.
Are you refering to the Executive Director having the power to extend seasons?