Most antlerless allocations reduced in PA

[dtrain56]

Unfortunatley I think the game commision is listening more to the insurance companies and the forestry industry than hunters
 
but you could be right about earn a doe...some don't think you would get enough hunters to participate...
 
definatley need to reduce doe allocationsor allow no hunting every third yearfor some wmd's
 
cause there might be a lot of doe on private land but none or public land...they need to rotate the closer of game lands every three of four years

[ajkrem22]

I agree with you 100%. Insurance companies have a bigger voice than hunters. Hope that changes one day.

[tex3012]

@roughrider123.. i couldnt agree with you more.. im also from nazareth,pa and think its sad whats going on with the blue mountain herd

[mhouck06]

i agree with you guys somewhat, but you really have to look at where the deer herd was in PA before any changes were made. they were on track to run themselves out of the state. Hunting is my passion, I live for hunting. The enjoyment of being in the woods and the amount of skill and preparation it takes to really get the fullest out of the season is what draws me back year in and year out. Now I wont say that PA got it perfect, I think in some areas they did take it a little too far, but as an entire state, I think they did well. They are achieving a balance that will keep the deer herd healthy along with letting "Penns Woods" prosper. When you look at the totality of the state, many hunters grew up years ago hunting deer for their main source of food. Even with the seasons the way they were before the changes were made, many hunters were out in the woods to provide food for the family. They did not care if it was an 8 point or a spike, if it was a buck it was going down, and when doe season rolled around, same thing. That mentality has been hard wired into many PA hunters, so you still have to cater to them --> (my response to the 4pt restriction)... PA hunters do need to make better decisions though while in the field. Like many of you stated, there are a lot of hunters that complain about the number of deer, but kill anything they see. That does not help anything. Talking to many hunters, they have the idea that they best shoot whats out there or someone else will, so compound that with more license allocations and this is where we are. I will not deny that insurance companies may have had some influence on the PGC, but there were many other factors taken into account. Hunters may have to hunt a little harder and longer to fill there tags, but if you enjoy hunting, does it really matter that much if you have to scout a little harder and put a few more hours in the woods? *BUT* Then you have the guys that maybe are only able to hunt a few days out of the whole season. Well PA does not have the longest seasons, but they do give their hunters ample opportunity to get in the woods. It just goes back to being dedicated to the sport and making time for your priorities. You cannot take care of every hunters needs and wants, but for the most part, with the amount of people that hunt in this state, PA is doing very well. I personally think it is easier for someone who did not see many deer or fill a tag to jump on the band wagon and blame it on the PGC. I am by no means an excelent hunter, but I have not had many problems seeing or harvesting deer where ever i have hunted in the state since the changes were made. Also, as everyday hunter pointed out the PGC has made changes for the upcoming season because they have started to reach their goals. The best thing for PA hunters to do is go out and get educated. PGC gives ample opportunities for hunters to stay up to date on the things they are doing, the things they have done and the things they plan on doing and they are usually able to justify everything with hard proven facts.
 
The mentality of a hunter in PA is our biggest problem, if its brown its down reigns over anything else, but in my eyes that is almost as bad as the people who get caught up in the commercialism of hunting. Antler illness is what is killing this sport, it seems like more and more hunters fall to the "pressure" killing a monster buck.
 
Get in the woods, do what you love and get back to ENJOYING your time in the field!

[Everyday Hunter]

Other than being hard to read, that was a good post. Break it up into paragraphs next time and it will be easier to read.

This was especially good, and a point I don't think I've heard anyone make:

ORIGINAL: mhouck06

Hunters may have to hunt a little harder and longer to fill there tags, but if you enjoy hunting, does it really matter that much if you have to scout a little harder and put a few more hours in the woods?

We tend to overlook this:

ORIGINAL: mhouck06
You cannot take care of every hunters needs and wants, but for the most part, with the amount of people that hunt in this state, PA is doing very well.

I'll make a comment on this point:

ORIGINAL: mhouck06

I personally think it is easier for someone who did not see many deer or fill a tag to jump on the band wagon and blame it on the PGC ... PGC gives ample opportunities for hunters to stay up to date on the things they are doing, the things they have done and the things they plan on doing and they are usually able to justify everything with hard proven facts.

My comment: We're living in a day when, whenever we see a problem, we jump on those who are "in charge." We see it in politics, in business, in families. If Americans are good at anything right now, we're good at the blame game. We criticize the PGC as though their task is easy and any one of us could do it. The fact is, no, the PGC is not perfect, but they there is a lot that they do well -- including providing plenty of opportunities for hunters to learn about wildlife management. In any scientific field, we can't live wishing for the good old days. In many ways, the good old days are now. [/quote]

Mid-September -- a great time to make your final point:

ORIGINAL: mhouck06

Get in the woods, do what you love and get back to ENJOYING your time in the field!

 
Steve

[ishman]

I have to say that the game commision is doing a good job with what they can control. The problem with people not seeing deer is that the public land gets flooded with hunters and the deer go to the private land with few hunters. The game commision cannot manage deer that everyone cant hunt. The deer population is there, the access is not. And in reply to the statewide being 4 pt. zone, ive never understood why there was a 3 pt. zone. Quite a few 1 yr. olds have 3 on a side. I thought the restictions where to protect 1 yr. olds.

[bigguyz06]

Here, Here......With only having public land in Elk, Cameron, Mckean and Clearfield counties to hunt in, my
family and I usually do okay.... No we don't take very many bruisers but we have a good time, hunt hard and appreciate what we do have here in Pa.