Photo by ICHIRO / Getty Images
A Pennsylvania state legislator has announced his proposal to increase the deer herd on state game lands. According to a January 9, 2009 press release, State Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette) plans to introduce legislation to "adopt new policies and procedures to benefit hunters and other sportsmen and women."
State wildlife agencies keep deer populations high through a variety of tactics including clear-cutting areas in order to create the edge habitat that is preferred by deer, and renting lands to farmers who promise to grow deer-preferred crops and leave some of their crops in the field for the deer. While such efforts are sometimes vaguely described as benefitting "wildlife," Mahoney makes no attempt to hide the purpose behind his proposal:
"Hunters across the state would like to see Pennsylvania's deer population returned to the robust level of past years," Mahoney said. "Unfortunately, the deer population has dwindled over the years and that's why my proposal is important. It would make boosting the deer population a priority so more deer would be available for hunters to harvest."
What is the reaction of the hunting community? One hunting columnist thinks the intent behind the plan is "commendable." Efforts to reduce the deer population are met with resistance from hunting groups, such as the United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, who state on their website, "Are you unhappy with the state of deer hunting on public lands? . . . If you think hunting is bad now, wait until next year!"
Not that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is trying too hard to reduce the deer population. They do consider input from hunters when determining their deer management goals.
When most people hear that state wildlife agencies intentionally keep the deer population high for hunters, they consider the idea incredible. Almost paranoid. Documents like Mahoney's press release and the hunting column are priceless for getting the truth out to the public. And the next time a hunter argues that hunting keeps the deer population in check, you'll know the truth.
Links:
- How are Deer Managed by State Wildlife Agencies?
- Arguments For and Against Hunting
- What is Deer Overabundance?
- Drive Carefully - It's Hunting Season
Comments
Sigh. Don’t you sometimes feel like we’re living in some version of bizarro world where everything is backwards? It must benefit the bottom line of the agency – right? Seems to be the only reason. This was news to me so thanks for sharing. What a world we live in!
The gameless commission is currently listening to ecoflake tree huggers and holding the herd at rediculous unnecessary lows.
The best thing we can do to end this blood sport is to support the Pennsylvania Game Commission and their deer program. This program is causing hunter numbers to decline and hunters to squeal like crated shoats. Support the management direction that the commission has taken. Hunters are their own worst enemy. Less deer = less hunters. Less hunters = less weight in decision making. End result, goodbye bloodsport.
I’m very surprised that anti-hunters think that the game commission actually controls deer numbers. This “blood sport” which by the way is that most absurd name I have heard yet, keeps the deer at numbers suitable for the area. I would much rather see a low number of deer in the area, and kill them in a humane way, than see them overpopulated and dying sickly deaths due to starvation.
Think about it!
I dont see any of you complaining about fishing? Its the same thing…. Go to a butcher shop. The cows and pigs you eat are killed and butchered the same way. The only difference is we let our food of choice (deer) run out in the wild and enjoy some of nature before becoming our families dinner. Maybe you should complain about cows and pigs being held in cages….
Thank you, all, for your comments.
Venison Lover, I encourage you to click through to the press release from Mahoney and to click through to the article about how deer are managed by state wildlife agencies, including the website for the PA Game Commission. Please learn more about how deer are managed.
Hunt, if you click around this site, you will find lots of information against eating fish, cows and pigs, and I encourage you to learn more about these issues. For example:
What’s Wrong with Eating Fish?
What’s Wrong with Fish Farms?
Factory Farming FAQ
What’s Wrong with Grass-Fed Beef?
Do something Now, before its too late please protect our great sport of hunting, the anti’s just move to the city and keep quite!!! Why do we need a fish and a game commission.
According to my sources within the Penn. Game Commission, all we need to do is get the deer herd to around 5 deer per sq. mile.
The numbers will then self regulate via predation and other forms of natural mortality.
Hunting will no longer be needed.
If not for the HUNTER FUNDED game commissiion, deer populations would be high, but not HEALTHY. Hunted populations since the mid 1900’s is HIGH AND HEALTHY
I dont know what state you are from Shane, but its not Pa.
The deer herd has been devastated by the gameless commission everywhere that i am aware of. Of course you are probably one of those bizzarre environmentalists that want them all dead.
That’s really thinking out of the box. Thknas!
Get it right. The game commission manages the herd for the general public. To reduce human deer conflict in conjunction with suitable habitat to deer ratios. ll you animal rights activists have valid points and can believe whatever you want. Organizations like PETA are a farce. Just look up PETA and what happened in ahoskie, NC. I love animals, but I also love to eat them………sportsman are the ones who protect our wild places and the creatures that roam forests. Who do you think pays for the millions of acres of PA state game lands? Not you nor your tax dollars.