by Jim Slinsky
The much-anticipated PGC meeting recently unfolded at Harrisburg headquarters. Deer management talk had been quiet for weeks waiting for Dr. Alt and his team to unveil their 2004 plan. Doe allocations and the speculation that antler restrictions might be modified kept many guessing. Trust me, there is no need to guess about our direction any longer.
Dr. Alt addressed our Commissioners with the same passion to reduce our deer herd that has become all too familiar. He reasoned that it doesn’t matter if we have to go to “zero” deer for five, ten or more years to get our woods to come back. He basically stated he doesn’t care how our sporting class feels about his plans. He wants the deer dead.
I have been trying to tell you for years that Alt’s plan was never about improving deer hunting. It has always been a herd reduction program. Alt asked for 1,039,000 doe permits, a 7.5% increase over last year. DCNR also enrolled their 2.1 million acres in the DMAP program for an additional 42,000 doe permits. I’m told DCNR’s new motto is “one deer is too many.” Obviously, we have a problem on our hands.
Our PGC Commissioners buckled at the knees and approved Alt’s plan by a 7 to 1 vote. Only Commissioner Steve Mohr had the resolve to speak up and call Alt’s plan ridiculous. Steve reminded everyone of the social and economic impacts of taking our deer down to the absurd levels that Alt advocates.
Frankly, I am disappointed with Commissioner Sam Dunkle and Commissioner Tom Boop. My sources tell me both had grave reservations about the direction of Alt’s program. Yet, both cast votes of approval. This is the strategy of “go along to get along”. Unfortunately, these two gentlemen have rendered themselves impotent as Commissioners.
As for Commissioners Russ Schleiden, Roxane Palone, John Riley and Gregory Isabella, they have become equally impotent. They are all derelict in their duties by allowing Alt to proceed with a plan he can not scientifically justify with accurate numbers and hard facts. Commissioner Robert Gilford probably approved Alt’s plan with the “enough rope to hang himself (Alt)” strategy in mind. Unfortunately, at this time it is equally obvious Commissioners Schleiden, Palone and Riley would approve any PGC “biologist” plan no matter how absurd.
With the exception of Steve Mohr, our PGC Commissioners have sadly forgotten their true responsibilities. Their job is to grill Alt or any other biologist about a proposed wildlife management plan and make their final decision based on biological, social, recreational and economic considerations. This blending of all considerations is the true purpose of the Commissioner system. If these people are intent on rubber stamping Agency policies, then I suggest they stay the hell home and not put forth the farce of a meeting. They could email their votes of approval and spare themselves the public embarrassment.
As for Alt, I wonder if he is aware that northern red oak regeneration is failing across its entire native range. Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and Wisconsin are all reporting poor oak regeneration. The Feds are involved and many are pointing to the lack of fire as the true cause. PA is the only state in the nation that has adopted a deer eradication program to resolve its oak regeneration problem. Alt refuses to accept a truckload of information revealing that acid rain and soil conditions are the true cause of our reforestation ills. This means to me that Alt is either incredibly incompetent or wickedly malicious.
So relentless and so emotional are Alt’s pleas for deer reduction, I believe it is time for him to submit his tax returns for the past three years for public scrutiny. No one argues with the passion of Gary Alt and dismisses all relevant science unless they are being paid to do so. Furthermore, blend in Alt’s threats and criticisms against hunters and I am beginning to see the evidence of obsessive, compulsive behavior. Even non-hunters recognize the impact and benefit of our $5 billion dollar hunting industry. Dr. Gary Alt does not.
The entire deer management program of the last three years, Alt’s comments and plans and the responding behavior of our PGC Commissioners has been nothing short of a travesty. We need to fire them all and start with a fresh slate of competent people. I have never seen a situation handled so incompetently and so politically in my entire professional life.
Clearly, the wolf is at our door. I believe it is time for our sporting class to hire a good attorney.
Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Sportsman’s Connection”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at
www.outdoortalknetwork.com
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