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We knew this was
coming. We didn’t know when or how, but we knew a
“deal” was in the wind. When DCNR Secretary Mike
DiBerardinis lifted the six-month moratorium on land
transfers from conservancies to the PGC, scuttlebutt
said Commissioner Russ Schleiden promised DCNR a deal to
kill more deer on State Forest Lands in trade. On
November 15, a PGC/DCNR meeting came together and
Secretary DiBerardinis put his cards on the table. I
have the minutes of that meeting and they are ugly.
There were four issues DCNR wants resolved
to their liking. The issues were an easier method of
distributing DMAP coupons, multiple DMAP coupons per
hunter, an extended rifle season for deer and an agency
cooperative forest regeneration study.
As you read through
these minutes it becomes apparent that DMAP is a burden
to administrate. There is much discussion of
establishing a “Point of Sale” system whereas hunters
can buy doe permits across the counter or on the
Internet. This has become quite common in other states.
However, DCNR wants to
take it a step further and allow hunters to buy multiple
DMAP permits. It seems that in some areas of the state,
the Pocono’s and Tiadaghton State Forest were mentioned,
DCNR can not sell all of the DMAP coupons. DCNR’s
Merlin Benner stated that hunters had a 21% success rate
on DMAP properties, although we don’t know if hunters
are using their traditional doe permits or DMAP coupons,
first.
In a big breakthrough,
DCNR let it be known they are using “aerial infrared
mapping” techniques to survey deer populations. This is
extremely critical because the PGC has told us for years
that this technique is too expensive to verify their
deer population numbers. It is laughable that DCNR
would pick the Pocono’s for such work. Merlin Benner
stated there were 460 deer in 123 groups in one Pocono
area DCNR surveyed. Think about that. This equates to
3.7 deer per group, hardly what I would call a
population explosion.
The extended seasons
suggested by DCNR is where it really gets ugly. DCNR is
requesting opening the rifle deer season earlier, an
early muzzleloader season open to all weapons, a
September DMAP rifle season for does only and two more
weeks of rifle season. I think it would be safe to say
any of these policies would clean up the remnants of our
deer herd quite effectively.
DCNR is also calling
for a cooperative regeneration study with the PGC to
“build public support” for destroying our deer herd.
This one is born out of that same old story, “if it is
not growing in the woods, the deer must have eaten it.”
The lack of science in this theory is reprehensible.
All of these suggestions must be submitted to the PGC
Executive Office by December 20 for them to be voted
upon at the January meeting.
Based on all that has
happened in the last three years, I think it is quite
accurate to say the PGC has lost control of deer
management in PA. The close political connection
between Secretary Mike DiBerardinis and the Governor has
proven to be too much political clout for the PGC and
our Commissioners to handle. Our Commissioners have
“buckled at the knees” to every demand DCNR has put
forth. DMAP should have never passed as a management
tool unless DCNR was able to prove excessive deer
numbers by infrared aerial survey as fact. With the
worse acid deposition problem in the nation, DCNR, the
PGC and Dr. Gary Alt have consistently blamed our deer
for merely trying to stay alive in our collapsing forest
ecosystems.
It now appears DCNR
will not be happy until literally every deer on State
Forests Lands is dead. Rapid, unnecessary decimation of
our deer herd will significantly impact license sales in
subsequent years. Our hunters will either quit hunting
or those with the resources will go out of state. I
hope this doesn’t happen, but a license sales crash is
quite possible. I am confident when this occurs, DCNR
will be the first to criticize the PGC and suggest
merger of the agencies under DCNR is the only logical
solution.
As you read through
these minutes you will quickly realize, once again, the
preposterous threats made by Dr. Gary Alt. I am sorry,
but he has lost all credibility as a deer manager and
couldn’t leave us fast enough.
If any of the above causes you concern, I
would not bother to call the PGC or our PGC
Commissioners. They are meaningless and useless. I
suggest you contact your legislators.
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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