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The barrage of newspaper columns in recent
weeks praising the deer genocide program has sent an
almost inexplicable feeling up my spine. It is a
feeling of outrage followed by a feeling of sadness and
ultimately a feeling of anger that overcomes the mind
when one reminisces what has occurred. It is
interesting that those who shout the loudest obviously
have no understanding of modern conservation. Frankly,
I suspect the most vocal couldn’t tell the difference
between “Shineola” and a fresh cluster of deer
droppings.
A common insinuation that permeates these
“kill the deer” newspaper columns is a notion that herd
reduction is a victimless program. I’m certain the
writers realize that hunters and our hunting tradition
will be severely impacted, but those facts remain
intentionally missing. Some columns actually smirk with
contempt for hunters. I sense that we are now being
re-categorized as mere Neanderthals who happen to carry
modern weapons.
In any debate the intelligent mind wants to
reach out and consider all ramifications. Are hunters
the only entity effected by herd reduction? Did any
other group or individuals derive pleasure or income
from our previously existing deer herd? Without a doubt
our small communities and rural businesses throughout
this state will be impacted beyond the understanding of
the average non-hunting citizen. Unless you have
witnessed the previous explosive economic activity of
deer season across this Commonwealth, you could not
comprehend the devastation that is about to take place
in our rural communities. It is safe to say that this
deer eradication program will cause foreclosures,
bankruptcies and the shutting down of rural businesses
on a grand scale. It is already happening. There will
be children who will actually lose the opportunity to go
to college because mom and dad’s business is no more.
Just today I had the pleasure of speaking
with 86 year old Phil Marks of Renovo, PA. A nicer
gentleman you will not find. Phil’s father started the
business in 1894 as the first Woolrich clothing
distributor in the nation. Phil’s business is way down
from the lack of hunters. His future is uncertain.
This scenario will play out across our great rural areas
over and over. The railroad is long gone and now the
hunters will be gone. Are ghosts towns the future of
rural PA?
Did Gary Alt consider the economic impacts
of herd eradication when he conceived his program?
Apparently, he did not. Is regeneration of our forests
so important that it doesn’t matter if a $5 billion
hunting industry collapses and takes thousands of lives
with it? Actually, it is the responsibility of our PGC
Commissioners to consider biological, social,
recreational and economic impacts when considering a
deer program. Can we say our Commissioners were
derelict in their duties and are a perfect example of
malfeasance in office? Frankly, a high school student
would have put more thought into the downsides of a deer
eradication program than our PGC Commissioners. Let us
not forget than we have known of our regeneration
problem for 50 years and it is common in every state
where northern red oak regeneration is desired. PA is
the only state embroiled in a deer eradication program
to resolve this problem.
I have heard through the grapevine than many
of our rural merchants are quite upset with the present
eradication course. I have also heard that some
merchants believe “eco-tourism” will quickly replace
hunting revenue. I am sorry to inform the optimistic
that there is no Santa Claus and it will take 20 years
or more for tourism to challenge the economic benefit of
hunting. DCNR’s elk program is already fading and its
insignificant $1 million per year contribution to our
rural economies will never equal the hundreds of
millions enthusiastically spent by hunters. I should
qualify that by saying formerly spent by our hunters.
There is no doubt in my mind that our deer
eradication program was designed by DCNR. Regeneration
was just the excuse to swing public opinion against
deer, hunters and hunting. Saving our forests from the
deer is actually scientifically bankrupt propaganda. It
is really about depopulating our rural northern
counties, controlling the resources and merging the
Commissions.
A handful of people are responsible for this
debacle. I believe full legislative, investigative
hearings are warranted. Those responsible should be
removed from their positions of authority never to hurt
our citizens or economy, again.
Hunting was the goose that laid the golden
egg for much of PA and its economy. Tragically, the
goose is dead. Now, we have an obligation to find and
punish the murderers.
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 |
