cool more peopple to talk to about hunting in my state

Thats a deceptive figure put out by pgc because there are NO bright spots in our state thanks to our failed management plan that the eco-extremists have implemented. The TOTAL LICENSE SALES are DOWN, yet again. The junior license sales, and also the nonresident sales...

Who the heck want to come to Pa as a nonresident when the buck harvest last year was a 50 year low and the quality sucks now, as much as it ever has?? Theyd be crazy to. Thats why our sales overall have declined steadily. The highest declines since the inception of our deer plan that was created by extreme nonhunting environmentalists.

The license sales are going to fluctuate some year to year, so I wouldn't read too much into this year's increase. I do think the PA "Deer Wars" has probably suppressed the license sales because of people talking down the quality of the deer herd and the PA game commission efforts. I support the changes that were made. I have seen significant evidence of more bucks in the 3.5 year old age class being taken. Unfortunately, in my area of SW PA, most 1.5 year olds have a least 4 points to side, so they get taken even though they are young deer. As a result, the antler restrictions have not had a major effect. The harvesting of does in the combined season has given average hunters more opportunities to take a deer. It has not hurt the doe population significantly in my area as some have claimed. The deer do seem to be shifting their locations from year to year because of pressure and food sources, but that is to be expected.

These blogs need reviewed before allowing to be posted.
This stsate has lost over 700 thousand hunters in the last 15 years.

The adult may have went up,slightly.
But we lost a little more than 5000 in other age liscense sales.

Maybe check the PAGC website and look for yourself.

Antler restrictions, very controversial and polarizing in Pa, plus the change in Doe seasons and allocations of doe tags, resulting in far fewer deer have resulted in far fewer hunters the past several years. The 5000 increase last year is insignifigant at best. I happen to agree with the restrictions, aimed at increasing the age structure of bucks in the herd. I believe it has worked, though overall herd numbers are down larger bucks are more prevelant. I'll take quality over quantity. But to a legion of meat hunters, it's a hard sell. And it is tough to keep kids interested seeing fewer deer. A recent trend of lousy hunting weather, i.e. rain and fog on the Opener haven't helped matters. As unfortuante as it is to see numbers decrease, it's peaceful in the Penns Woods.

Best thing anyone can do is join USP. They are fighting against the environmentalist faction currently running the game commission. They are also fighting against other abominable game commission policies. Be heard. Do an internet search for Unified Sportsmen of Pa. Membership dues will be the best money you have ever spent if you are a Pennsylvania hunter.