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Pennsylvania Hunting License Increase

I have been trying to avoid the debate over the proposed Pennsylvania hunting license increase.  But I have been asked by a couple of people about my thoughts.  So, I’ve reluctantly decided to share my opinion.  Before I give you my thoughts, here are the 3 predominant views that I am hearing from PA hunters.

  • Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is doing a great job and needs to receive the necessary support to continue their initiatives.
  • We need to support a license increase to keep the PGC an independent agency.  If PGC can not remain financially solvent, they may need to merge with another agency such as DNR or the Fish Commission.
  • I’m not giving them another dime until they fix the deer population.

These are broad generalizations but most people I talk to fit into one of these categories.

If I fall into any one category, it is #2.  While I’m not particularly happy about the current state of deer management in PA, I will loose all hope if PGC is absorbed by an agency like DNR.

For me, it is what it is. 

PGC needs $ + Less Hunters Buying Licenses = Increase in Cost of Hunting Privileges for the Rest of Us

I am very concerned that this increase will cause even more of our hunting brethren to leave Penn’s Woods.  I’m not worried about the hunter enthusiasts. They’ll pay whatever the admission is.  But what about the guy who enjoys going into the woods 2 or 3 days a year?  They are now seeing less deer when they are out there and will have to pay more money to do so. 

Most Pennsylvania sportsmen’s associations are supporting the license fee increase.  In fact, you can sign a petition supporting the increase.

My position is that I will not oppose a license fee increase but I will not actively promote it either.  I know this view straddles the fence but here’s why I’m taking this position.  Other than my strong feelings about the deer management program, I think the PGC has done a very good job managing our sporting resources in the Commonwealth.  It is critical that they maintain their standing as an independent agency to be able to do this effectively. 

On the other hand, I don’t feel that I can go out promoting something that I think will lead to a greater reduction in number of hunters in Pennsylvania.  From reading this blog, my concern is over the future of hunting.  I don’t believe that hunting can survive unless we have enough hunters in the woods to create a unified voice and economic benefit to counter the arguments of the forces opposing our sport.  I hope that PGC will use this money to take steps to stabilize and rebuild the numbers of hunting license holders in PA.  But they will have to prove to me that they are willing and capable of doing that before my fears will subside.

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Posted: February 18th, 2008 under PA Hunting.
Comments: 13

Comments

Comment from Kris
Time: February 19, 2008, 2:09 am

I believe I heard that they are going to raise the out of state rates pretty significantly. I know that “in staters” don’t like “out of staters” coming in and hunting a lot of times, but the increase will probably cause a loss in revenue there as well, because more people will go to other places instead.

I think they have had pretty reasonable rates up to now…it will be interesting to see just how much they will raise the fees.

btw, WV just went through that last year, and it certainly agrivated me!

Comment from Dean
Time: March 22, 2008, 4:44 pm

No way. No how. There is no need to be concerned about them staying “independent”. Members of the senate said they will not let them be taken under dcnr.

Also, the board of commissioners is appointed by the governor etc. and must pass an interview with dcnr!! So you see my friend they are far from truly independent anyways.

The legislators are trying to compromise on behalf of the hunters and are trying to get at least some relief from this bs program BEFORE they give an increase. Pgc hasnt complied yet. I say if they remain stubborn, they are bringing upon themselves whatever they get (or dont get). Most I speak with around here, if not all agree. No deer. No money.

Its broke. Fix it. The lowest buck harvest in 50 years doesnt lie.

Comment from Rod
Time: April 27, 2008, 5:39 pm

I believe 99% of the hunters are completely and totally against more money for the game commission right now. Really stupid to fund an agency that is following the deer management plan of the audubon society and dcnr. REALLY stupid. Its counter to hunter interests and the sport itself. If they want more money hit up audubon and timber industry. They are the only ones reaping the benefits.

Comment from Timmons
Time: June 4, 2008, 5:03 pm

They can stuff thier deer program!!!

They are getting lots of money from gas wells being placed on gamelands, another year or two and they wont need the license increase. I think its funny for them to ask for one ahead of time to pad their general fund so they can do whatever they want to the deer herd for years to come! They can kizz my arse!

Comment from Greg Martin
Time: July 18, 2008, 12:34 pm

Well while no one likes to pay an increase in anything, when you take off the blinders that keep you focused on only one issue, you can see how our wildlife agency is in need of this increase. Though I do realize that some will cut off their nose just to spite their face, most of those are as you said, the ones who spend 2 or 3 days a year in the woods. The real enthusiasts who love hunting and wildlife will still buy them, not only because they can see the good deal compared to other states, but because they can look at the matter objectively and see that, for one it’s not the Pa. Deer commission, we spend more than the increase for lunch at McDonald’s and that’s gone in 15 minutes, and that the alternative is a much worse situation then some even percieve now. Though I am surprised at the amount of hunters not happy with the deer hunting but are in favor of an increase. And of course less we not forget the four fold increase in gas and associated services and effects. Do you know any business or family who could survive on only 2 raises in the past 23 years?

Another problem to some folks objection to an increase is the amount of misinformation that a certain group has put out there, which is visible in some of the above statements. And I don’t mean to upset anyone because some folks get offended when they find out they’ve been had by believing in falsehoods.
The commissioners to be are not interviewed by the DCNR. They are interviewed by the governors advisory council which is made up of 12 to 21 citizens from around the state and no employee of the DCNR, PGC, PFBC, DEP, members of their families or elected officials may serve on the council.

The buck harvest was low this past year, but certainly not the lowest in 50 years, a fictitious number. But that has no relation to the amount of buck in the state, nor any comparison to the past harvests. We no longer harvest all the young buck every year because they are now protected. Now if you just look at the older deer harvested compared to prior years, it has nearly doubled even those years of a much larger herd. This is most likely why the majority of hunters favor the new antler restrictions.

The game comm. does not own most of the mineral rights under the state game lands so therefore are entitled to no royalties from any gas wells. But by the same token they must allow access to put those wells on sgl’s by the rightful owner. Again, that’s more information tossed out there by the anti hunting groups who want to bankrupt the sport of hunting in the state.

And of course those ever present 99% claims. Funny how all of the major sportsmen and women’s organizations and their members are for this increase, but yet some want you to believe they’re only 1% of the sportsmen. More fuzzy math I would say.

What is a real shame though is the lack of knowledge as to how important of a role forestry management plays in maintaining healthy populations of wildlife.

Comment from Larryk
Time: August 26, 2008, 8:18 pm

Greg, its clear you are either a pgc employee friend or family member. Noone else would have their head up pgcs butt so far and make all the nonsensical hogwash statements that you did.

The only “lack of knowledge” is among the few unsuspecting sportsmen who dont realize EXACTLY whats going on here, and whos pulling the strings. PGc is a fraud, and needs sued….Oh wait! They are being!

BTW, the pfsc did not take a vote on most of the key issues. They DO NOT want to know what membership thinks. Most of the members are club members also, that have no idea their club is even affiliated….And those that do have no clue what pfsc does in regard to anything…

Id say tht 90+% are against pgc, further funding and the deer joke program. Thats a fact!

Comment from Ralphie
Time: August 29, 2008, 3:40 pm

pa.audubon.org/docs/deer_report/lanc_sunday_news_jon_rutter.pdf

These idiots are directing PGCS deer management plan. WHACKOS!

Comment from Raphael Kinsey
Time: September 4, 2008, 11:59 am

No Greg, whats a real shame is the few goof-balls like you who are pgc employees, close friends and family members who go from website to website putting on “a happy face” in a show of fraudulent non-existing support of pgc by our hunting ranks.

PGC is a bad joke these days. Made up of eco-crazies” and the deer plan is an unbased joke. Legislators have intervened on our part and are the only friends the sportsmen of our state have currently.

Comment from Raphael Kinsey
Time: September 4, 2008, 12:02 pm

Only “sportsmens orgs” that support this SHAM are like PENNSYLVANIA FED. of SPORTSMANS CLUBS & CONSERVATIONISTS. These clowns accept nonhunting “audubon society” folks as members and they are basically the ones running the show. “Eco-goobers” speaking from within a hunting organization…Or more accurately ALL a bunch of Eco-goobers with a portion pretending to be hunters.

SPORTSMEN do not support this fiasco. Groups or the HUGE majority of hunters who arent affiliated with these relatively small “organizations” and politcally motivated “fronts”.

Comment from Matthews shooter
Time: September 5, 2008, 6:26 pm

The game commission is useless. The deer herd is in shambles. Time to show pgc the door.

Comment from David D
Time: October 1, 2008, 5:45 pm

The game commission is a bunch of idiots who couldnt manage a deer herd if their lives depended on it. Not one state wants to follow their example and Every single other states message boards I check out has that states hunters either pointing towards Pa and snickering or saying flat out I DONT WANT THAT HERE!! NO WAY NO HOW!

Comment from Sammy 911
Time: November 18, 2008, 11:16 pm

NO WAY!!! I CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE THE GALL OF THESE IDIOTS!! COMPLETELY RUINING HUNTING AND DOING AS THEIR FRIENDS THE ECOFLAKES SEE FIT, THEN WANT US, THE HUNTERS THEYVE SCREWED ALL ALONG, AND CALLED US NAMES, AND TOLD US TO JUST FORGET THE DEER AND HUNT SMALL GAME!! THEN TURN AROUND AND DEMAND THAT WE PAY MORE FOR IT TO CONTINUE ON!?!?!? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDIN” ME!! THESE IDIOTS CANT BE SERIOUS!!

Pingback from More on Hunting License Increase Delay | Penn’s Outdoors
Time: December 2, 2008, 6:08 am

[…] on many of the comments from previous posts here at Penn’s Outdoors on the topic, many of you will agree with Mr. Staback.  […]

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