Penn’s Outdoors

A lot of people are questioning whether the audit will be truly independent.  I am trying to stay optimistic about things.  I am as cynical about government as anyone but I believe some of our representatives in Harrisburg are starting to pay attention to their hunting constituents’ concerns and maybe more so the economics of deer management.  Here is a press release from Senator Mike Folmer.

HARRISBURG (January 16, 2007) – Senator Mike “Citizen Mike” Folmer (R-Lebanon) has sent a letter to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) requesting an independent audit of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s deer herd management program.

“I have repeatedly heard from hunters who have long been upset with a deer herd that to them is unacceptably thin,” Folmer wrote in his letter. “I believe that this sustained level of concern validates the need for the General Assembly to obtain an honest assessment of this issue.”

Folmer noted that deer hunting has long been a rich part of Pennsylvania’s culture, and also a vital economic component, generating $5 billion of economic activity annually.

Folmer concluded in the letter, “A truly independent audit by an entity without a stake in the size of the deer herd will help to establish whether we are managing the herd while properly balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including sportsmen.”

Remember, our deer management is not just about hunting but also the economy.  $5 billion is nothing to sneeze at.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see…