Hunting Archery Duck Deer

Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer John Papson weighed in this week on the current deer season. Papson’s bosses have asked him to complete a report on how the southeast region is responding to this year’s deer management changes. Namely the extended season.

Papson will give his findings based on his field surveys he and his deputies conduct throughout the season. We talked about what we’ve been hearing from the hunting community. I told him I heard almost all good news about the hunting season. Now remember we spoke of deer management here. In Bucks and Montgomery Counties (Wildlife Management Units #5C and #5D).

Personally I was very pleased the PGC decided to extend the antlerless season beyond the usual cutoff at the end of late archery and muzzleloader. Most of the hunters I know felt the same way. The most often repeated reason was the extension gave hunters more days to fill tags and get some venison in the freezer.

At face value that alone is a positive response from those I heard from. But the PGC decision was well received for another reason. Due to the cutbacks in antlerless allocations in most WMUs to the north, many hunters did not get an antlerless tag for their usual hunting grounds. They therefore had no option but to apply for one here. Tags here were plentiful and we had plenty of dates to get in the field.

Papson and I, as we usually do, discussed many topics including things that are perfectly legal but bug us just the same.

If you were like the hundreds of hunters that went to the courthouses to get your tag over the counter, you know what a zoo that was. Hundreds of hunters waiting in lines for hours and for some, to no avail. I don’t know of anything we can do about that until the PGC gets the system in place to offer the option to take applications via the web and print them yourself.

But I watched two things unfold over the last couple years that bug me and Papson agreed.

When the line finally got to the point of the treasurer’s office at the Bucks Courthouse last year we watched a group of three individuals purchasing a ‘stack’ of tags. Since they carried in a huge pile of signed completed applications they were able to finish the transaction for their friends or club. All perfectly legal, but they clogged the line and two courthouse personnel for hours.

Real simple solution if left up to me. If you want a tag, go get it yourself. If hunting means enough to you to apply for a tag, take the time.

The second thing that creeped me out a little was some guy telling everyone within ear shot that he was going to purchase 20 tags. I’m sorry, but while that also is legal, maybe a limit would be a good idea. If you really need 20 tags then limit the purchase to 3 at a time and go back and get in line.

What do you think? I told Papson I would ask a few questions and let him know what you had to say.

Are you in favor of the extra antlerless season days the special regulation areas were given this year?
Would you favor a limit on tags?
Would you expand or change the accepted weapon list?
Do you believe the crossbow should be allowed as a weapon during the archery season or return to its limited use in gun season only?
Would you like to see the ‘in-line’ muzzleloader be approved for the late muzzleloading season?
Do you believe the use of rosters serves any purpose when you’re hunting from your home or a friends?
Other ideas that would improve deer management in the special regulation areas?
There’s no science here. I just told Papson I would collect your input and send it to him, his bosses at the southeast regional office, the Commissioners and the PGC biologists. That’s because when the PGC meetings begin next month, they will have had time to ponder some of this info. I have always believed they will listen. And every time I speak with this region’s commissioner, Greg Isabella, he never misses an opportunity to say he represents the hunters here and wants to hear from them.

You can send your thoughts to me via regular mail to 333 N. Broad St. Doylestown, PA 18901 or via email.

I’ve never met a hunter that didn’t have issues with something about the way PGC does things; myself included, so here’s your chance. I’ll let you know what some of the most common items are and how the majority feels about these items. We can all then keep an eye on whether anyone, in fact, listened.

Dale Machesic is a columnist for the Intelligencer. He can be reached at 215-345-3018 or via email at: dmachesic@phillyburbs.com.