Rep. Mahoney Will Reintroduce Bill To Increase Deer Herd On Game Lands

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette) will again introduce legislation that would increase the deer population on State Game Lands in Pennsylvania. Last sessions bill was House Bill 1667.

 

The legislation would require the state Game Commission to adopt new policies and procedures to benefit hunters and other sportsmen and women.

 

"Hunters across the state would like to see Pennsylvania's deer population returned to the robust level of past years," Rep. Mahoney said. "Unfortunately, the deer population has dwindled over the years and that's why my proposal is important. It would make boosting the deer population a priority so more

deer would be available for hunters to harvest."

 

Rep.Mahoney said his bill would include four major features. It would:

 

-- Establish citizen task forces for every wildlife management unit across the state. The game warden in each unit would be required to hold biannual town meetings where interested sportsmen and women would be able to meet and discuss the deer population in their area. The warden would forward suggestions and recommendations by residents to the Game Commission.

 

-- Return the antler requirements to pre-2003 status: a buck only would have to have two points on an antler or a spike at least 3 inches long to be harvested.

 

-- Require the Game Commission to adopt policies that would increase the deer population on State Game Lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies.

 

-- Require the Game Commission to collect mandatory harvest report cards from hunters.

 

The Fayette County lawmaker said between 1993 and 2002, the antlered buck harvest has decreased by about 25 percent on 3.6 million acres of forested land in the state.