Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette) has introduced House Bill 1667 aimed at increasing the deer population in Pennsylvania.

The bill would require the state Game Commission to implement new policies and procedures for sports enthusiasts.

“The tradition of hunting on state game lands is popular in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Mahoney, a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. “My proposal would increase the deer population so more deer would be available for hunters to harvest.”

The legislation has four major provisions:

· 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 sports enthusiasts would be able to meet and discuss the deer population in their area. The warden would then forward suggestions and recommendations to the Game Commission;

· Return the antler requirements to pre-2003 status by requiring that a buck would only have to have two points on an antler or a spike at least three inches long to be harvested;

· Require the Game Commission to adopt policies to increase the deer population on game lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies; and

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

Rep. Mahoney’s legislation has been referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee for consideration.

Link: Sportsmen, Farm, Environmental Groups urge Open Look at Deer Program

7/6/2007