The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania petitioned Commonwealth Court last week to put a halt to all antlerless deer hunting on State Game Lands and State Forest Lands. The request for injunctive relief demands the Game Commission scientifically document and substantiate the need to further reduce deer herds on public lands.

The group said for the past six years the Game Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have conducted an accelerated deer reduction program resulting in the harvest of more than 3 million and believe the Game Commission has violated the law as well as abused its discretionary authority in the execution of its deer management program.

The Unified Sportsmen said hunting in Pennsylvania is a $4 billion per year industry touching the lives of millions of Pennsylvania citizens. The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania believe the present deer management policies threaten the future of deer hunting in the Commonwealth.

Links: Deer Population, Development Caused Dramatic Increase in Lyme Disease

DCNR Study Shows Deer Exacting Heavy Toll on State Forests

Too Many Deer Damaging Forest Ecosystems, Agriculture

9/14/2007