01-06-2006, 05:30 PM
State mulling program to control deer population
By ALISON HAWKES
The Intelligencer
HARRISBURG — Deer hunting could become more than just a winter sport in urban and suburban areas in Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area, under a proposal the state hunting commission is considering.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Game Commission are recommending a new “Urban Deer Control Program,” which would allow private landowners and municipalities with public land to let hunters shoot antlerless deer after the normal hunting season ends in January.
As envisioned, the program would be similar to the Red Tag Program, which allows farmers with a minimum of 50 acres to bring in deer hunters between Feb. 1 and Sept. 28, nearly the entire off-season for deer hunting.
The proposal also would encourage towns to pass ordinances against deer feeding and would study deer contraception techniques.
Game Commission Spokes-man Jerry Feaser said the goal is to curb the deer population in congested areas of the state, and he insists it can be done safely.
“Hunting is an effective means of managing the deer population, but the problem we face in these urban areas is hunting is either not permitted by landowners or not permitted because of conflicts with safety zones,” Feaser said.
Still, the idea may provoke a backlash from animal rights activists and residents concerned about safety, especially when hunting is allowed year-round. Feaser said the Red Tag Program does not require hunting notices be posted on properties.
“There's children that are playing. They could wander onto some of this private property or be playing in an area where shooting is going on,” said Gail Selesnick-Fisher of Upper Makefield who has protested for years against the annual deer hunt in Tyler State Park.
Feaser said basic safety rules would still apply. Hunters must be at least 150 yards from an occupied building to fire a shotgun or muzzleloader and 50 yards away with a crossbow and cannot shoot toward a building. Also, the hunting is only allowed with the landowner's permission.
“You can't just go running on someone else's property,” he said. “So there's a requirement on the individual's part. The hunter is still required to follow basic ethics of hunter safety. They should know to positively identify their target as legal game.”
The program would require hunters to take an advanced course on hunting in developed areas in order to be listed on a state-run database linking hunters with landowners.
.....når bare man har nok penge og krudt.....så går det ikke aldrig helt galt :-)
Favourite Quote: Vi løser ikke vore problemer ved at tænke på samme måde, som da vi skabte dem.....(Albert Einstein)
By ALISON HAWKES
The Intelligencer
HARRISBURG — Deer hunting could become more than just a winter sport in urban and suburban areas in Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area, under a proposal the state hunting commission is considering.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Game Commission are recommending a new “Urban Deer Control Program,” which would allow private landowners and municipalities with public land to let hunters shoot antlerless deer after the normal hunting season ends in January.
As envisioned, the program would be similar to the Red Tag Program, which allows farmers with a minimum of 50 acres to bring in deer hunters between Feb. 1 and Sept. 28, nearly the entire off-season for deer hunting.
The proposal also would encourage towns to pass ordinances against deer feeding and would study deer contraception techniques.
Game Commission Spokes-man Jerry Feaser said the goal is to curb the deer population in congested areas of the state, and he insists it can be done safely.
“Hunting is an effective means of managing the deer population, but the problem we face in these urban areas is hunting is either not permitted by landowners or not permitted because of conflicts with safety zones,” Feaser said.
Still, the idea may provoke a backlash from animal rights activists and residents concerned about safety, especially when hunting is allowed year-round. Feaser said the Red Tag Program does not require hunting notices be posted on properties.
“There's children that are playing. They could wander onto some of this private property or be playing in an area where shooting is going on,” said Gail Selesnick-Fisher of Upper Makefield who has protested for years against the annual deer hunt in Tyler State Park.
Feaser said basic safety rules would still apply. Hunters must be at least 150 yards from an occupied building to fire a shotgun or muzzleloader and 50 yards away with a crossbow and cannot shoot toward a building. Also, the hunting is only allowed with the landowner's permission.
“You can't just go running on someone else's property,” he said. “So there's a requirement on the individual's part. The hunter is still required to follow basic ethics of hunter safety. They should know to positively identify their target as legal game.”
The program would require hunters to take an advanced course on hunting in developed areas in order to be listed on a state-run database linking hunters with landowners.
.....når bare man har nok penge og krudt.....så går det ikke aldrig helt galt :-)
Favourite Quote: Vi løser ikke vore problemer ved at tænke på samme måde, som da vi skabte dem.....(Albert Einstein)
.....ualmindelig velinformeret i forhold til min alder ... :-)
Favourite Quote: En humlebi ved ikke, at den ikke kan flyve......Gå ud på terrassen og vift med armene...hvis du letter må du være uvidende ;-)
Favourite Quote: En humlebi ved ikke, at den ikke kan flyve......Gå ud på terrassen og vift med armene...hvis du letter må du være uvidende ;-)