PA Game Commission Resolution Comments

Resolution # 9) NIXON GUN CLUB – Fayette – Separating the two-week antlered and antlerless season for safety reasons.

The PGC evaluated pros and cons of continuing concurrent deer seasons prior to finalizing 2005-06 seasons and bag limits. After looking at the available information, the decision was made to continue the concurrent seasons. Reasons for this decision include:

1. Concerns over safety of a concurrent season have not materialized. There is no evidence to support that concurrent antler and antlerless deer season is resulting in a more unsafe way of hunting. The 2004 overall hunting season was the best year on record for fewest number of hunting related shooting incidents. Deer hunting incidents had a minimal increase of only 1% from 2003. In addition, the presence of antler restrictions further requires hunters to accurately identify their target prior to pulling the trigger.

2. A shorter season does not ensure a reduced antlerless deer harvest. There are three ways to change an antlerless deer harvest; change the allocation, change the season length, or change both the allocation and season length. Based on prior experience in Pennsylvania, a short season may not ensure a low antlerless deer harvest. For example, Pennsylvania hunters harvested over 300,000 antlerless deer in 2000 with a 3-day season. The most effective method for reducing antlerless harvests is to reduce the allocation.

3. Longer seasons reduce the effect of poor weather on antlerless harvests. With the 3-day antlerless season, poor weather could substantially reduce the effectiveness of antlerless allocations. By extending the season, the impact of poor weather is reduced and effectiveness of antlerless allocations can be better predicted from one year to the next.

4. Concurrent seasons provide more hunting opportunities. Lack of time is one of the most common reasons for why hunters quit hunting. By continuing the concurrent seasons, hunters have more opportunity to hunt than they would with a shorter season.

5. Stable season length improves population monitoring. In the current deer management program, stable season length is important to accurately monitor deer population trends.

For these four reasons, the concurrent season was approved for the 2005-06 hunting seasons. We will continue to evaluate and monitor the use of a concurrent season to manage the deer herd. If evidence arises to show that there are possible safety issues or that the season is not effectively managing the deer herd, then changes will be made as necessary.