[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I understand that the coyote may be part of the problem--but I think that main reason for lack of game (deer) in these areas has more to do with mismanagement by the State Game commission under Gary Alt's tenure.

I believe that the game commission caved in under the pressure from the auto insurance companies to reduce the number of deer vs vechile collisions and to solve this the game commission decided to reduce the deer herd in PA by the "killing off" of large numbers of does. This was accomplished by increasing the doe season (during rifle season) from 3 days after the buck season to running it concurrently with buck season for 14 days and increasing the number of doe permits in each area. Then you have to take in consideration the archery seasons, muzzleloading seasons, etc. which also reduced the deer herd.

The Game Commission got there reduction of the deer herd, Alt was under fire by many sportmans organizations and he's gone, but the DAMAGE has been done and the only way to increase the size of the deer herd is do what was done in the 60s and 70s. No doe permits for 3 or 4 years (no doe permits were sold for several years during the 60s) then as the deer herd increases go to a 1 day doe season after the buck season, and as the keeps increasing eventually go back to a 3 doe season after the rifle buck season. What's needed is a reductions of doe permits.

grizz