Deer Audit Released ---

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today welcomed the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s audit titled “The Deer Management Program of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, A Comprehensive Review and Evaluation.”

“We believe it was a thorough review of our program and we appreciate the constructive criticism,” Roe said. “We welcome the conclusion that the overall scientific foundation of the Game Commission’s deer management system is sound, and that the design of the current Wildlife Management Units reflect a necessary compromise between the various needs.

“The report also provides some opportunities to improve our deer management program.  Some of the recommendations we can address easily, but some will require additional resources to be able to implement.”

Dr. Christopher Rosenberry, Game Commission Deer Management Supervisor, said he and his team concur with the findings of the audit that indicate the Game Commission has implemented a deer management program that is consistent with its mandates through structured public involvement and scientific data collection methods.

“As with any complex undertaking, such as a statewide deer program, room for improvement exists,” Rosenberry said. “In the past, the Game Commission has actively sought peer-reviews of various components of our deer program, conducted research and analyses to evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and implemented changes when warranted. The recommendations from this audit will be treated in a similar manner.

“The Game Commission appreciates the thoroughness of this review and evaluation of our deer program. This audit identified current strengths and areas for improvement within the deer management program. As with previous peer-reviews, the Game Commission will use these findings and recommendations to improve its deer management program where possible.”

For a complete copy of the audit and the Game Commission’s comments, please go to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s website (http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/), click on “Reports Released” in the left-hand column and scroll down to “Game and Fisheries” section.
      
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ORIGINAL: Dr. Trout

Based on comparisons of hunter effort and harvest among 14 northeastern states and provinces, it appears that deer hunters in Pennsylvania have relatively good hunting opportunity, ranking fourth in hunter density and harvest success, and ranking second in kill per unit effort and third in kill per square mile (2007)

I have skimmed through some of it and find it to be pretty fair thus far.