New question?

For many folks the PGC did when they got in bed with the anti hunters and started spending hunters money on non-game species while claiming to be too broke to fund game species and when they went along with the Audubon's deer reduction policy.

I know that when a piece of land around here sells, before the new owner even moves in every other tree along their border has one of those signs. Our club no longer raises pleasant each year because there is no enough land open to public hunting. But I fail to see the connection to the PGC.

I lost five pieces of property as a direct result of the PGC's actions (I also had to listen to the landowners **** about them) and am currently hunting 2 pieces that are posted due to herd reduction but still have permission in part because I dammed them right along with the landowners and in part because  I had good relations with them. I also was told under no condition was I allowed to hunt on Sunday on one  piece if Sunday hunting became law.
 
The only reason I haven't posted my own property is because I have hunted on others all my life and wouldn't feel right doing it.

I have to agree with wags and and people do not respect each other any more. As for ATVs I,m not a fan. I seen how they like to tear everything in their path down and the garbage,beer cans, behind them. But I mainly put the blame on the State for not controlling their use with requiring insurance, drivers testing and plates. Most riders know if they're  not caught in the act their home free. But once again how does the blame fall on the PGC.?? Don't get me wrong I've been upset with local wardens for what I felt was their job and they'd pass the responsibility off on some else.

Just so we're on the same page do you believe the deer management plan has had a significant role in land being posted or not Ridge.   Ive read several posts on 2 other boards when it was convenient for you, you were saying that it was, when at the time you were defending against claims sunday hunting would lead to more land posted.    Now all of a sudden, the tune is a little different?
 

As for when did the pgc become the bad guy, Im not sure if that is a question of the attitudes of wcos, or the hunter disgust of the agency in general.   But here is my take on it.     The issues with law enforcement personell are often due to 2 things.    Lawbreakers spreading that sentiment that the guys are badge toting loudmouth barney fifes and secondly, some actual bad apples within the wco ranks, just as there are in any faction although a small minority.  
 
As for the agency itself, its the same with any politics, and that's pretty much all that wildlife management is.    Whomever is pulling the strings and having the most power within the agency determines whether they are our friends or not.   That can and does change over time.  Just as you have in other political arenas.   You have some whacko liberals, Hardcore conservatives and everything in between in Senate, House, etc.   As well as various interest groups all scratching and clawing for "the say" on issues like deer management.   And with politically appointed boards of commissioners, you never know when they are gonna appoint people who are a majority of our "friends" or not our friends at all.   That can change with one or two appointments very quickly changing majority votes from hunter friendly to not so much or vice versa.     The  board at pgc in recent past years have proven to be VERY nonhunterfriendly.   Currently, the group in place seems a bit better, but the jury is still out.     As for staff, there seems to be a split.    Some are friends of ours, others total proven malcontents.   Some of the trash has been taken out but more definitely needs to be addressed. The agency definitely needs to be gone over with a fine toothed comb to weed out the riff-raff.   Hopefully whomever gets the Exec. director chair permanently when a replacement is found for the current temp. guy, he makes that a #1 priority.   But I wont hold my breath.

I hope there is never any Sunday hunting allowed in Pa. You know they are not going to incease stocking  limits or have better land management to support more hunting pressure. The deer herd has been destoyed and made so you have to own your own hunting preseve to have any deer to hunt . They have taken the hunting away from the common man who payed the freight for years.!!!!!!!!!

I have personally lost access to a few properties directly as a result of the PGC in 2B.  The extended antlerless firearm season after Christmas drew a lot of slob hunters from other areas to 2B who hunted wherever and however they pleased, regardless of whether they had permission or not.  Landowners got tired of these idiots trashing their properties and stomping around with rifles every day for 5 weeks straight and shut down all hunting. 
 
I don't doubt that some of the PGC's decisions have increased the rate at which land is posted, but I don't believe that they are the root cause of the posting craze.  The trend started long before AR and HR came about, particularly in midwest states and Texas probably due in part to the increasing popularity of "trophy bucks" (think Buckmasters).  The other two big reasons I see, are landowner liability concerns and a blatant disrespect for other's property. 
 
Like it or not, it's something that we all have to deal with if we want to continue to hunt.  Regardless of anything the PGC does, I wouldn't expect things to improve.   
 
   

I confronted the new owner of our woods not only about posting but how he posted signs on ever tree and telephone pole along the road.After a few remarks about respect on both sides he told me I could continue to his woods but if I got hurt he had me for trespassing and that would protect him from me suing. The thing that had me more upset that any thing was the he was not from anywhere around here and only got the land in case the state wanted to connect 70 with  22. In the end he made out cause Mark West needed it to run their gas lines. I gave up hunting in 03 due to health problems but they tell me Range has people patrolling it during hunting seasons and they did have the law confiscate one ATV after several warnings. The deer and turkeys love all that new grass.

A landowner can't be sued by someone, getting injured, while fishing or hunting in PA. It's the law! Also, land does not have to be "posted" to enforce trespassing.

People can sue for anything- even if they loose it cost the owner time and money.
The coffee is too hot- the croutons are too hard (real winning suits)
Lawyers will try and say the owner was somehow negligent beyond the scope  of the statute to facilitate their action. 
Just because a Hunter is suing doesn't mean they aren't greedy.
After all - in todays ME FIRST society its ALWAYS someone elses fault if you foul up.
Kinda cant blame owners for scaling back their exposure.
It STINKS - but ya cant really blame them.
I don't post my property in upstate NY but realize there IS a risk there.

And if they do pay off or even if ya win wait and see what the ins. costs after--if ya can still get it.

Bet if ya read the statute  there is language excepting a landowners negligence-THAT is what they will try and claim and a court will likely let them try.

Or if you have an "improvement" such as a built, not bought, tree stand/house.