Hi GB and thanks for your in-depth input on a very difficult topic.
You say that Pa should "hammer"the antlerless deer to put the buck-doe ratio more in line.For years Pa claimed to have a deer herd size of 2 million.Last year alone hunters took 352,000 antlerless deer.Yes,some were button bucks.Our law makers allow us to take any "antlerless" deer.That is any deer with less than 3 inch spikes.Bucks that are larger than 3 inch spikes, up to bucks with less than 3 points on one side are protected.(In some counties in western pa its 4 points to one side).It is my guess that we will not take as many does as last year.I think the game commission would like a herd size of about 1 million deer,half as many as before.
The main reason for this desired drop in deer herd size is complaint pressure from insurance companys(deer road kill vehicle damage),lumber companies,local municipalities,etc.Also through studies conducted by Pa game comm.that claim that our forests are being depleted of natural plant life wild flowers etc.They built high fenced in areas that were clear cut,and studied the growth of the forest without deer encroachment.There are areas that have a definate brows line.They promise us healthier deer and larger bucks,we will see!
For years a Pa hunters could take any buck with 3" points or larger.Thus resulting in damn few larger bucks.My best huntin buddy has taken more than 8 spikers in his years of hunting(35) and only one 8 point.This was common for years because our deer herd went unchecked and unbalanced.Now,Mr Alt claims to have the right approach.Only time will tell! :?