Sportsmen's club targeting deer issue

Members of the Sinnemahoning Sportsmen's Association are urging to the state legislature to become involved in management of the Pennsylvania deer herd.

At their first meeting of the new year, club members acknowledged that political interference with wildlife management is risky, but dwindling deer populations in Cameron and Potter counties require that state lawmakers become involved.

"A good number of camps are up for sale in Cameron County and Potter County because there are so few deer anymore," said Sinnemahoning Sportsmen's Association spokesman Ray Savel. "These hunters are selling what they have here and looking to building a camp in another county, or possibly in Ohio or West Virginia."

Not only is the region losing its deer-hunting heritage, the economy is also suffering and club membership is affected, Savel said.

"Action must be taken by our elected officials in Harrisburg to bring the Game Commission under control and rebuild the deer population," he added.

Club membership was 5,339 in 2007 and so far stands at 3,330 this year. Sportsmen and sportswomen are reminded that they must be club members to participate in the Coyote Hunt and to obtain corn from the club for winter wildlife feeding.