PGC TO LOOK AT SHORTER DOE SEASON
One week season being considered

Hunters, foresters and others with an interest in wildlife management will have a chance to share their views with the Pa. Game Commission over the next few days, as the agency convenes at its Harrisburg headquarters.

Of major interest to hunters and tourist based businesses in the local area is the commission's deer management policies.

In particular, local hunters have been reacting with concern over the proposal for a five-day antlered deer-only hunting season in five wildlife management areas, including Area 2G, which includes all of Cameron County, the southern half of Potter County and parts or all of several other counties.

That five-day season would start on the Monday after Thanksgiving, followed immediately by seven days of concurrent antlered and antlerless deer hunting.

The Game Commission also proposes to scrap the September early elk hunt, citing poor results and hunter satisfaction.

On Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m., the board will hear recommendations for 2008-09 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits. Individuals interested in offering testimony, limited to five minutes, may begin to register at noon.

On Monday, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration opens at 7:45.

Then, on Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Game Commission will take up its prepared agenda to, among other things, give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2008-09. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

Antlerless deer license allocations won't be presented to the commission until April. Deer kill results from the 2007-08 seasons will be announced in mid-March.

The Game Commission sold an additional 7,000 antlerless deer licenses last year in the wildlife management area that encompasses all of Cameron County and the southern half of Potter County. It was part of a plan to further reduce the number of deer in the largely forested Area 2G.

In 2006, the PGC sold 19,000 doe licenses for 2G. Last year's allotment was boosted to 26,000.

Doe license sales remained at 29,000 in 2006 and 2007 for Area 3A, which covers most of Potter, McKean and Tioga counties north of Rt. 6.