Deer mgt. open house March 29

An "open house" will be held next month in St. Marys to discuss the Pa. Game Commission's (PGC) deer management plan.

Hunters, foresters and anyone else interested in the deer herd are welcome to attend the session, to be held on Saturday, March 29, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Red Fern Inn, at the corner of Kersey Road and Rt. 255.

PGC has been operated under a five-year deer management plan adopted in 2003 with the goals of improving deer health, improving forest health and reducing deer-human conflicts.

After a series of open houses last year, the agency added two more management goals to the plan: to provide recreational opportunities and to improve the public's knowledge and understanding of deer and the deer management program.

"While this session is open to everyone, there is considerable focus on hunting," said PGC Executive Director Carl Roe. "Hunters have helped the agency manage our deer population for more than 100 years . . . Their financial contributions help support Pennsylvania's wildlife management programs and their efforts afield have helped to keep our deer populations in check."

More information about the agency's deer management program is available at the website, pgc.state.pa.us.