Deer herd study approved

Outside experts are being called in to study the Pennsylvania deer herd and review the Game Commission's management policies.

The study by an independent consulting firm was approved by a unanimous vote in the state legislature. It was first proposed in 2006 in response to criticism of the game agency's scientific management of the state's deer populations through sales of antlerless deer licenses.

Consultants will study deer populations and hunter success rates dating back 12 years. They will also probe the impact of acid precipitation and other factors, other than deer over-browsing, on forest regeneration.

Analysis of the Game Commission's deer modeling techniques, a review of reproduction data as an indicator of herd health, and the configuration of the commission's wildlife management units are also part of the study.

The consultants will also compare Pennsylvania's management strategies with those of other states. Cost of the study is estimated at $150,000.

Hunters and tourist- based business owners have been critical of the Game Commission's policies, which have reduced the size of the deer herd in northcentral Pennsylvania by an estimated 35 percent over the past decade.

The game agency maintains that it is balancing deer populations with habitat changes and the need to protect tree seedlings from deer.