A Couple Concerns

Pennsylvania's turkey hunters have witnessed a steady decline in turkey numbers over the past decade. There are multiple causes for this, among which is the proliferation of predators. With the decline in interest in trapping, nest predators, such as raccoons and skunks, have increased in numbers and take a serious toll on turkey nests. Coyotes are also hard on turkeys. In addition, the game commission's establishment of fishers appears to have contributed to the decline in turkey numbers, despite the protestations of Mary Jo Casalena, the commission's wild turkey biologist.

Now it appears that the PGC is set to establish yet another predator in Pennsylvania. According to a recent email that I received from the game commission, it appears that the commission is going to introduce pine martens to the state. This is a horrible idea. Pine martens are predatory weasels that are somewhat smaller than fishers but larger than minks. If the introduction of these predators comes to pass, it will likely contribute to the continued demise of Pennsylvania's wild turkeys – and probably ruffed grouse as well.

Another concern for sportsmen is the future of deer management in Pennsylvania. I have been running into articles concerning Pennsylvania's future deer management problems, both on the Internet and elsewhere. The future of deer management is being threatened by decreasing numbers of deer hunters.

According to the Internet and an article in "Pennsylvania Outdoor News" citing a new book, "Harvest of Fish and Wildlife: New Paradigms for Sustainable Management," additional methods will have to be found to control deer numbers, other than sport hunting. Penn State's Duane Diefenbach is one of the country's top deer researchers and is the co-author of the book's chapter on the problems that deer managers will face in the future.

Much of this is due to the projected decrease in the number of hunters. In 2010 there were 900,000 hunters licensed in Pennsylvania. This has declined to about 800,000 today. By 2040 the number is projected to decrease to somewhere around 500,000. The decline will be caused, in large part, by the urbanization of the state's population, which will result in a decline in the recruitment of younger hunters to replace older sportsmen who are dying or are rapidly giving up hunting.

New strategies, such as increasing the numbers of deer that can be harvested by individual hunters, are going to be considered. In addition, controversial programs such as using hired sharpshooters, especially in suburban areas, may be instituted. Even programs to reduce deer fertility and commercialized harvests may be considered.