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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Hanna |
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Deer management legislation introduced by Hanna
HARRISBURG, Dec. 8 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, recently introduced legislation designed to focus the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission on sportsmen, while also giving hunters more involvement in the management of whitetail deer.
"The PGC is responsible for managing game in the commonwealth. Within the last decade, the PGC has changed its deer management strategy. This change has demonstrated that the PGC is less focused on the needs of sportsmen. As such, my legislation would amend the duties of the PGC to focus primarily on serving the interests of sportsmen, including maximizing the sustainable yield of the whitetail deer herd," Hanna said.
Hanna's legislation (H.B. 2034) would also establish a bipartisan Antlerless Deer Harvest Committee.
Currently, the PGC determines antlerless deer allocations with minimal public involvement. Under Hanna's bill, an Antlerless Deer Harvest Committee would review the information and calculations and accept the recommendations or propose their own allocations. The decision of the committee would be binding on the PGC.
"Since sportsmen are the primary means used by the PGC to manage game, I believe it is imperative that we ensure that the PGC is serving the interests of our sportsmen and providing for their involvement in the management of our wildlife resources," Hanna said.
The bill awaits action by the House Game and Fisheries Committee.
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