By Blake Jackson
Pennsylvania is struggling to control its deer population, despite hunting being the state's best approach to addressing wildlife crop damage.
One of the biggest challenges is that hunters are struggling to gain access to farmland. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers three programs to help hunters access farmland: the Hunter Access Program, the Deer Management Assistance Program, and the Agricultural Deer Control Program. However, these programs are not enough to meet the demand from hunters.
Another challenge is that the number of hunters in Pennsylvania is decreasing. The Game Commission's "mentor hunts," which are held near Philadelphia, have seen high demand. However, Bater emphasized that hunters must be "experienced," "qualified," and "respectful." Unauthorized trespassing on farmlands remains a major issue for farmers.
Alternative solutions to stop crop damage are expensive and time intensive. Bater said he has fencing and has tried liquid and spray deterrents at a high cost.
Bater suggested several ways to improve the situation, including:
- Removing dressing and storing requirements for farmers who harvest deer on their property
- Increasing conservation hunting education
- Using new technology, such as drones, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, to better specify where deer are located
Bater said that the state needs to harness hunting as a tool to manage the deer population, but that it is difficult to do so with fewer hunters. He also said that the state needs to do more to educate hunters about the importance of respecting farmlands.
Photo Credit: pexels-jim fawns
Categories: Pennsylvania, Rural Lifestyle