"Too Much Old Forest"
HABITAT OR DOLLARS?
by
Joe Ewing
Chief Executive Officer
of the
The March issue of the Pennsylvania Game News includes an article entitled "Too Much Old Forest" by Joe Kosack.
The subtitle reads, "The future of hunting is rooted in younger forest land."
The sub-subtitle reads,"Many hunters find comfort and familiarity in older stands of Penn's Woods. But they'd likely fine more deer and opportunity [and small game] in younger forests that provide more cover and varied foods. The canopy and ferns of older stands limits understory development and opportunities for wildlife. But the Game Commission and its partners are working to provide wildlife with a better mix of forest age classes."
Why is it always all about deer?
Maybe you have read the article. If you have, Good! I feel compelled to comment. Maybe you agree or disagree. You may comment here.
The subtitle reads, "The future of hunting is rooted in younger forest land."
The sub-subtitle reads,"Many hunters find comfort and familiarity in older stands of Penn's Woods. But they'd likely fine more deer and opportunity [and small game] in younger forests that provide more cover and varied foods. The canopy and ferns of older stands limits understory development and opportunities for wildlife. But the Game Commission and its partners are working to provide wildlife with a better mix of forest age classes."
Why is it always all about deer?
Maybe you have read the article. If you have, Good! I feel compelled to comment. Maybe you agree or disagree. You may comment here.
Joe Kosack is currently Associate Editor of Pennsylvania Game News magazine and works for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He has worked for the agency since 1990 as a writer, editor, author, photographer, website content manager, spokesperson and speaker. His hardcover book, The Pennsylvania Game Commission, 1895-1995, 100 Years of Wildlife Conservation, covers the state’s wildlife conservation movement from colonization to the wildlife agency’s centennial.
The Pennsylvania Game News is the official publication of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). The best part of the Game News is there is no advertising. This fact is very refreshing after watching T.V. and being on the world wide web. Even my snail mail box is full of nothing but advertising. Normally, the Game News is very interesting containing many educational articles and stories.
Hunting snowshoe hare, eastern cottontail rabbits and maybe even an Appalachian cottontail or aka Allegheny cottontail or two for more than fifty years has given me a sense of entitlement. After all these years I feel entitled to comment.
The title of the article says it all, "Too Much Old Forest" and the sub-subtitle leaves nothing more to be said.
The article is good news for snowshoe hare and other small game hunters, if it's true. IF the PGC is serious and committed.
Kosack admits the PGC has not been managing commission owned forests properly for a long time. Possibly never. I read an article a while back in which Kosack admitted the PGC has been more interested in timber production than in wildlife. This is a very interesting statement in that I would think a wildlife conservation organization would have it the other way around. Many timber companies employ wildlife biologists to help them manage their timber lands for both trees and wildlife.
For those of you who don't know, the hunters of Pennsylvania own 1.5 million acres. This 1.5 million acres is overseen by the PGC. The Pennsylvania Game Lands contain more acres than the state of Delaware. The entire commonwealth contains 28 million acres.
More trees need cut! The article admits the PGC has not done a very good job at managing the forests.
You need to read the article. As a snowshoe hare hunter or any kind of small game hunter, you need to read the article.
The title of the article says it all, "Too Much Old Forest" and the sub-subtitle leaves nothing more to be said.
The article is good news for snowshoe hare and other small game hunters, if it's true. IF the PGC is serious and committed.
Kosack admits the PGC has not been managing commission owned forests properly for a long time. Possibly never. I read an article a while back in which Kosack admitted the PGC has been more interested in timber production than in wildlife. This is a very interesting statement in that I would think a wildlife conservation organization would have it the other way around. Many timber companies employ wildlife biologists to help them manage their timber lands for both trees and wildlife.
For those of you who don't know, the hunters of Pennsylvania own 1.5 million acres. This 1.5 million acres is overseen by the PGC. The Pennsylvania Game Lands contain more acres than the state of Delaware. The entire commonwealth contains 28 million acres.
More trees need cut! The article admits the PGC has not done a very good job at managing the forests.
You need to read the article. As a snowshoe hare hunter or any kind of small game hunter, you need to read the article.
And you can. The magazine is available online. Just go to: http://penngamenews.com/ and if they ask for a password I will gladly give you mine. Broadband Internet access is recommended. My account number is:10EWJO486235 and the password is: pagamenews
I bet you didn't see that one coming.
Happy reading.
At the bottom of the page click where it says, "no comments" or where it says, "1 comment". I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
Don't forget to click on "Publish" when finished.
I bet you didn't see that one coming.
Happy reading.
At the bottom of the page click where it says, "no comments" or where it says, "1 comment". I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
Don't forget to click on "Publish" when finished.
