The Great Outdoors
Grace’s remarks a disgrace By now you have heard bits and pieces that a fly-over census of our deer herd is currently under way in Northcentral Pennsylvania. Confusion abounds in this matter, so let’s clarify some details.
Vision Air Research of Boise, Idaho has been hired by DCNR (not the PGC) to conduct the research utilizing their “Forward Looking Infra-Red” technology, hence the acronym “FLIR.” Weeks ago I radio-interviewed the President, Susan Bernatas. On route to Pennsylvania to begin the project, she stayed at a hotel in Terre Haute, Ind. I called her in her room and taped the show. DCNR is paying about $150,000 to survey the 280,000 acre Sproul State Forest, which is the equivalent of about 50 cents an acre. Accuracy is reported at 90 percent in our hardwood, ridge and valley environments.
Some say DCNR Secretary Mike DeBernardinis should be commended for his courageous move to finally put the debate of deer numbers to bed. While this investigator understands that opinion to some degree, DeBernardinis really had no other choice. His inner circle of advisors have forced him in that unenviable position of being caught “between a rock and a hard place.” Since the inception of the “kill the deer to improve regeneration” program, DeBernardinis has put his future in the hands of a small group of people.
Cindy Dunn, formerly with Audubon, Byron Shissler, the wildlife consultant, Susan Stouts from the Allegheny National Forest, Ann Rhodes from the Philadelphia Arboretum, Ron Freed, formerly with the PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and Jim Grace, Chief of the Bureau of Forestry all played a significant role of convincing DeBernardinis that deer were the critical cause of our regeneration problems. What DeBernardinis did not know (which we knew all too well) was that these same people have a long history of blaming deer for our forest ills long before he came on the scene. Furthermore, I don’t believe DeBernardinis realizes these people have blamed deer for so long they will retire and go to their graves claiming deer are the problem regardless of any scientific revelations.
Jim Grace’s remarks at the latest PGC Commission meeting are a classic example of his deer phobia. In the face of tens of thousands of complaints that deer are almost non-existent across a broad landscape, Grace used his time to demonize our deer. He advocated new seasons, more DMAP permits and an overall insistence that deer are the perennial problem. He intimated that after the deer problem is solved DCNR and PGC would embark upon a joint effort to study our regeneration dilemma. Personally, I find it extremely offensive that DCNR and PGC did not embark upon this study “before” we nearly eradicated our herd. We are still waiting for Grace to explain why Ohio with the same regeneration problems as Pennsylvania called in the U.S. Forest Service to review their situation. Why did Ohio “rule out” deer as their first official act in their regeneration investigation?
What I am trying to politely say is that if DCNR is the epicenter of the “kill the deer” mantra then Grace is the epicenter within the epicenter. Frankly, I find him to be a dinosaur in the regeneration debate practicing prehistoric science. His philosophies and remarks are actually a disgrace to our state.
Very soon, it will be decision time for DeBernardinis. My sources tell me Vision Air Research is not finding any deer in Zone 2G. (What a surprise.) Actually, a call came in tonight from a credible source stating that DCNR has broken off the fly-over due to inclement weather. This does not look good for DeBernardinis, Grace and the “kill the deer crowd.” Of course, our hunters will conclude that the results of the FLIR census were so low that DCNR decided to cut it off before the pathetically low numbers became official causing even more embarrassment.
Unfortunately, DeBernardinis is running out of options. He can stand in support of his “kill the deer” advisors and go down to the bottom with his crew. Or, he can play the role of leader and sweep the special interests off the deck and surround himself with new, competent people.
If my instincts are correct DeBernardinis is in a major jam no matter what course of actions he chooses. In view of DCNR’s role in the deer slaughter, there are more than a few politicians that would like to see DeBernardinis go back to managing the parks of Philadelphia.
Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Sportsman’s Connection”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com