"However, at the end of the trial, we are confident that this debate over the scientific validity will be resolved once and for all."

Court costs disputed

In a statement on its Web site, the USP disputes Roe's claim, noting "It has been long established that the attorney general's office provides all legal services in lawsuits against the PGC. Furthermore, any supporting documentation of the current deer management plan should be at their fingertips as this program is ongoing. There is practically no cost to the PGC in this matter. It is only appropriate that the PGC defend their actions for the last eight years."

Phil Wagner, of Lewisburg, a USP member and longtime vocal critic of the commission's deer management policies, said of the USP lawsuit, "If it results in changes, I'm all for it. We've tried everything else and gotten nowhere. I'm not in favor of bankrupting the Game Commission -- they're doing that themselves -- but if this lawsuit can get some legislators to pay attention to our problem, I say go for it.

"We don't even have enough interest in deer hunting to open our camp during the deer season. I'm convinced we wouldn't have an issue with regeneration if our forest soil weren't so acidic. If we could get DCNR to burn off some areas, I think we could get regeneration. However, in order to do that some laws need to be changed and we can't seem to get any movement on the issue of getting those laws changed."

Committee member disgruntled

Steve Van Sant, of Lewisburg, a life-long deer hunter, was a member of the citizens' advisory committee for Wildlife Management Unit 4D. He was to represent the interest of homeowners in developed areas of the WMU. Van Sant said, "I think the lawsuit is necessary. In many areas of the state I think we have overharvested the deer herd. I feel that the antler restrictions should continue, I have no problem with them at all. I think there should be an independent audit of the Game Commission's deer management program. We need population estimates based on science, not speculation.

"As far as the citizens' advisory committee, it was a complete waste of time for everyone involved. We recommended allowing the deer herd in WMU 4D to increase. They didn't take our recommendations into account. It made not one iota of difference.

"I was especially upset by the statement issued by the PGC that they own the deer herd. That's baloney. The citizens of the Commonwealth own the deer herd. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is charged with managing them. I spend a lot of time in the woods, and this deer herd is in serious trouble."