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To say the future of North Central PA is monumentally
critical to the future of hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting in
the great state of Pennsylvania is a colossal understatement. In our
children’s lifetime outdoor opportunities south of Route 80 may be
seriously impacted. We must prepare for tomorrow by protecting our
future, today.
I got to thinking about our many controversies and the intense
political interest focused on the Northcentral. One cannot engage
these discussions without hearing a politician, agency employee or
foundation announcing the formation of a new “partnership”. Hmmm?
Let’s talk about “partnerships”.
It wasn’t that long ago that the PGC “partnered” with the Audubon
Society. What was the outcome? A mysterious million dollars was
thrown into deer management studies from undeclared sources, which
led to the genocide of our deer. The icing on the cake was when
Cindy Dunn from the Audubon testified in favor of a PGC/PFBC merger
under DCNR and the consolidation of our State Game Lands into State
Forest Lands. Concurrently, the PGC “partnered” with the Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation. Now the RMEF is “telling” our PGC
Commissioners how many elk we can harvest. Interesting.
However, these two examples of “partnerships” gone sour are pale in
comparison to the shenanigans of the “King” of partnerships, the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Frankly, comparing
the PGC’s past blunders to DCNR’s current game plan is analogous to
worrying about scratches on your .458 Winchester while a lion is
charging you with the intent of crushing your skull. I think DCNR
invented the term “partnership”.
I’m certain you’ve read the press releases. DCNR is partnering with
the RMEF, the Nature Conservancy, the Western PA Conservancy and the
examples go on. It is always about some land deal or grant or
concern for a critical species. Our deer herd is getting pummeled
and our forest ecosystems are collapsing, but DCNR is deeply
embroiled in a new land deal allegedly to protect critical habit
against the evils of development.
Each time DCNR completes a land deal that county’s property tax
revenue takes a substantial hit. It’s the law of diminishing
returns. More government land ownership within a county, less tax
revenue for the county to provide for services. Remaining residents
are stuck with the revenue shortcomings.
Let me propose a novel alternative to the concept of state agencies
“partnering” with private foundations and conservancies. How about
if the PGC “partnered” with our hunters and DCNR partnered with the
citizens of the Northcentral and not the “international”
multi-billion dollar Nature Conservancy?
Our citizens are not fooled by DCNR’s quest for “partnerships”. They
clearly see through the happy talk. DCNR is buying resources and so
is the PGC, although on a much smaller scale. Resources are
extracted for money and money is power. Our Northcentral brethren
are slowly getting strangled financially.
A few months ago a politician proposed legislation to resolve this
scandalous agenda, but his legislation fell far short. He was
suggesting 10% of all resource extractions dollars generated from
State Forest Lands and State Game Lands be given back to the
counties. I say DCNR should turn over 25% of its resource revenue
back to the counties, just like the Feds in the Allegheny National
Forest. The PGC and our hunters can call their 10% contribution a
gesture of goodwill to our rural citizens. Perhaps, the counties can
maintain the PGC ranges and parking lots in the region in exchange.
When one steps back and analyzes the DCNR’s intensive land
acquisition interest, the gating of State Forest roads, the
embracing of Biodiversity, the eco-tourism elk program and the
condemnation of our deer resource without serious consideration for
the true culprit, acid deposition, their agenda becomes obvious. We
have a rogue agency operating out of our citizens’ control. When you
realize over 3000 bureaucrats are employed at DCNR, the equivalent
of 50 DCNR employees per county, there should be cause for concern.
We, the sporting community need our Northcentral counties to be a
vibrant and economically stable region of our state. We need the
habitat, the fish and wildlife, especially the deer to be restored
to their fullest potential. We expect our rural citizens to be
treated with respect and fairness and be permitted to be stewards of
the land, private and public.
Partnerships can be beneficial with the right partners for the right
reasons. I hate to be bearer of bad news, but DCNR is partnering
with the wrong people for the wrong reasons.
Isn’t time for DCNR to partner with the people who pay their
salaries, the citizens of Pennsylvania?
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. |
