Commissioners have been appointed by a Governor and approved by the Senate for a very long time.
Up until a few years ago, they were eight year appointments. So commissioners tended to serve beyond the tenure of a Governor that had appointed them. Now, their terms are four years, with extensions based on approval of the Senate, IF the Governor puts them up for another term.
That is more political influence than we'd ever had and it was the direct result of malcontents whining to the legislature, demanding they take more control over deer management. So this is the primary cause of the phugged up mess we have now. We now have fewer hunters in the legislature, than at any time since I've been around. They don't know a damn thing about deer or wildlife management, but they do know what it takes to get re-elected: Grease the squeaky wheel that makes all the noise.
I know several of the deer biologists that work for the PGC. All but one of them hunts deer and always has. And every damn one of them spends more time afield, than most of our casual (two or three day) deer hunters do, many of whom think that makes them deer experts..
You do not know chit Gov. Tom Ridge changed from elected to appointed. And if you do not have your head up the azz of every single person working for the PGC no one does. The only way out of the mess is fire the whole lot of them and combine agencies, then put the positions up for vote without allowing the PFSC to block vote. Go back to HUNTINGPA and spew your nonsense
