Introducing Deer Hunter Focus Areas By Joe Kosack T he Pennsylvania Game Commission has started a new program to help hunters get closer to some of the better whitetail hunting areas in moreremote sections of state game lands. The Deer Hunter Focus Area program helps direct hunters to areas on game lands where the agency believes deer are taking advantage of habitat modifications - primarily timber harvests. "Some of the best places to hunt deer on state game lands are in remote, often mountainous, areas where forest management has opened the canopy to promote increased plant growth," explained Dave Gustafson, the Game Commission's chief forester. "However, these areas often are in remote destinations, often some distance from roads open to public travel. "That's where this new program intends to help hunters. Our goal is to guide hunters to game lands locations where habitat work has been done and deer are keying on the improved plant species composition and the growth of new plants." Improved Access In large tracts of forestlands, deer are drawn - almost immediately - to wherever forest-thinning or daylighting occurs. Such places quickly offer increased browse. So getting hunters closer to these improved habitats that aren't drawing enough hunting pressure is a principal strategy in this program. Opening more game lands roads is A prescription for new deer hunting territory. DECEMBER 2015 27