Deer Might Not Be Part Of Youth Hunting Program The Pennsylvania Game Commission will meet Tuesday to consider a formal proposal for the state's mentored-youth hunting program, but sources say the program is not likely to include deer, reports the Morning Call. A commission spokesman cites concern that a large influx of new hunters could negatively impact the state's deer herd. However, statistics from other states suggest that hunters age 12 and under would account for only a small fraction of Pennsylvania's overall deer harvest. Creating opportunities for young people to hunt deer in an adult-supervised situation was the original intent of the mentored-youth hunting program, which overwhelmingly passed the legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell's desk late last year. The program is a result of the Families Afield initiative of NSSF, National Wild Turkey Federation, and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.