Need an archer? Call Chris UPDATED

So much for paying Jody Maddock/Anthony DeNicola/White Buffalo $15,460 to screen archers. Chris can do it for free. Ugh.

http://doubledroptine.com/deer-hunts/printable-permission-form-for-mt-lebanon-deer-hunting/

Chris' Downloadable Permission Form

Update September 18, 2015 9:49 PM Barbara's email as referenced in her 8:50 PM comment:

From: Barbara 
Date: Wed, Sep 16, 2015 at 5:21 PM 
Subject: archer soliciting un-trained resident hunters 
To: commission@mtlebanon.org, mtlebodeer@whitebuffaloinc.org, alauth@mtlebanon.org, Stephen Feller < sfeller@mtlebanon.org> 

Commissioners, Mr. Maddock, Chief Lauth, and Mr. Feller :

I'm writing to express a public safety concern I have relating to the apparent actions of one of the archers participating in the deer hunt. 

Chris Double, the owner of Double Drop Tine Outfitters, appears to be using his interactions with Mt. Lebanon residents as a "vetted" archer to solicit additional archery hunting in Mt. Lebanon by un-screened, unqualified Mt. Lebanon property owners themselves.  This is dangerous and will only increase the conflict that's already in our community.  It also goes directly against the charge given by then-Chief McDonough to the archers in his December 10, 2014 letter, which states that   "The [archery] program was accepted by the Mt. Lebanon Commission as a deer management tool, not as a 'hunting program' " and further emphasizes that  "community relations is an important component of the program. You are representing Mt. Lebanon and the other archers in this program while you are afield. You are expected to act professionally at all times, and to strive to avoid conflict and controversy."

Mr. Double's website ( http://doubledroptine.com/deer-hunts/printable-permission-form-for-mt-lebanon-deer-hunting/)  and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ddtoutfitters)  both provide a link to a downloadable permission form (screen shots attached) which Mr. Double states will be provided to all neighbors of Mt. Lebanon residents whose property he will be hunting on.  The very first choice of actions a neighbor may select is this:

"( _) I am interested in learning how I can harvest deer on my property. (The new Mentored Adult Program as well as the time tested Mentored Youth Program)"

As you can see from the information provided by the PA Game Commission (http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_122068_0_0_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/game_commission/content/resources/newsreleases/newsrelease/articles/release__029_14.html) the Mentored Adult Program (I cannot even contemplate the Mentored Youth Program) has the explicit goal of increasing the population of hunters by allowing untrained hunters to hunt with a "mentor" (perhaps someone like Mr. Double himself)  for  up to 3 years  without having to take a single safety or hunter education course.   I am aware that hunting is legal on private property, even here in Mt. Lebanon; however, I am sure that neither the Commission nor the Police intended or would approve of an individual with special interests and the potential for financial gain (Mr. Double owns a hunting excursions business) coming into our deeply-divided and densely populated community and encouraging angry, frustrated property owners to take matters into their own un-trained hands.

Not only would untrained resident archers be putting their neighbors in danger --  they would be directly subverting the very safety measures (screening, experience, technical expertise, safety education) that you have tried to establish by organizing and paying for a community managed hunt in the first place! 

Mr. Maddock, in your presentations to the Commission and the community, you have emphasized the importance of selecting archers who are not only qualified sportsmen, but who are "ethical" people who will exercise good judgment while in our community.  Mr. Double's behavior strikes me as neither ethical nor based on good jugdment.  If this is any indicator of the types of effects we could seeing in our community as a result of inviting archers in, I am even more worried and angry than I was before. 

Commissioners, Mr. Maddock, Chief Lauth, and Mr. Feller: I am writing to you about this situation despite any negative effects doing so may have on me because I am afraid of what might happen if frustrated, angry property owners in our community start taking matters into their own hands.  Hunting may be an individual's right, but public safety must be our community's priority.  I am asking you to please take any action you feel would be appropriate and effective to ensure that the archers brought here to do a job do only that job, safely and ethically --  without further damaging our already divided community. 

Thank you sincerely for your time and attention.

Barbara