Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League

To promote and foster, the protection and conservation of our wildlife resources

Senate Bill 147 Sunday Hunting

by

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the State Senate Game and Fisheries Committee approved Senate Bill 147, legislation which would give the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners the authority to regulate hunting on Sundays.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission supports this legislation that would give the agency the authority to determine for which species Sunday hunting should be lawful. The legislation approved must pass the full Senate, the House of Representatives, and be signed by the Governor before it could become law.

The current prohibition on Sunday hunting is in state law, and the Game Commission does not have the authority to change it without legislative action. Please contact your local state representative and/or state senator on this topic.

Link to Senate Bill 147

BEAR HARVEST ELEVENTH-BEST ALL-TIME

by

HARRISBURG, PA – One of these years, Pennsylvania is going to break the 4,000-bear barrier for a third time in annual black bear harvests.

There was hope it would in 2018 with a bear population estimated at 20,000 and a fine start to the November firearms season. But unfavorable weather conditions dashed those hopes.

The 2018 bear harvest came in at 3,153 bears, 11th-best all-time, but also the lowest bear harvest in the past 11 years.

“I thought Pennsylvania was capable of producing a 4,000-bear harvest the past two years,” explained Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. “But we’ve had some bad breaks with weather events during our bear seasons the past two years.

“With better hunting conditions, I do believe hunters would have taken another 1,000 bears in each of the past two seasons,” he said.

A season-by-season breakdown shows hunters took 2,017 bears (1,862 in 2017) in the general firearms season, 699 (1,083) in the extended season, 424 (493) in the archery season, and 12 in the early season.

A rainy bear firearms opener hamstrung the 2017 harvest by hundreds of bears. The same thing happened on the 2018 extended bear season opener, which also is the opening day of firearms deer season.

Opening-day harvests are typically responsible for 50 to 60 percent of the bear harvest during that particular season segment. When weather interferes, the season’s take suffers.

Seventy bears weighing 500 pounds or more, including 20 weighing 600 pounds or more, were part of the 2018 harvest.

Bears were taken in 60 counties and 22 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).

Even with new bear-hunting opportunities – including an earlier bear archery season that overlapped with a week of the archery deer season and expanded extended bear seasons – the bear harvest failed to reach management objectives.

That unfulfilled harvest potential has generated interest to further increase bear-hunting opportunities. Proposals to expand the mid-October muzzleloader and special firearms deer seasons to include bears statewide; increase to two weeks the length of the statewide archery bear season and shifting it to the two weeks following the muzzleloader and special firearms bear seasons; and expanding four-day extended bear seasons to six days in most WMUs in the 2019-20 bears seasons could be adopted at the April Board of Game Commissioners meeting.

Pennsylvania’s all-time bear harvest high was recorded in 2011, when 4,350 bears were harvested. Hunters harvested 4,164 in 2005. All other bear harvests have been under 4,000.

While the 2018 harvest was down compared to 2017’s harvest of 3,438, harvest totals increased within the Game Commission’s Northcentral and Northeast regions.

The largest bear harvested in 2018 weighed an estimated 780 pounds. It was taken with a rifle in Howe Township, Forest County, on the second day of the general bear season in WMU 2F by Michael J. Rubeo, of Mercer.

A day later, a 708-pound male was taken by Timothy J. Weaver, of Dallas, Pa., with a rifle in Harvey’s Lake Borough, Luzerne County.

Other large bears taken during the state’s slate of bear seasons – all but one taken with a rifle – include: a 704-pound male taken Nov. 17 in Goshen Township, Clearfield County, by Mickey L. Moore, of Clearfield; a 697-pound male taken Nov. 19 in Chapman Township, Clinton County, by Scott Yorty, of Bloomsburg; a 688-pound male taken in the extended season in Stroud Township, Monroe County, by Phillip R. Counterman, of East Stroudsburg; a 681-pounder taken Nov. 17 in Coal Township, Northumberland County, by Robert L. Britton III, of Coal Township; a 680-pounder taken Nov. 19 in Chest Township, Clearfield County, by Douglas D. Routch, of Curwensville; a 679-pound male taken with a handgun Nov. 17 in Farmington Township, Warren County, by Jordan Tutmaher, of Warren; a 666-pound male taken Nov. 20 in Snyder Township, Jefferson County, by Earl F. Timothy, of Brockway; and a 627-pound male taken Nov. 19 in Snyder Township, Jefferson County, by Wayne C. Kline, of Reynoldsville.

Tioga County finished with 166 bears to take the top county bear harvest. It was followed by Lycoming County with 159. Other top counties for bear harvests in 2018 were: Clinton, 158; Huntingdon, 142; Potter, 109; Luzerne, 105; Pike, 104; and Monroe, 103.

Final county harvests by region (with 2017 figures in parentheses) are:

Northwest – 517 (388): Venango, 96 (61); Crawford, 79 (40); Jefferson, 79 (55); Warren, 72 (109); Forest, 70 (35); Clarion, 52 (51); Erie, 29 (13); Butler, 26 (18); Mercer, 13 (6); and Lawrence, 1 (0).

Southwest – 261 (237): Somerset, 85 (75); Fayette, 58 (66); Indiana, 34 (11); Armstrong, 33 (36); Westmoreland, 26 (26); Cambria, 21 (21); Allegheny, 2 (1); Beaver, 1 (0); and Greene, 1 (1).

Northcentral – 989 (1,187): Tioga, 166 (214); Lycoming, 159 (252); Clinton, 158 (153); Potter 109 (161); Centre, 87 (93); Clearfield, 87 (66); Cameron, 67 (52); McKean, 67 (86); Elk, 54 (72); and Union, 35 (38).

Southcentral – 474 (383): Huntingdon, 142 (91); Bedford, 80 (57); Fulton, 58 (29); Blair, 44 (27); Juniata, 34 (41); Perry, 31 (44); Mifflin, 29 (43); Franklin, 26 (24); Cumberland, 12 (8); Adams, 7 (6); Snyder, 7 (13); and York, 4 (0).

Northeast – 775 (1,112): Pike, 104 (193); Luzerne, 105 (108); Monroe, 103 (82); Bradford, 96 (112); Wayne, 70 (156); Carbon, 60 (57); Sullivan, 53 (156); Susquehanna, 46 (66); Wyoming, 40 (70); Lackawanna, 34 (65); Columbia, 38 (29); Northumberland, 24 (16); and Montour, 2 (2).

Southeast – 137 (131): Schuylkill, 50 (47); Dauphin, 48 (49); Northampton, 17 (19); Lebanon, 10 (8); Berks, 8 (7); and Lehigh, 4 (1).

The final bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit (with final 2016 figures in parentheses) were: WMU 1A, 23 (17); WMU 1B, 161 (103); WMU 2A, 7 (3) WMU 2B, 4 (4); WMU 2C, 193 (207); WMU 2D, 155 (131); WMU 2E, 75 (39); WMU 2F, 259 (232); WMU 2G, 422 (474); WMU 2H, 73 (87); WMU 3A, 222 (213); WMU 3B, 223 (457); WMU 3C, 134 (262); WMU 3D, 323 (417); WMU 4A, 218 (96); WMU 4B, 114 (130); WMU 4C, 168 (157); WMU 4D, 252 (296); WMU 4E, 105 (94); WMU 5A, 8 (7); WMU 5B, 4 (1); and WMU 5C, 10 (11).

While the overall harvest was down in 2017 and 2018, primarily because of weather events, those light harvests could lead to excellent bear hunting this fall, Ternent said. Prior to the start of the 2017 and 2018 hunting seasons, the statewide bear population was estimated at 20,000. It’s still appears to be holding strong.

Lower-than-expected bear harvests the past two years still produced a combined bear harvest of more than 6,500 bears, including more than a hundred 500-pounders, said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. Just 40 years ago, the agency had closed bear season to protect the resource.

“Just 40 years removed from a time when the Game Commission was closing bear season to safeguard the resource, Pennsylvania has become one of North America’s premier black-bear destinations,” emphasized Burhans. “You probably would have to go back in time more than 100 years to find bear hunting comparable to what Penn’s Woods offers today!”

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

Courtesy of PA Game Commission

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Game-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=285

 

 

GAME COMMISSION RELEASES DEER HARVEST REPORT

by

HARRISBURG, PA – Pennsylvania hunters posted their highest overall deer harvest in 14 years when they took 374,690 deer during the state’s 2018-19 hunting seasons, which closed in January, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported today.

The 2018-19 deer harvest topped the previous year’s harvest of 367,159 by about 2 percent. The last time the total deer harvest exceeded this season’s total was in 2004-05.

After four years of successive annual increases in buck harvests, hunters posted a buck harvest of 147,750, which placed fourth overall since the start of antler restrictions in 2002. The 2018-19 buck harvest represents a 10 percent decline from the 2017-18 buck harvest of 163,750. The largest harvest in the antler-restrictions era – 165,416 – occurred in the first year.

Although the total deer harvest was not impacted by downpours on the opening day of the firearms deer season, the buck harvest seemed to take a hit. About half of the firearms season’s overall buck harvest typically occurs on the season’s opening day, when hunter participation is usually at its highest.

Steady rain in most of the state persisted through the morning if not longer of the firearms season opener, making hunting for deer, as well as staying dry and warm while afield, more difficult. And when hunter participation drops on the best harvest day of any season, the harvest typically does, too.

“This year’s opening day antlered harvest was down significantly from last year’s harvest,” said Christopher Rosenberry, Game Commission Deer and Elk Section supervisor. “Although the rest of the firearms season’s daily harvests were similar to or above last year’s, they did not make up for the low opening day harvest.”

Except on Deer Management Assistance Program properties and in Wildlife Management Areas 2B, 5B and 5D, antlerless deer hunting doesn’t begin until the first Saturday of deer rifle season. That limits antlerless deer hunting to seven of the rifle season’s 12 days.

Still, hunters took plenty of antlerless deer, which was anticipated with a 2018-19 allocation of antlerless deer licenses that exceeded the previous license year’s.

The 2018-19 overall antlerless deer harvest was 226,940, which is about 10 percent larger than the 2017-18 harvest of 203,409.

Across the 23 WMUs used by the Game Commission to manage whitetails, the antlerless deer harvest decreased in only five units: WMUs 1A, 2B, 2H, 4B and 5D. The largest harvest increases – 48 percent – occurred in WMUs 2C and 3A.

On the antlered deer side of WMU-level harvests, the buck harvest dropped in all but six units: WMUs 2B, 2H, 3D, 4A, 5A and 5B. The largest declines were in WMU 2G, 23 percent; and WMU 4D, 22 percent.

The percentage of older bucks in the 2018-19 deer harvest remained amazingly high. About 64 percent of the bucks taken by hunters were at least 2½ years old. The remainder were 1½ years old.

“That almost two-thirds of the bucks taken last year in Pennsylvania were at least 2½ years old is a tribute to the science our deer managers use and the sacrifices a generation of hunters made in the Commonwealth,” said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “The bucks being taken every day in Pennsylvania’s deer seasons are living proof that this Commonwealth has never managed whitetails better.”

About 66 percent of the antlerless deer harvest was adult females; button-bucks comprised 17 percent and doe fawns made up 17 percent.

Bowhunters accounted for about a third of Pennsylvania’s 2018-19 overall deer harvest, taking 110,719 deer (54,350 bucks and 56,369 antlerless deer) with either bows or crossbows. But the buck harvest also was down in the 2018-19 archery seasons, by 13 percent. The previous license year, bowhunters took 62,830 bucks. Unseasonably warm weather and rain impacted many fall bowhunting days in 2018.

The muzzleloader harvest – 23,909 – was similar to the previous year’s harvest of 23,490. The 2018-19 muzzleloader harvest included 1,290 antlered bucks compared to 1,310 bucks in the 2017-18 seasons.

Agency staff currently is working to develop its 2019 antlerless deer license recommendations, which will be considered at the April 9 meeting of the Board of Game Commissioners.

In addition to harvest data, staff will be looking at deer health measures, forest regeneration and deer-human conflicts for each WMU as it assembles antlerless allocations, according to Matthew Schnupp, agency Bureau of Wildlife Management director.

Total deer harvest estimates by WMU for 2018-19 (with 2017-18 figures in parentheses) are as follows:

 

WMU 1A: 5,800 (6,300) antlered, 12,400 (12,600) antlerless;

WMU 1B: 8,000 (8,300) antlered, 15,800 (13,000) antlerless;

WMU 2A: 6,000 (6,100) antlered, 10,900 (10,900) antlerless;

WMU 2B: 5,000 (4,500) antlered, 12,000 (14,000) antlerless;

WMU 2C: 9,600 (9,800) antlered, 11,787 (7,972) antlerless;

WMU 2D: 11,800 (14,700) antlered, 20,958 (17,391) antlerless;

WMU 2E: 6,300 (6,900) antlered, 9,701 (6,669) antlerless;

WMU 2F: 7,700 (9,500) antlered, 7,973 (7,202) antlerless;

WMU 2G: 6,300 (8,200) antlered, 7,402 (5,501) antlerless;

WMU 2H: 2,500 (1,700) antlered, 1,800 (1,900) antlerless;

WMU 3A: 4,800 (5,400) antlered, 7,400 (5,000) antlerless;

WMU 3B: 7,000 (8,900) antlered, 8,400 (7,000) antlerless;

WMU 3C: 7,700 (8,700) antlered, 12,200 (11,900) antlerless;

WMU 3D: 5,200 (4,700) antlered, 5,700 (4,200) antlerless;

WMU 4A: 5,100 (4,800) antlered, 8,230 (7,672) antlerless;

WMU 4B: 5,300 (5,600) antlered, 6,916 (7,108) antlerless;

WMU 4C: 5,800 (6,800) antlered, 7,200 (6,500) antlerless;

WMU 4D: 8,300 (10,600) antlered, 9,081 (8,417) antlerless;

WMU 4E: 7,000 (8,200) antlered, 9,300 (8,700) antlerless;

WMU 5A: 3,100 (2,900) antlered, 4,600 (3,801) antlerless;

WMU 5B: 9,200 (9,000) antlered, 14,608 (12,800) antlerless;

WMU 5C: 7,600 (8,800) antlered, 16,415 (15,600) antlerless;

WMU 5D: 2,600 (3,300) antlered, 6,000 (7,500) antlerless; and

Unknown WMU: 50 (50) antlered, 169 (76) antlerless.

 

Season-specific 2018-19 deer harvest estimates (with 2017-18 harvest estimates in parentheses) are as follows:

WMU 1A: archery, 2,530 (2,710) antlered, 3,150 (3,320) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 70 (90) antlered, 1,150 (1,480) antlerless.

WMU 1B: archery, 2,750 (3,370) antlered, 2,790 (2,730) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (30) antlered, 1,210 (970) antlerless.

WMU 2A: archery, 2,050 (2,040) antlered, 2,040 (2,030) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (60) antlered, 960 (1,170) antlerless.

WMU 2B: archery, 3,520 (3,060) antlered, 5,760 (6,490) antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 (40) antlered, 640 (1,010) antlerless.

WMU 2C: archery, 3,400 (3,400) antlered, 2,378 (1,500) antlerless; muzzleloader, 100 (100) antlered, 1,315 (1,000) antlerless.

WMU 2D: archery, 4,540 (5,720) antlered, 3,472 (2,800) antlerless; muzzleloader, 60 (80) antlered, 2,274 (2,100) antlerless.

WMU 2E: archery, 1,950 (2,040) antlered, 1,601 (1,120) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (60) antlered, 1,205 (880) antlerless.

WMU 2F: archery, 2,520 (3,110) antlered, 1,216 (1,340) antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 (90) antlered, 998 (1,060) antlerless.

WMU 2G: archery, 1,430 (2,050) antlered, 1,341 (1,110) antlerless; muzzleloader, 70 (50) antlered, 1,060 (990) antlerless.

WMU 2H: archery, 480 (390) antlered, 270 (320­) antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 (10) antlered, 230 (280) antlerless.

WMU 3A: archery, 1,180 (1,670) antlered, 1,320 (1,010) antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 (30) antlered, 780 (690) antlerless.

WMU 3B: archery, 2,160 (3,030) antlered, 1,630 (1,560) antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 (70) antlered, 1,170 (1,040) antlerless.

WMU 3C: archery, 1,940 (2,530) antlered, 1,820 (2,200) antlerless; muzzleloader, 60 (70) antlered, 1,280 (1,400) antlerless.

WMU 3D: archery, 1,660 (1,550) antlered, 1,410 (1,230) antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 (50) antlered, 590 (570) antlerless.

WMU 4A: archery, 820 (960) antlered, 1,338 (1,250) antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 (40) antlered, 991 (950) antlerless.

WMU 4B: archery, 1,760 (2,060) antlered, 1,598 (1,760) antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 (40) antlered, 627 (740) antlerless.

WMU 4C: archery, 2,350 (2,770) antlered, 1,900 (1,800) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (30) antlered, 800 (700) antlerless.

WMU 4D: archery, 2,430 (3,020) antlered, 1,796 (1,920) antlerless; muzzleloader, 70 (80) antlered, 1,002 (1,080) antlerless.

WMU 4E: archery, 2,550 (3,040) antlered, 1,890 (1,870) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (60) antlered, 1,010 (1,030) antlerless.

WMU 5A: archery, 880 (870) antlered, 1,220 (1,060) antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 (30) antlered, 480 (440) antlerless.

WMU 5B: archery, 4,640 (4,830) antlered, 5,401 (4,920) antlerless; muzzleloader, 60 (70) antlered, 1,365 (1,180) antlerless.

WMU 5C: archery, 4,690 (5,800) antlered, 7,238 (6,890) antlerless; muzzleloader, 110 (100) antlered, 1,272 (1,210) antlerless.

WMU 5D: archery, 2,080 (2,770) antlered, 3,790 (4,890) antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 (30) antlered, 210 (210) antlerless.

Unknown WMU: archery, 40 (40) antlered, 0 (60) antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 (0) antlered, 0 (0) antlerless.

For additional information on Pennsylvania’s 2018-19 deer harvest, please go to the agency’s website – www.pgc.pa.gov – and go to the “White-Tailed Deer” page, then select 2018-19 Deer Harvest Estimates.

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

Courtesy of PA Game Commission

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Game-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=299

2019 3D Archery Hunt of Lifetime Five Points Hunt Club

by

5th ANNUAL HUNT OF A LIFETIME 3D ARCHERY SHOOT

MAKING DREAMS OF KIDS WITH LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES COME TRUE

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT HUNT OF A LIFETIME

Chinese Auctions  50/50  Fun Shoots & Prizes  Food & Drinks

Guns/Bow Raffle Rifle – Shotgun  Pistol – Crossbow

Bigger – Better Two Day Event*

JUNE 8 & 9, 2019 – 8 A. M. TO 2 P.M.

Five Points Hunt Club

285 Bocktown Cork Road, Aliquippa, PA

724-375-7381 – day of shoot

www.fivepointshuntingclub.com or Facebook – Five Points 3D Archery

2019 Hunt of Lifetime 3D Archery Shoot Flyer

2019 Hunt of Lifetime Donation Form

2019 3D Shoot Schedule

March 10   April 14   May 12   June 8 & 9   July 14   August 11   September 8

For more information or to sponsor a target, contact

412-787-0744 or 724-601-6797

 

Joe Craig Memorial Fishing Derby

by

Hopewell Community Park

2500 Laird Drive, Aliquippa, PA 15001

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Over 50 prizes to be given out!

Trophies will be awarded in different categories for boys and girls.

Additional prizes for tagged fish during the derby.

Bait will be sold at the park

One rod per angler

No minnows permitted as bait

Concession stand will be open.

For information, call 724-201-9680

Youth Fishing Derby Saturday, April 27, 2019 8am – 12pm

Ages 15 & under – FREE

Registration: 6:30am

Sponsored by Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League – BCSCL.net

Adult Fishing Derby Sunday, April 28, 2019 7am – 11pm

Registration: 6:00am

$3 /Rod – 2 Rod limit

Prizes for Top Anglers

50/50 Raffle

Bait & Concessions are available.

No minnows permitted as bait.

Sponsored by Hopewell Township Parks & Recreation Department

For Information, call 724-378-1460

2019 Fishing Derby Flyer

2019 Conservation Camp

by

Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation Camp

2019 BCSCL Conservation Camp Flyer

June 16 to June 22, 2019

Children Ages 13 to 15

Do not miss this awesome all inclusive co ed seven days and six nights of outdoor learning, bonding, and fun.

Raccoon Creek State Park

$200 Space is limited please apply early

For more information and application:

Breanna Edmiston, Camp Director

412-849-6849

bbarcaskey@gmail.com

www.bcscl.org

or check us out on Facebook

2019 Conservation Camp Application

2019 Get On The Bus Harrisburg 2nd Amendment Rally Information

by

COST: FREE

DATE: Monday, May 6th, 2019                                                        _

DESTINATION: Harrisburg, Capitol Building

DEPARTURE Location: Beaver Valley Mall (Formerly Macy’s Parking Lot)

570 Beaver Valley Mall 2019 Blvd. Monaca, PA 1 5061

Parking will be on the EAST SIDE of Macy’s, between Macy’s and Huntington Bank stand-alone drive-thru.

An individual will be giving directions.

BOARDING TIME: 3:45am – 4:15am

DEPARTURE TIME: 4:30am *VERY IMPORTANT* Buses must depart at 4:30am SHARP!

If you are not on board at that time you will not ride the bus to Harrisburg!

DEPART HARRISBURG: Approximately 2PM-3PM

RESTROOMS ON BUS: YES

BREAKFAST & DINNER: Bus will make brief stops to and from Harrisburg for a quick bite to eat & restroom breaks.

For more information contact Bob Oles 724- 709-5669 roles120@reagan.com

BCSCL “Road To Freedom” Fundraising Dinner For Harrisburg Rally

by

Sponsoring a “Road to Freedom” Fundraising Dinner

April 17, 1019 Doors open at 6:00 P.M.

Location: Rochester Sportsmen’s Club, 181 Sportsmen Lane, Rochester, Pa. I 507 4

Come support what we all stand for and protect what others have died for “Our Second Amendment”

$ 100 gets you a hat, seat on the “Road to Freedom” bus, dinner and a chance for some great prizes.

Special thanks to those that already donated to the cause and they will be recognized at the dinner.

Only 80 tickets sold.

Buy a table of 8 and ONE Lucky table will be drawn to win a gun.

Grand Prize will be a Kimber “45”

Unsold tickets become property of BCSCL

Call: Jerry Hooks (724)601-6964 or Tony Rich (724)561-8866