Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League

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

GAME COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW BUREAU DIRECTORS

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Game Commission recently promoted two employees to bureau director positions.

Deana Vance has been selected as director of the agency’s Bureau of Automated Technology Services, and Randy L. Shoup has been selected as director of the agency’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection.

Vance replaces Paul Mahon, who retired in December after more than 36 years with the agency, and Shoup replaces Tom Grohol, who recently was promoted to Deputy Executive Director of Administration.

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said Vance and Shoup benefit from years of experience working within the agency and their respective bureaus, and were able to step into their new positions without breaking stride.

Learn more about the new directors in the full news release.

Courtesy of PA Game Commission 4/27/17

TAKE A GOBBLER, TAKE A PHOTO, WIN A TURKEY CALL

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A beautiful gobbler might not be the only prize a successful turkey hunter brings home.

 

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is sponsoring its inaugural Turkey Harvest Photo Contest, and hunters submitting photos of themselves with their 2017 Pennsylvania gobblers are eligible to win one of two personalized, engraved box calls from Top Calls, of Renovo, Pa.

 

Pennsylvania’s one-day youth season for spring gobblers was held on Saturday, April 22. And photos of successful youth hunters with their spring gobblers already have begun to come in.

 

All entries received will be entered in either the adult hunter or youth hunter category and narrowed to a field of finalists, with one winner in each category then selected by voters on the Game Commission’s Facebook page.

 

But you have to enter to win. Hunters should be sure to submit photos of their 2017 Pennsylvania harvests by email to [email protected]. Submissions should include the first and last name of anyone in the photo, the hunter’s hometown and the county the turkey was harvested.

 

The contest is scheduled to run through Monday, June 5, with the winners selected shortly thereafter.

Courtesy of PA Game Commission 4/25/17

2017-18 WATERFOWL SEASONS SET

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Annual migratory game bird seasons are selected by states from frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Game Commission selections were made after reviewing last year’s season results, population survey data, and input gathered from hunters and the public.

 

“The new regulatory schedule introduced by the USFWS in 2016 continues this year,” said Ian Gregg, chief of the Game Commission’s Game Management Division. “States now make season selections in early spring rather than late summer, allowing them to be published alongside other hunting season dates and providing additional time for hunters to plan their vacations.”

 

While seasons for webless migratory birds are similar to those selected in 2016-17, waterfowl hunters will notice some changes this year including more restrictive September Canada goose seasons in northwestern Pennsylvania, modifications to daily bag limits for some duck species, and later dates for some youth waterfowl hunting days.

 

Waterfowl season highlights can be found in the full news release.

http://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Game-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=120

Courtesy of PA Game Commission 4/25/17

Five Environmental Factors Influencing Turkeys

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Turkey populations in Pennsylvania as well as the entire Northeast region have been declining during the past decade.

Five factors influence turkey populations and the interactions of these five factors have changed over the last 25 years. These factors are: habitat, weather, predation, disease and hunting mortality.

During the 1990s turkeys exhibited rapid population expansion facilitated by a combination of: restoration (trap & transfer), suppressed predator populations (much more trapping than today and rabies was more evident), more controlled hunting seasons, and a more diverse landscape than exists today.

5 environmental factors have changed since turkey population restoration, which likely negatively affect turkey populations.

  1. Landscape level habitat changes, that is, a decline in: amount of interspersion of different habitat types (too many mono-cultures), habitat quality (particularly due to exotic species replacing native species), mast-producing trees (particularly oaks and cherry), younger age-class forests (therefore, less food diversity for wildlife), nesting brood cover for turkeys (due to the above and to declines in shrubby and herbaceous cover)
  2. Unpredictable weather (climate change), which has caused more extreme weather events with more spring rain and winter precipitation,
  3. Increased predator densities and wider distribution –  Predation typically only limits local turkey populations. But, high predation rates may be symptomatic of a landscape with poor habitat quality causing turkeys and their young to be more vulnerable to predation,
  4. Unforeseen effects from disease – we currently do not know the effects of disease on productivity, immunity, & energy assimilation, and how disease may interact with other population influences, such as habitat & weather,
  5. Harvest regulations (thereby changing hunting mortality) – spring harvest of males after breeding has occurred (such as PA’s regulations) have proven to be sustainable. However, fall hunting mortality can affect populations due to harvest of hens. Our recent 5-year study showed that fall harvest rates of hens in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) with 2-week + 3-day Thanksgiving seasons are 2-7%, and in WMUs with 3-week + 3-day Thanksgiving seasons are 4-9%. When populations were expanding research showed that a 10% harvest rate was sustainable. Now that populations are declining, the sustainable harvest rate obviously is lower, but what that rate is we are not sure. Therefore, we have been decreasing fall season length to decrease the harvest rate.

The interaction of these factors, such as a high fall harvest rate coupled with poor poult production due to adverse spring weather with poor habitat quality, predation and minor disease, impact populations. Several consecutive years of this add up to severely limit the population.

What the new ‘normal’ turkey population level will be in the years ahead depends on how these interactions play out. However, we all can help turkey populations.

What we all can do to help turkeys:

Improve habitat quality (this helps buffer the negative effects of the other factors), help protect existing habitat, report any potentially diseased turkeys so we can monitor disease more intensely, begin trapping furbearers (selling furs can provide some income too)(this won’t eliminate predation but will help keep it in check on a local level), and during fall turkey season, if given the opportunity, harvest a young-of-the-year bird because the adult females have the highest nest success the following spring.

Mary Jo Casalena, Wild Turkey Biologist

Pennsylvania Game Commission

5 Environmental Factors Influencing Turkeys     Link to Article

PA Game Commission News Release

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Release #114-17

FINAL 2017-18 HUNTING/TRAPPING SEASONS APPROVED

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for the 2017-18 license year. A list of all seasons and bag limits appears in the full news release.

The commissioners also set the number of antlerless deer licenses to be allocated, as well as the number of elk licenses to be allocated for the coming license year.

The board voted to allocate 804,000 antlerless deer licenses statewide, which up from 748,000 licenses in 2016. Allocations by Wildlife Management Unit appear in the full news release.

Hunters should note the boundary between WMUs 2C and 2E has changed.

Hunting licenses for 2017-18 go on sale in mid-June and become effective July 1. After hunters purchase a general hunting license, they may apply for antlerless deer licenses based on staggered timelines, which will be outlined in the 2017-18 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest to be made available online.

Other modifications approved for the 2017-18 seasons include: moving the statewide archery bear season to the next-to-the-last week of the archery deer season; changing the firearms deer season in Wildlife Management Units 5A and 5B to bucks-only hunting from the opening day through the first Friday; opening a conservative mid-week fall turkey season in Wildlife Management Area 5B, and reducing the season length in WMUs 4A, 4B and 4E; eliminating the post-Christmas segment of the ruffed-grouse season to improve adult survival due to recent population declines; restoring an extended black-bear season in WMU 3A; opening the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area to a youth-only pheasant-hunting season; removing restrictions on hunting small game, other than pheasants, in all Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, and re-establishing statewide put-and-take bobwhite quail hunting with a longer season and larger bag limit, given the lack of wild quail in the state and the low likelihood of quail reintroduction occurring in Pennsylvania anytime soon.

Several more highlights pertaining to the 2017-18 seasons and bag limits appear in the full news release.

Release #115-17

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S COMMISSIONERS MEETING

SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES OK’D FOR SMALL GAME, FURBEARERS

Hunters heading afield in the 2017-18 seasons will be able to carry semiautomatic rifles for hunting small game and furbearers, but not for big game, based on regulatory changes approved today by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners.

The commissioners in January preliminarily approved a proposal that would have allowed semiautomatic rifles to be used in any season where manually operated centerfire rifles now can be used. The board amended that measure, giving final approval to hunting small game and furbearers with semiautomatic rifles beginning in the 2017-18 seasons. It made no changes to the list of lawful sporting arms for hunting big game.

Commissioners said a clear majority of Pennsylvania hunters voiced opposition to hunting big game with semiautomatic rifles at this time, and the board’s vote reflects that opinion. Between the Board of Commissioners’ preliminary vote and the vote today, Game Commission staff conducted a scientific survey from a random sample of 4,000 of the state’s hunters, more than 2,000 of whom responded. The findings of that survey were presented to the commissioners at the board’s meeting on Monday.

The findings of the survey show clear support for hunting furbearers (55 percent support or strongly support), woodchucks (51 percent support or strongly support) and small game (42 percent support or strongly support, and 12 percent neither support nor oppose) with semiautomatic rifles. For big game, while 28 percent of survey respondents expressed support or strong support for semiautomatic rifles, 64 percent of respondents said they opposed or strongly opposed semiautomatic rifles for big-game hunting, with 52 percent saying they were strongly opposed. The results bolstered the expressed opposition to hunting big game with semiautomatic rifles that appeared to a lesser extent in the written comments the Game Commission received in recent months.

“We listened to our hunters,” President Commissioner Brian H. Hoover said.

Read more about the new regulations in the full news release.

RECLAMATION OF REFUSE COAL TO GENERATE REVENUE

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RECLAMATION OF REFUSE COAL TO GENERATE REVENUE

The reclamation of refuse coal beneath about 23 acres of State Game Lands 332 in Indiana County could generate an estimated $1 million for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, based on an agreement approved today by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners.

Robindale Energy Services Inc., of Armagh, has agreed to remove an estimated 1.8 million tons of recoverable coal refuse material beneath the game lands. The six-year deal permits the company to occupy an additional 41 acres, as well.

Mining will be regulated by the Commonwealth’s Mining Regulations and the Commission’s Standard Coal Refuse Reclamation Agreement.

Learn more about the recent land acquistions and energy deals.

Courtesy of PA Game Commission

PRELIMINARY 2017-18 HUNTING/TRAPPING SEASONS APPROVED

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HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for the 2017-18 license year.

Modifications proposed for the 2017-18 seasons include: moving the statewide archery bear season to the next-to-the-last week of the archery deer season; changing the firearms deer season in Wildlife Management Units 5A and 5B to bucks-only hunting from the opening day through the first Friday; opening a conservative mid-week fall turkey season in Wildlife Management Area 5B, and reducing the season length in WMUs 4A, 4B and 4E; eliminating the post-Christmas segment of the ruffed-grouse season to improve adult survival due to recent population declines; restoring an extended black-bear season in WMU 3A; opening the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area to a youth-only pheasant-hunting season; opening WMU 5A to put-and-take bobwhite quail hunting, given the lack of wild quail in the area and the low likelihood of quail reintroduction being initiated there soon.

The public may offer comments on all proposed 2017-18 seasons and bag limits, as well as other board actions, between now and the board’s next meeting, March 27 and 28, at which time the board is scheduled to finalize seasons and bag limits for 2017-18.

Also, the board will receive at its March meeting staff recommendations for antlerless deer license allocations for each of the 23 WMUs. Deer harvest estimates for the 2016-17 seasons are expected to be available in mid-March.

Following are several articles on meeting highlights.

  • Split Firearms Deer Seasons Up for March Approval
  • Fall Turkey Season Changes Move Forward
  • 2017-18 Seasons and Bag Limits

Read the details

http://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Game-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=99

Courtesy of PA Game Commission

Issue Of Unlicensed Drivers On Game Lands Addressed

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Proposed regulation would require that only licensed drivers operate vehicles on game lands.

Wildlife Conservation Officers and deputies routinely encounter unlicensed drivers operating motor vehicles on roads, in parking areas and elsewhere on game lands.

But since only police have the authority to enforce the state’s Vehicle Code, the violations only can be enforced when the appropriate police agency is available to take the case.

In instances when police can’t respond, the violations go unaddressed.

But the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a regulation that will allow officers to stop unlicensed drivers from unlawfully driving on game lands.

The proposed regulation states that vehicles requiring registration under the Vehicle Code can be operated on game lands only by licensed drivers.

The measure will be brought back to the March meeting for a final vote by the board.

Courtesy Pennsylvania Game Commission

Board Reorganizes, Future Meeting Dates Scheduled

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Commissioner James Daley takes over as board secretary.

At their first quarterly meeting of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners reorganized, selecting officers to serve the board this year.

Commissioner Brian Hoover stayed on as the board’s president, Commissioner Timothy Layton remained the board’s vice president, and Commissioner James Daley took over as the board’s secretary.

The board also selected its meeting dates for the coming year.

The board will meet next at its working group meeting to be held Feb. 27 at the Harrisburg headquarters.

The board’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled to be held March 27 and 28, and the board plans to meet again on June 26 and 27 and on Sept. 25 and 26.

Courtesy Pennsylvania Game Commission

Shooting Range Rule Changes Move Ahead

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Amendment package includes expanded Sunday hours at Game Commission ranges.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a package of regulatory changes regarding the use of Game Commission-owned public shooting ranges.

One change would allow shooting ranges on state game lands to be open longer – from 8 a.m. to sunset – on Sundays within the firearms deer and bear seasons.

As it is now, shooting ranges on game lands regularly are open from 8 a.m. to sunset Monday through Saturday, but regular Sunday hours are noon to sunset. On the Sundays immediately preceding the firearms deer and firearms bear seasons, however, ranges are open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Commissioners said the proposed expansion of Sunday hours, while minor, would create a convenience for hunters who might find themselves pressed for time to adjust sights or scopes on firearms at the height of the hunting season.

Other amendments would prohibit range users from intentionally shooting at or damaging the frames and stands on which target backboards are mounted, or using a firearms in negligent disregard for the safety of others.

An amendment clarifying automatic firearms cannot be used Game Commission ranges also was passed as part of the package, and another amendment clarifies that Game Commission shooting ranges, regardless of length or size, are designated by default as rifle ranges, and may be designated as handgun-only ranges if posted as such by the commission.

The amendments will be brought back to the March meeting for a final vote.

Courtesy Pennsylvania Game Commission