I have a few ideas I think the PGC should consider. Lets start with a few law changes.

1) Outlaw spotlighting all together. Everyone in PA knows that poaching at nite is a big problem in PA. Just think of the money the PGC would save in gas. They won't have to be out riding around all nite watching spotters. Just once in a while. Anyone spotting is guilty of poaching.

2) Instead of the PGC setting up Robo-deer to catch road hunters, and wasting all those man-hours waiting for someone to drive by and shoot, do this. Make it a law that ALL guns and bows MUST be cased to transport in a vehicle. If you're caught with an uncased weapon, you're fined. This would help more to limit roadhunting and wouldn't cost a dime.


Coyotes are a problem. I think every hunter will admit that they can reek havok on fawns. I even believe thatSOME of our deer population problems can be blamed on coyotes. Whether you believe they were stocked, always here in high numbers or their population is on the increase, it doesn't matter. We need to deal with the coyote population and get hunters interested in hunting them. Here's an idea.


Every time a hunter bags a coyote they save the tail. The tail can be turned in to the PGC and the hunter will recieve some sort of voucher for $2, $3 or $5( whatever they decide) off of their next years hunting license, for each tail turned in. Shoot enough coyotes and get your license for free. This may spark an interest in coyote hunting. They use to pay a bounty on foxes many years ago, I'm sure they can arrange this Coyote tails for license dollars deal.

Legalize they use of semi-autos for coyotes only. I know many guys that have Ruger 10/22's, AR-15's, AK's, HK's, SKS's, etc... that are just itching to take out and try hunting with. The coyote would be the perfect animat for assualt rifles. ( without the FMJ bullets, of coarse ) Who knows how many coyotes would be taken by someone just out for the fun of hunting with their assualt rifle. Hey, anything to stir an interest is fine with me.


Small game


How about a trap and transfer for cottontail rabbits?

Instruction for building box traps could be handed out to cub scouts, boy scouts, 4-H, sportsmens clubs, etc... Or interested parties could just buy them.

Starting some time in late winter /early spring rabbits could be traps inside city limits and released onto SGL's or co-op farms.Set the traps early enough ascatch them before they have young. They young would be born after they are released. This should give the rabbit population a much needed boost.

My brother has a hard time with rabbits getting in his garden all summer. He is inside city limits so they can't be hunted. They just populate. I've seen as many as 5 together in his small yard. Ever notice all the road kills during the summer in all the small towns?

The PGC or any sportsmans club could possibly ear tag a few and do studies on how many are taken later in the fall, to get an idea of their survival rate after being released. It worked with turkeys why not try it with rabbits. It shouldn't cost the PGC a whole lot because the people building the traps and driving out the check and releasing the rabbits would be footing the bill. All the PGC would need to do, would be make it legal. I've thought of just doing this and keeping my mouth shut.


Pheasants


My father and I use to raise pheasants for fun. Several times they would escape. They woukd hang around for a long time. Sometimes you'd see a hen with chicks.

I think the PGC should release more pheasants in the spring instead of fall. I know they release some in the spring already. I know that habitat isn't the best out there, but they could release only on SGL where they won't have to worry about the nests getting trashed by farmer's tractors when they cut hay.

They could also give chicks to interested individuals or sportsmens clubs to raise and release or buy back in the fall. My father said they use to do that when he was a kid. This may cut some of they expense of raising birds themselves and paying employees to raise them.

What about the deer. I'd love to see the price of a doe license raised to about $10 or $15. And cut the seaso back to 3 days like it use to be.


None of these ideas would cost the PGC very much and would actually save money. These ideasshould make some despertatly needed improvements.