PGC'S Big Meeting
Release #008-08
BOARD ELECTS PALONE PRESIDENT;
BOARD TAKES STEPS TO PREPARE FOR ELECTRONIC LICENSE SALES;
BOARD ADDRESSES DOE LICENSE DELAY FOR EARLY ARCHERY;
BOARD REMOVES ORANGE REQUIREMENT FOR SPRING GOBBLER;
FARMERS GAIN NEW TOOL TO ADDRESS CROP DAMAGE;
BOARD TAKES STEPS TO CREATE SPECIAL SNOW GOOSE SEASON;
BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTION
BOARD ELECTS PALONE PRESIDENT
HARRISBURG - The Board of Game Commissioners today elected new officers during its annual reorganization for 2008.
Game Commissioner Roxane S. Palone, of Waynesburg, Greene County, was elected president, and is the first woman to serve in this post. The first female appointed to a full eight-year term on the Board in 2000, Palone was first elected vice-president in 2004, and re-elected in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She also was elected to serve as board secretary in 2003.
Game Commissioner Gregory J. Isabella, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, was elected vice-president. First appointed to the Board in 2003, Isabella was elected secretary in 2006 and re-elected to this post in 2007.
Game Commissioner James J. Delany Jr., of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, was elected secretary. Delaney was first appointed to the Board in 2007.
Other Game Commissioners are: Russell E. Schleiden, Centre Hall, Centre County; Thomas E. Boop, Sunbury, Northumberland County; H. Daniel Hill III, Erie, Erie County; and David W. Schreffler, Everett, Bedford County.
Game Commissioners are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate to serve an eight-year term. They receive no salary, but are reimbursed for expenses to attend Game Commission quarterly meetings and other functions.
BOARD TAKES STEPS TO PREPARE FOR ELECTRONIC LICENSE SALES
To make the agency's license sales system more customer friendly, the Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a slate of regulatory changes to pave the way for a point-of-sale (POS) electronic license sales system beginning with the 2008-09 license year.
A similar provision had been previously approved by the Board at its meeting on Oct. 3, 2006. However, as a result of delays with implementing the point-of-sale system, the previously approved package was withdrawn, revised and resubmitted to the Board.
The Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have been working to replace their respective paper-based licensing systems with a common computer-based automated licensing system.
"Implementing this computerized POS licensing system within Pennsylvania will significantly streamline the application and purchase process for customers, virtually eliminate manual auditing and reporting for agents, and provide opportunities for the Game Commission to monitor license administration," said Dorothy Derr, Game Commission Bureau of Administrative Services director. "In addition, the data from the POS licensing system will enable the agency to monitor license sales, create strategic business plans based on trend analysis and, most importantly, create marketing plans based on more accurate customer demographics.
"To move the process to the next level, there are various regulatory provisions that must be amended to accommodate the POS licensing system prior to it becoming operational."
One of the key benefits of POS will be the issuing of a permanent, unique customer identification number. Once implemented, this provision will eliminate the need for license buyers to provide their Social Security number beyond the first year of the individual purchasing a license.
License buyers will swipe their driver's license through a magnetic reader - similar to an automatic teller machine at a bank - that will insert into the online application all current personal data, such as name, address and date of birth. The customer will then choose the licenses and stamps desired. Once payment is made, all purchased licenses and stamps, as well as big game harvest tags, will be printed on a waterproof, tear-resistant material.
By state law, antlerless deer licenses will continue to be sold only by county treasurers, so hunters will need to prepare and mail separate applications for antlerless deer licenses. However, under POS, the system will be modified to the benefit of hunters and county treasurers.
As county treasurers will be set up with POS, hunters will be able to submit an application to any county treasurer, and the application will list the hunter's first three choices, in order of preference, for a specific Wildlife Management Unit antlerless deer license. If an applicant's first choice of WMU has exhausted its allocation of antlerless deer licenses, the county treasurer will move to the second preference - and third, if necessary.
"This new process will nearly eliminate the chance that a hunter will not be able to receive at least one antlerless deer license during the processing of regular antlerless deer licenses," Derr said. "Also, we have proposed to move up the beginning of the application period, which will ensure that county treasurers will have mailed back to hunters all antlerless deer licenses prior to the opening of the archery season."
Under the new timeline, residents will apply for regular antlerless deer licenses on the third Monday in July (rather than the first Monday in August); nonresidents will apply for regular antlerless deer licenses on the last Monday in July (rather than the third Monday in August); residents and nonresidents will apply for the first round of unsold antlerless deer licenses on the first Monday in August (rather than the second Monday in September); and residents and nonresidents will apply for the second round of unsold antlerless deer licenses on the third Monday in August (rather than the third Monday in September).
County treasurers will have to mail regular and first round of unsold antlerless deer licenses no later than the second Monday in September, and second round of unsold antlerless deer licenses no later than the fourth Monday in September.
Beginning the fourth Monday in August, county treasurers will begin accepting applications over the counter for designated WMUs, and may immediately issue antlerless deer licenses.
Other benefits from the implementation of POS are:
* Those interested in submitting an application for the bobcat permit and elk license drawing when they purchase their licenses rather than having to submit separate applications via the mail;
* Hunters can process their Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer coupons for permits rather than having to wait for permits to be mailed;
* Those interested in purchasing a second spring gobbler license can do so at the time of purchase rather than waiting until after January 1;
* Hunters will be able to submit big game harvest reports via the Internet, as the agency will finally have a method in place to validate harvest report submissions with license sales information.
Each issuing agent will receive one POS system, and be able to lease a second if necessary. Other benefits to issuing agents include reduced time to maintain security of licenses and sales books; streamlined reporting of license sales; and a self-auditing system.
All license sales information will be reported directly via the POS, and all license fees will be electronically transferred into the Game Fund on a weekly basis.
BOARD ADDRESSES DOE LICENSE DELAY FOR EARLY ARCHERY
For those planning to participate in the new early archery antlerless deer season in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D in 2008, the Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change requiring county treasurers to accept and issue antlerless deer licenses over-the-counter starting the second Monday of September - a week earlier - so that hunters can obtain the required licenses before heading afield.
"This year, after discussing a solution with the Pennsylvania County Treasurers Association, we know that some hunters still experienced a delay in receiving their antlerless deer licenses from county treasurers in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D prior to the opening day of the new early archery season for antlerless deer," said Dorothy Derr, Game Commission Bureau of Administrative Services director. "By starting over-the-counter sales the second Monday in September, hunters will have the licenses they need by the opening day of the new archery season."
The change in regulations will take effect for the 2008-09 license year.
BOARD REMOVES ORANGE REQUIREMENT FOR SPRING GOBBLER
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change to remove the fluorescent orange requirements for hunters participating in the spring gobbler seasons. If published in the PA Bulletin, the Commonwealth's official registry of state government actions, the change will take effect for the upcoming 2008 spring gobbler season, which is set for April 26-May 26, as well as the youth spring gobbler day on April 19.
"Various hunters and sporting organizations have called for the Game Commission to review and/or reconsider the current regulatory mandate that turkey hunters wear at least 100 square inches of solid fluorescent orange-colored material on the head while moving about or relocating during the spring turkey season," said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. "The safety of hunters afield is, without a doubt, one of the paramount concerns of the Game Commission. However, the available statistical data relating to hunting-related shooting incidents during the spring turkey season shows that there is no clear evidence that the protective material requirement has made any appreciable reduction in spring gobbler hunting-related shooting incidents.
"After thorough discussion and review, the Game Commission has determined that it is prepared to eliminate the protective material requirement for the spring turkey season. However, the agency will remain attentive to the effect of this action, should the Board give the measure final approval in January."
Roe noted that, as an added safety measure, the agency advocates hunters continue to wear orange while entering or leaving the woods. It also will continue to promote the wearing of fluorescent orange as a safe turkey hunting practice.
FARMERS GAIN NEW TOOL TO ADDRESS CROP DAMAGE
In response to a change in state law, the Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to create a special permit process for farmers to use assistance from up to two licensed hunters to address the need to kill game or wildlife for crop damage.
On July 3, Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed into law House Bill 881, which included a provision authorizing the Game Commission to permit other individuals to assist eligible landowners in the destruction of wildlife causing agricultural damage on their property. This provision took effect Sept. 1, 2007. However, before the Game Commission can begin the issuance of any permits to authorize this activity, the Board of Game Commissioners must approve regulatory language to define and create this new program.
A depredation permit issued under the program would allow the farmer to enlist the aid of a limited number of subpermittees for the purpose of killing game or wildlife causing crop damage. The maximum number of subpermittees listed shall not exceed two per permit, unless the district Wildlife Conservation Officer recommends an increase due to warranted circumstances.
Under the program, farmers will have to identify those who would serve as subpermittees; the specific location of the property owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the applicant; the species of game or wildlife causing damage; and the specific nature and extent of the damage caused by the game or wildlife.
Landowners who qualify for the program must qualify as a farmer and; except in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D, must be enrolled in one of the agency's public access programs (Farm Game or Safety Zone) for a minimum of 2 years; and possesses a valid agriculture deer control permit if the species sought to be destroyed is white-tailed deer.
A depredation permit issued under this subchapter is valid at any hour, day or night, but only for the duration of the current permit year. An annual report shall be submitted on forms supplied by the Commission by July 31 of each permit year.
Resident, licensed hunters would qualify as a "subpermittee," and they may not have a prior record of Game Code violations or related license revocations within the previous 10 years.
A subpermittee shall report all wildlife destroyed within 24 hours to the Game Commission and will not be permitted to keep any game or wildlife taken under the program. A subpermittee shall surrender the entire carcass, including the head and hide, to the Game Commission or to a food bank or a butcher operating on behalf of a food bank, at the express direction of the district Wildlife Conservation Officer.
BOARD TAKES STEPS TO CREATE SPECIAL SNOW GOOSE SEASON
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to establish a "Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit" to help stem the growth of continental snow goose populations. Before hunters will be able to take advantage of this new opportunity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must take action, which is not expected in time for the 2008 snow goose season.
"Snow goose populations have reached levels that are causing extensive, and possibly irreversible damage to their, as well as other nesting birds' arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds," pointed out John Dunn, Game Commission waterfowl biologist. "For some populations of snow geese their nesting habitats can no longer support these large numbers. What's more, these geese are beginning to impact habitat and crops in Mid-Atlantic states and Quebec.
"It's likely that North America has never had as many snow geese as it does now. They have become a huge and unexpected problem for themselves and other wildlife that shares the wintering and breeding grounds these waterfowl occupy."
The quickest and probably most effective way for wildlife managers to respond to the problem is to allow additional hunting - and relax hunting regulations - to reduce and stabilize snow goose populations. That's why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to establish a conservation order that will authorize states to use hunters to take snow geese at a time when all other waterfowl seasons are closed. This will include an option to allow hunting hours for this special snow goose season to extend one-half hour after sunset.
Currently, all waterfowl shooting hours close at sundown, except for the September Canada goose season.
"More hunting days will provide hunters additional opportunity to harvest snow geese," Dunn said. "Currently, the snow goose season ends on March 10, and often thousands of snow geese still are available to hunters after this date. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approves the Game Commission's proposal, snow goose hunters will have extra time during the 2008-09 season."
Participating states will be required to monitor and assess hunting activity and harvest. Pennsylvania will accomplish this through the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit. Along with this new permit, hunters would be required to possess a general hunting license, migratory game bird license and a federal duck stamp (for those 16 or older). The permit holder will be required to maintain records specifying hunting activity and daily harvest. Records must be submitted to the Game Commission within 30 days of the close of the special snow goose season.
BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTION
In other action today, the Board of Game Commissioners:
- Gave final approval to a series of technical changes in the hunter-trapper education programs to allow the Executive Director to waive fees for advanced hunter-trapper education courses for Game Commission staff and volunteers who will serve as instructors;
- Gave preliminary approval to a change in regulation to be consistent with a change in state enabling fall turkey hunters to use dogs. The new law took effect for 2007 fall turkey hunters, but the agency needed to make its regulations consistent with the change in state law;
- Gave preliminary approval to a change in regulations to clarify the current prohibition on the importation, possession, sale and release of all non-human primates. Before adoption, the Board removed language specifically referencing the Conure-Nanday, sometimes referred to as the Blackhooded Parakeet; and
- Announced the rest of the 2009 quarterly meetings of the Board will be held Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22, June 23-24 and Oct. 6-7. All meetings will be held in the auditorium of the agency's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave.