http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34757264/ns/local_news-pittsburgh_pa/

Hunting In An Allegheny Co. Park? Better Know The Rules

North Park Hunter Fined For Not Belonging To Hunting Group

ThePittsburghChannel.Com
updated 11 minutes ago
PITTSBURGH - THE PITTSBURGH CHANNEL.com

Allegheny County permits bow hunting in its parks, but in order to do so, hunters must belong to a group called Whitetail Management Associates -- something unbeknownst to hunter Mark Benec.

Benec is not a member of the group, and when he went up into a tree stand at North Park last November, he came down with a ticket and $360 fine.

"I said, 'All these people standing here who are hunters are you going to give them a fine too?' He said, 'No, I'm not,'" said Benec.

That's because the other hunters were members of Whitetail Management Associates -- a nonprofit group of hunters that has exclusive rights to hunt in county parks.

"Safety is our main concern and we really want to know who's hunting in the park to make sure they have a clean record, they can shoot straight," said Allegheny County Parks Director Andy Baechle.

In an interview with Channel 4 Action News investigative reporter Paul Van Osdol, Benec pleaded his case to Baechle.

"I've had background checks. I was hunting in a tree stand. I did all that. I've done all that was required but you're telling me other people can hunt there and I can't? Is that where we're at now?" said Benec.

A representative for the Pennsylvania Game Commission said Allegheny County has the same rights as any private property owner to limit the number of people who hunt on its land.

District Judge William Wagner dismissed the charge against Benec.

Benec was charged with illegally discharging a weapon in a county park, but never actually used his bow.

No ruling was given as to whether anyone can hunt in the parks.

Benec told Van Osdol he will "absolutely" hunt in the parks again.

Benec said he plans to talk with the game commission before heading back into the woods.



Its shocking that Allegheny county is over run with deer and cant give away enough tags to solve the deer problem so what’s the solution in a WMU with very limited land access further limit hunters to access of public municipal ground

Whitetail Management Associates web page
http://www.wmapgh.com/

the funny thing is they never mention fees charged to hunt or how hunters are assigned hunting areas the more you pay the better your area