Just a reminder that the Pennsylvania Game Commissioners have their annual meeting starting tomorrow morning to determine the season, bag limits, new deer management units, and a few other proposed regs. I have heard from several people that the meetings are interesting and informative. They take statements from the public and hunting groups around the state before making the proposals. If you get the chance you should stop by.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us

The last public meeting I was at,NOT A PGC MEETING I was ******ed out of by security. I have sent my feelings to them in a letter. there socialistic forum and me wont get along. By the time of the meeting date is set they have already made their minds up, and have excepted their bribe money. Made their deels for their own gain. NO thanks,I would call for all of them to be fired,banished and put in some real life ,down to earth sportsman.

You really need to look in the mirrow to try to find out what is wrong with your attending meetings. I would be ashamed if I wasn't able to function in society like that.

Are you taking to someone about these thoughts and the inabilty to civilly communicate with others? You would be glad you did.

Cardeer is about 90% right. They have thier minds already made up, & they have made thier deals.As for the bribe money it wouldn't surprise me. They want our input, but if it goes against thier plan so what, they're going to do what they want anyway. The PGC runs thier meetings in a socialistic manner thier motto should be "If you don't like it too bad".When someone gets up to speak & agrees with Alt & his cronies they can ramble on forever, if you disagree or hit a sore spot they stop you short make a statement & take the next question. Sort of border line Nazi's. Just my 2 cents.

They are a dangerously fickle bunch- in truth. One good speech can sway them to do what they had not intended a few minutes before. I think we tend to think the world is against us when things don't go our way. If you ever have to be thrown out of a social gathering because of bad behaviour, you need to look inward for the problem.



Edited by - mhogan on 01/06/2003 09:49:54

There are four main quarterly meetings that the PGC commissioners are required to have where the set game laws and take comment on problems people are seeing with wildlife in Pennsylvania.

The January meeting is usually when they propose seasons. If you want, or don’t want something, this is the best time to make your case. Once it is proposed, it is very possible it will become law in the April meeting. The April meeting is when the seasons are set. The June meeting is to clean up any loose ends and sometimes finalize the items that they couldn’t resolve in April. The October meeting is when they discuss things that will probably propose for the next January meeting.

The January meeting is on a Sunday afternoon and therefore is the easiest meeting for people to attend. I like to see people I sometimes never get to see all year and see for myself how the system works. I generally take notes and try to tell others what went on. Many people are under mistaken impressions of these meetings and I would be too if I had to rely on what some people say on the message boards. For example, the belief that it is just a dog and pony show and their minds are already made up is very wrong. I have seen a comment made by a good speaker sway how I was sure a vote was going to go just a few minutes before that comment and that changed history in Pennsylvania. That can be a scary thing. Almost like a Steelers game where you thought you were winning and there is an interception and run back for a game losing touch down.

AR and concurrent are pretty much behind us and this meeting was much more laid back than most. Even the USP spokesman was evenhanded and reasonable. He did ask that acid rain be considered as a primary damager of our forests and that there is a disparity of deer densities between public and private land. I also believe that the PGC should create a panel to look at acid rain. The three main areas being the history (when was it first measured, where does it come from and what has the level and impact been since it was first noted), what can realistically be done about it and finally where would the funding to correct it come from? That should bring some closure to this issue.

I would say the two main issues discussed were DMAP and reindeer. Yes reindeer! Everyone supported DMAP. The biggest difference being whether the PGC should require these lands be open to public hunting to obtain these extra doe tags. Some felt that if you didn’t require it, more would post their lands and lease or charge money for a DMAP doe tag. Others felt it was un-reasonable to require landowners open their lands. Many had posted them because of littering and damage to their property by hunters they didn’t know. I side with the people that want DMAP for all landowners and that they open their lands should not be a requirement. After the litter I have seen on the SGL’s this year, I appreciate landowners wanting to invite whom they chose to hunt their property. Even hunting clubs should get these tags if needed.

The reindeer farmers pointed out that reindeer where more like cows than deer. They could not survive in the wilds if they escaped. And there has never been a documented case of a reindeer getting CWD. They asked they be exempted from the importation ban, even if it is just a 30-day permit. Most of their income is derived during the Christmas season by showing the animals and right now if they take them to another state, they aren’t allowed to bring them back home. Made sense to me.

Bob Hildenbrand, President of PATHA opposed the October gun season once the herd was balanced. Asked for a 4 point restriction be placed in SRA’s also. Asked for an archery turkey and bear season and that we stop the practice of requiring bag tag hunting licenses.

The UBP’s spokesman, Ed Wentzler stated that they wanted to see the harvest data and see how the new season went before making suggestions or requests. The steady hand plan.

Andy Bensing asked that they consider allowing archery season from 9/15 to 1/31, as it is a low impact style of hunting. He offered that the extensions be for doe only if the bucks harvests would create problems.

Jen Sager represented herself and ask asked that a longer bow season for whitetails be allowed. She suggested that they could eliminate the October gun season and get the same result by extending the archery seasons for doe only harvests. She wants bowhunters to be allowed to hunt turkeys all season long, as the harvests would be minimal while the recreation value would surely boost archery license sales.

Several spoke in support of Dr. Alt and the PGC for the recent deer management changes.

One lady asked that they help curb the excessive hawk and goose problem her area saw. The commissioners told her that was under federal jurisdiction and they had tried on the hawks and no one will even discuss that with them and they may get some help on the goose situation.

The Chief Law Enforcement officer stated that the rumors of $500 dollar fines had been greatly exaggerated. That in fact they were ½ what they were last year. Only 23 people out of 1873 people that had submitted deer as mistaken kills for AR violations had received the $500.00 fine.

Dr. Alt was in the audience; killing another rumor that he had taken a job in Texas or Colorado!

It was great to go there- despite the long drive. I got to see many celebrities including Dutch, Flintnocker, DFA, DennyF, Shooter, Muldoon, Bowdad, Os&ihsi, RC, Huntinggal and sister, and the Walking Dead! Sorry if I forgot anyone. Dead lines you know!

Thanks for the update, Mark. Your observations and presence at the meetings is a great thing. I wish I could attend, but Harrisburg is 5+ hours away from me and work time just doesn't allow it.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Andy Bensing asked that they consider allowing archery season from 9/15 to 1/31, as it is a low impact style of hunting. He offered that the extensions be for doe only if the bucks harvests would create problems.

Jen Sager represented herself and ask asked that a longer bow season for whitetails be allowed. She suggested that they could eliminate the October gun season and get the same result by extending the archery seasons for doe only harvests. She wants bowhunters to be allowed to hunt turkeys all season long, as the harvests would be minimal while the recreation value would surely boost archery license sales.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Wooohoooo doggie!

Sorry. I got a little excited there...like I do every year when someone talks about extending archery opportunities but they shoot it down just as annually...<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thank you for the update Mark.

I'm with you, Frank....except I used my &quot;INSIDE VOICE&quot;<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

You guys are most welcome.

GAME COMMISSIONERS GIVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
TO 2003-2004 SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004, including new wildlife management units and continued antler restrictions for deer hunting. Following are several articles on meeting highlights. The public may offer comment on these proposals between now and the next meeting of the Board of Game Commissioners, April 7-8, at which time the Board will set final seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004.


NEW WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNITS GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to new wildlife management units to improve - and in some cases, simplify - the future of hunting and trapping.

Drs. Matthew Lovallo and Christopher Rosenberry drafted the new wildlife management units, which, if given final adoption in April, will be used beginning with the 2003-2004 seasons to manage nearly all wildlife species.

&quot;Wildlife populations are not equally distributed or abundant across the Commonwealth,&quot; said Calvin W. DuBrock, director of the agency's Bureau of Wildlife Management. &quot;Given the problems associated with current species-specific management units and county boundaries, the Bureau conducted a thorough review of all management unit systems. The final product, which was built from the ground up, contains 22 management units.

&quot;This design simplifies the unit system for hunters and trappers, as well as wildlife resource managers, by creating a single, uniform management system with easily recognizable boundaries for all species.&quot;

Characteristics used to design the new wildlife management units included: land use/habitat; human density; public/private land ownership; recognizable physical features, such as major roads and rivers; and land use practices, such as agriculture, timber and development.

Currently, the Game Commission uses different units to manage bear, beaver, bobcat, deer, elk, pheasant, quail, turkey, waterfowl and other migratory game birds.

If approved by the Board of Game Commissioners, the only two categories that will not be managed using the new wildlife management unit system are: elk, which are primarily confined to an 835-square-mile area in northcentral Pennsylvania; and waterfowl and migratory game birds, which are managed using frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The change to new WMUs also will impact certain firearm restrictions for turkey hunting and types and numbers of devices that may be used for beaver trapping, as well as the process.

For a copy of the new WMU map, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on the &quot;Wildlife&quot; section and select &quot;Proposed Wildlife Management Units.&quot;


DEER SEASONS TO REMAIN LARGELY UNCHANGED FOR 2003-2004
After three years of dramatic changes to Pennsylvania's deer seasons, the Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to the 2003-2004 deer seasons that will nearly mirror those of 2002-2003. The only changes to deer hunting are administrative.

Based on its tentative approval for new wildlife management units, the Board also gave preliminary approval to a new process for allocating and applying for antlerless deer licenses.

Antler restrictions are scheduled to continue for the 2003-2004 seasons, and are adjusted to meet the new WMUs. Specifically:

-- In WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A and 2D, hunters will be required to abide by the four points on one side antler restriction;

-- In WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, hunters will be able to abide by the old antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points;

-- In all other WMUs, hunters will be required to abide by a three points on one side antler restriction; and

-- Statewide, all junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle and active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel will be able to abide by the old antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.

The deer seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004 are the same as last year. Following is an overview of the preliminarily approved seasons.

-- A concurrent antlered/antlerless rifle deer season from Dec. 1-13. In order to harvest a doe during the concurrent seasons, all hunters must possess a valid, WMU-specific antlerless deer license for the county in which they are hunting.

-- A firearms antlerless deer season from Oct. 23-25, for junior and senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) holders, or Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, who possess the appropriate WMU-specific antlerless deer license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach age 65 in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706.

-- A muzzleloader season for antlerless deer from Oct.18-25. The flintlock muzzleloader season, which is set for Dec. 26-Jan. 10, continues to be an antlered or antlerless season for hunters with primitive flintlock ignition firearms, provided the hunter possesses the appropriate license(s).

-- Archery seasons will be Oct. 4-Nov. 15, and Dec. 26-Jan. 10.

-- Antlerless deer hunting in the WMU 2B, 5C and 5D will be Dec. 26-Jan.10.

In other deer hunting-related action, the Board gave preliminary approval to a measure to extend the deadline for hunters to purchase a muzzleloader stamp from Aug. 31 to Nov. 15.


DMAP TO FOCUS DEER HUNTER PRESSURE ON AREAS MOST IN NEED
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) that is designed to address specific deer management objectives within the new wildlife management units.

&quot;While many people thought new deer management units would be smaller than the current county-based units, the development of the new wildlife management units demonstrated that smaller units would not be practical,&quot; said Dr. Gary Alt, Game Commission Deer Management Section supervisor. &quot;Using the new larger wildlife management units, DMAP will enable public and private landowners to address deer management goals on a more localized basis.

&quot;DMAP also is designed to help build a better relationship between hunters and landowners so that we can get the right number of antlerless deer harvested in the right areas. By doing so, we hope to improve the deer herd and lessen deer impacts on the habitat.&quot;

Eligible lands for the 2003-2004 license year are publicly-owned lands, and privately-owned lands enrolled in one of the Game Commission's public access programs (Farm Game, Forest Game or Safety Zone). Completed applications must be submitted to the appropriate regional office by July 1 immediately preceding the fall deer hunting season.

DMAP is designed to help specific landowners in five classifications with different criteria. The programs are:

-- Small Landowner Program includes those with less than 1,000 contiguous acres. One DMAP license will be issued for every 50 acres enrolled in DMAP. Additional DMAP licenses may be allocated dependent on current conditions relative to goals and objectives outlined in a Commission approved management plan;

-- Agriculture Program includes land where material destruction of cultivated crops, fruit trees or vegetables by deer has been or can be documented by the Commission. One DMAP license will be allocated for every five acres enrolled in DMAP. Additional DMAP licenses may be allocated dependent on current conditions relative to goals and objectives outlined in a Commission approved management plan;

-- Urban Program includes land owned or controlled by municipalities or community associations. The number of DMAP licenses allocated will depend on current conditions relative to goals and objectives outlined in a Commission approved management plan;

-- Conservation Program includes land where deer damage to threatened or endangered plant and/or animal species or communities in which they live has been documented or can be documented by the applicant. The number of DMAP licenses allocated will depend on current conditions relative to goals and objectives outlined in a Commission approved management plan; and

--Large Landowner Program includes those with more than 1,000 contiguous acres of land. The number of DMAP licenses allocated will depend on current conditions relative to goals and objectives outlined in a Commission approved management plan. Applicants engaged in forestry must provide information about forestry practices for the property being enrolled.

Upon approval of the application, landowners must post signs stating that the land is enrolled in DMAP. Landowners will receive one coupon for each DMAP license allocated for their property. Landowners may not give more than one DMAP coupon to a licensed hunter, who will then apply for the DMAP license. Hunters may possess only one DMAP license for a specific DMAP area in any given license year.

DMAP license allocations will be made separate from the general antlerless deer license allocations, but will follow the same fee scheduled as the general antlerless licenses ($6 for residents and $26 for non residents).


BOARD CONTINUES ELK AND BOBCAT SEASONS
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to hold Pennsylvania's third elk season Nov. 10-15, which is a week earlier than the previous two seasons. Both antlered and antlerless elk will be legal game. The number of elk licenses available for the 2003 season will be determined by the Board at a later date. Successful applicants will be determined through a public drawing scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27.

One of the changes for the coming elk season will be the merging of two elk wildlife management units, thereby reducing the total number of units from 12 to 11. Unit 11, which was comprised primarily of privately-owned land, will be combined with Unit 1, which is made up of large tracts of publicly-owned lands, and thereby offer licensed elk hunters assigned to this new unit better access to huntable lands.

Interested hunters will be able to make application for one of the elk licenses through the mail or by going to the agency's webpage (www.pgc.state.pa.us) beginning in late April. All applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable $10 application fee.

For the third year in a row, the Game Commission has pledged to earmark the first 10,000 application fees, for a total of $100,000, for habitat improvement in the elk range. The Game Commission's three-year pledge is part of a $1.2 million commitment that includes funding from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Dominion Resources, Sinnemahoning Sportsmens Club, and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Safari Club International. So far, this joint effort has resulted in 225 acres of improved habitat within the elk range.

(For more information on this pledge and the results of the 2001 elk season, see Game Commission News Release #102-01 in the &quot;Newsroom&quot; on the agency's website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.)

The Board also gave preliminary approval to the state's fourth consecutive bobcat hunting and trapping season for 2003-2004. Sportsmen and sportswomen with a bobcat hunting and trapping permit may harvest one bobcat in Wildlife Management Units 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. The bobcat hunting season will take place starting Oct. 18, and ending Feb. 21, 2004. The trapping portion of the season will be Oct. 19, through Feb. 21, 2004.

Successful permit holders will be determined through a public drawing with the number of permits to be determined at a later date. Applications will be accepted through the mail and over the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

The Board also gave preliminary approval to creating a preference system for individuals who have previously applied for the public bobcat permit drawing. Under the system, anyone who submits an application for the drawing will have all previous year's applications included until they are successfully drawn for a permit.


SMALL GAME OPPORTUNITIES EXPANDED
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to expanded small game hunting opportunities for 2003-2004.

Under the proposed framework, small game seasons for rabbits, pheasants and bobwhite quail will begin the same time as the squirrel and ruffed grouse seasons: Saturday, Oct. 18. If adopted in April, this will give rabbit, pheasant and bobwhite quail hunters two additional weeks of hunting during the upcoming season.

The Board also gave preliminary approval to close the late small game hunting on Dec. 23, rather than Dec. 24. There is no late season small game hunting on Dec. 25.


PROPOSED 2003-2004 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license - Oct. 11-13 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Fall Season - Oct. 18-Nov. 29; Late Seasons - Dec. 15-23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, 2004 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 18-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004 (2 daily, 4 possession). There is no open season for taking ruffed grouse in that portion of State Game Lands No. 176 in Centre County which is posted &quot;RESEARCH AREA - NO GROUSE HUNTING.&quot;

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 18-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, 2004 (4 daily, 8 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license - Oct. 11-13 (2 daily, 4 in possession).

PHEASANT: Male Only - Oct. 18-Nov. 29. Male and female in designated areas - Oct. 18-29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, 2004 (2 daily, 4 in possession).

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 18-Nov. 29 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2004 (1 daily, 2 possession).

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season except during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season.

CROWS: July 4-Nov. 30, and Dec. 26-April 4, 2004, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season except during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): Wildlife Management Units 1A, 2A and 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow)- Nov. 1-22; WMU 1B - Nov. 1-15; WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E - Nov. 1-22; WMUs 5A and 5B - CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D - Nov. 1-8. (1 bird limit, either sex).

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 1-29, 2004. (1 bird limit)

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 24-26. One bear per hunting license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMU 3D): Dec. 1-6. One bear per hunting license year.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 10-15. Daily and season limit: one.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct.4-Nov. 15 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Dec. 1-13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

ANTLERLESS DEER (Statewide): Oct. 23-25. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 18-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, Antlerless (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.


PROPOSED 2003-2004 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS

RACCOON & FOXES: Oct. 18-Feb. 21, 2004, unlimited.

COYOTE, OPOSSUM, SKUNKS & WEASELS: No closed season, with certain exceptions during deer and spring turkey seasons. No limits.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Oct. 18-Feb. 21, 2004. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)


PROPOSED 2003-2004 TRAPPING SEASONS

MINK & MUSKRAT: Nov. 22-Jan. 10, 2004. Unlimited.

COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS, WEASELS: Oct. 19-Feb. 21, 2004. No limit.

BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 26-March 31, 2004 (Limits vary depending on WMU).

BOBCAT (WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Oct. 19-Feb. 21, 2004. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)


PROPOSED 2003-2004 FALCONRY SEASONS

SQUIRRELS (combined), QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS, SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE, RINGNECK PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2004. Daily and Field Possession limits vary.

No open season on other wild birds or mammals. Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons will be established in accordance with Federal Regulations this summer.

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