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PrintPennsylvania Cuffs & Collars - October 12th, 2012
NORTHWEST REGION
•Butler County WCO Randy W. Pilarcik was dispatched to a call in Mars where two bucks had their antlers locked together. “One of the bucks was dead,” he said. “Prior to my arrival, the homeowner and his neighbor were able to get the deer separated and the one living buck, although tired, was able to run off. The other deer appeared to have been dead for a couple of days. The expired deer had a nice set of antlers; it was an eight-point with a 17-inch spread. The deer that survived had a set of antlers that were at least as large if not larger.”
•Clarion County WCO Steven J. Ace transported an injured great-horned owl found in his district to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. “When the owl was picked up it was starving, too weak to fly, and had maggots inside its beak and sinus area,” he said. The rehabilitator reported that the owl seems to be doing well.
•Crawford County WCO Mark A. Allegro is investigating incidents of deer being shot at night in the areas of Seely Road, Greenwood Township, and Ridge Road, Cambridge Township. If anyone has information regarding these incidents, contact Allegro through the Northwest Region Office at 814-432-3187.
•Erie County WCO Darin L. Clark reminds WMU 1B fall turkey hunters, due to opening the WMU to rifles, that they are now required to wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange when moving about and have 100 square inches within 15 feet when stationary.
•Jefferson County WCO Roger A. Hartless is investigating a large dumping case involving a dump-truck load of roofing shingles and construction debris. The material was discovered on a large hunter access program property near the Jefferson/Elk county line. “The source of the material has been determined and charges are pending,” he said.
•Mercer County WCO Donald G. Chaybin has had several incidents of theft from well sites on SGL 130. “Investigating the latest report, I encountered a vehicle that was being illegally operated on the old railroad grade,” he said. The truck matched the description of the one suspected in the thefts. Pennsylvania State Police was contacted to assist at the scene, and the two subjects were interviewed. When separated, both the driver and passenger admitted to officers that they had stolen the items and sold them for scrap. The investigation is still ongoing, but multiple charges will be filed by state police for theft, criminal mischief and other offenses. In addition charges will be filed for several game land violations.
•Mercer County WCO Lawrence R. Hergenroeder reports a Michigan man was found fishing without a license and, when questioned, gave a false name. An inquiry found his real name to be that of a person that has a felony warrant for a parole violation, he said. The defendant was cited for fishing without a license and making a false statement to a law enforcement officer. “He presently is awaiting extradition to Michigan seated in the Mercer County jail,” he said.
SOUTHWEST REGION
•Allegheny County WCO Beth Fife is investigating several baited areas in her district. “Hunters who are finding these areas are reporting them when they find them,” she said. “They are very upset when they find these areas for two reasons; first, they can’t believe someone needs to bait an area to hunt; and, secondly, they realize that area is now not able to be hunted for 30 days after the bait has been removed and they have to locate another place to hunt.”
•Armstrong County WCO Rod Burns reports that Apollo Spring Church Sportsmen’s Club August Hunter Trapper Education class certified 129 new students and also congratulations to Seminole Rod and Gun Club that had their first HTE class in years.
•Armstrong County WCO Rod Burns reports that crop damage calls have dropped off to zero after a busy summer with concerns. “A combination of recent rains and a decent acorn crop have helped the local farmers out,” he said.
•Beaver County WCO Matt Kramer reports that EHD continues to cause deer deaths in Beaver County. The Game Commission has confirmed EHD in samples taken from Ohioville Borough and Greene Township,” he said. “Other areas of the county, including Independence, Hopewell and Hanover townships, have reported deer that are exhibiting symptoms of EHD. Residents are asked to continue to report sick deer to the Southwest Region Office at 724-238-9523.
•Cambria County WCO Seth Mesoras said hunters should be aware that there is surface mining activity being performed on SGL 79 in Jackson Township. “If you have a traditional area that you hunted on this SGL, you might want to scout the area first because of the new mine,” he said.
•Fayette County WCO Brandon Bonin said charges are pending against two individuals. The first individual shot and killed a black bear on Sept. 7, and the second person took possession of the bear. “When I asked the shooter why he shot the bear, he replied ‘I didn’t know what to do, so I shot it.’ I also am charging the shooter for marijuana plants he was growing behind his house.”
•Fayette County WCO Brandon Bonin reports that the Messmore Rod and Gun Club held an HTE class with 42 students successfully completing the class.
•Fayette County WCO Brandon Bonin currently is conducting two investigations concerning the taking and attempting to take white-tailed deer during a closed season.
•Fayette/Westmoreland Counties WCO Jason Farabaugh reports that several more illegal ATV operators were apprehended on Hanson Aggregates property in Springfield Township, Fayette County.
•Fayette/Westmoreland Counties WCO Jason Farabaugh reports that a recent HTE class at Indian Creek Valley Sportsmen’s Association certified approximately 40 students. Several additional classes are open for registration at several locations through November, he said.
•Washington County WCO Dan Sitler reports that several HTE courses have been placed on the schedule in October and November for Washington County. “Interested students will find classes on the Game Commission website at www.pgc.state.pa.us,” he said. “The last class for Washington County will be held at Paris Sportsmen Club on Nov. 2-3.”
•Westmoreland County WCO Matt Lucas said calls are increasing for possible EHD deer deaths in his district. “We are collecting samples whenever viable,” he said. Hunters are encouraged to continue reporting any deer they may find while out scouting before the upcoming seasons.
NORTHCENTRAL REGION
•Union County WCO Dirk B. Remensnyder is investigating recent received reports of people trying to hand feed bears.
•Lycoming County WCO Harold Cole reminded hunters to be sure to take time this fall to send in any report cards for any animals they harvest. “These numbers help the biologist with their population studies,” he said.
•Centre County WCO Michael Ondik recently cited an individual for representing himself as a Wildlife Nuisance Control Operator, and this individual was not tested or authorized by permit to act in this capacity. As a result of this unauthorized behavior, another PA homeowner has a sour taste for that reflects unfavorably on all the true and licensed Wildlife Nuisance Control Operators which the Agency relies upon for trapping and control efforts we would not otherwise have the time, manpower or dollars to accomplish, he said. This case clearly spelled out the need for the permitting system, he said.
•Potter County WCO William C. Ragosta recently settled a case involving a groundhog that was killed from a vehicle and within a safety zone.
Potter County WCO William C. Ragosta recently filed charges against multiple ATV operators for riding on lands enrolled in the agency’s Hunter Access Program.
•Lycoming County WCO Kristoffer A. Krebs recently investigated an unusual number of dumping complaints.
•Tioga County WCO Robert F. Minnich reports that five active eagle nests that he keeps an eye on were fairly successful again this year. “Except for the one nest in which a bear evicted the eagles, the other four nests were successful in fledging young,” he said. “Of the four nests, we had at least six young fledged – two nests had one each and the other two had two young each.”
SOUTHEAST REGION
•Bucks County WCO John Papson reports that a vehicle was found dumped on a state game land. “During the investigation, it was reported stolen from Monroe County and turned over to the State Police,” he said.
•Bucks County WCO John Papson reports that the Youth Field Day was a resounding success again this year with more than 100 kids attending.
•Bucks County WCO John Papson said, with the onset of the archery deer season, there are reports of baited treestands that are being looked into. “For some reason, the use of screw-in steps on both public and private land is on the rise,” he said. “Remember, you can not use any device that damages a tree without the express written permission of the property owner and they can not be used at all on SGL.”
•Bucks County WCO Richard Macklem II responded to a call where a person had picked up a baby skunk and put it in a cage in his house. “He handled it with his bare hands and let his friends hold it too,” he said. The skunk was submitted for rabies testing.
•Bucks County WCO Richard Macklem II is investigating reports of a person having a squirrel as a pet in Middletown.
•Lancaster County WCO Derek Daly received reports of a buck at a local butcher shop on the opening day of antlerless archery deer season. Chester County WCO Scott Frederick investigated the incident and confirmed it was killed in Pennsylvania and had a Pennsylvania buck tag on it. “It was quite clear this individual had not thoroughly read the hunting digest and thought it was opening day of regular archery season,” Daly said. “WCO Frederick conducted an interview and found that to be the case,” Daly said.
•Lancaster County WCO Derek Daly had been investigating baited treestands unlawfully placed on state game lands prior to the opening day of antlerless archery deer season in WMU 5C. “On the opening day, Berks County WCO David Brockmeier and I caught two individuals hunting from the stands,” he said. “It was confirmed the two placed the bait there, and charges will be filed for hunting over bait, placing bait on SGLs and additional charges will be filed for the one individual who didn’t have an antlerless deer license and therefore was attempting to take a deer unlawfully.”
•Lebanon County WCO Michael J. Reeder installed several cameras on SGL 211 to catch individuals using a streambed and spring seep to drive vehicles off road in. “I was able to catch six violators and citations and warnings were issued,” he said.
•Montgomery County WCO Raymond Madden reports that with archery season already taking place in the Southeast Special Regulations areas, hunters are reminded that taking advantage of bait to attract deer to their hunting location is illegal. “Anyone who encounters or hears of any baited locations is asked to contact the Southeast Region Office at 610-926-3136,” he said.
•Northampton County WCO Brad Kreider reports that, so far, one bear has been harvested in the county during the early archery bear season. Early deer archery season in 5C has many hunters afield, he said. Some of the harvested antlerless deer tipped the scales more than 200 pounds.
