December 1, 2025

Notes off a soiled cuff: Thoughts on possible merger of Pennsylvania fish and game agencies

6 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Fishing, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania / Jeff Mulhollem

When I first heard about the new study of ways the Game and Fish & Boat commissions should work together, immediately I thought of Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and his comments about a merger of the agencies last year.
At a budget hearing for both commissions in 2024, his first question to then Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans was abrupt: “Why do we need you?” he asked. Then, looking at Tim Schaeffer, Fish & Boat commission executive director, he said, “I mean, why do we need both of you?”

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CWD in northeast Pennsylvania adds challenges for some deer processors

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Pennsylvania / Tom Venesky

The presence of chronic wasting disease in the northeast region of Pennsylvania has impacted the ability of some processors participating in a deer donation program for the upcoming rifle season.
The statewide firearms season opened Nov. 29 and concludes on Saturday, Dec. 13. New this year is the inclusion of an additional Sunday in the season – Dec. 7. The season also included Sunday, Nov. 30, which had been the case prior to this year. However, the occurrence of CWD in the area has resulted in some changes for hunters.

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Report: 2.5 million acres signed up in H2Ohio pact

Featured, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, Ohio / Staff Report

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge recently announced the highest acreage of farmland enrollment in H2Ohio to date.
Now, 2.5 million acres of farmland statewide are enrolled in H2Ohio. In northwest Ohio alone, H2Ohio practices are now being implemented on 2 million acres, which is more than 50% of the cropland in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB).

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Ohio DNR’s Kendra Wecker appointed as chair of Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies panel

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, National News, News, Ohio / DNR Report

Kendra Wecker, chief of the Ohio DNR (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, was recently appointed as the chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Executive Committee. Chief Wecker was appointed for a one-year term.
AFWA represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest.

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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula bear take is above goal

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Michigan, National Hunting, National News, News / Victor Skinner

Preliminary results from Michigan’s 2025 bear hunting season show significant overharvests across most of the Upper Peninsula, while harvest in the northern Lower lagged.
Preliminary numbers show state-licensed hunters registered a total of 1,919 bears in 2025, including 1,493 in the Upper Peninsula and 426 in the northern Lower Peninsula.

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