Trenton, N.J. — After five years of political stonewalling, New Jersey sportsmen are going to be able to go on a bear hunt. On July 21, the Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martin, announced his approval of the state’s new Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy. Part of the management policy will include a six-day December…
Harrisburg — Hunters interested in learning the age of the bear they harvested during the 2009 seasons can log onto the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). To access the database, click on “Hunt/Trap” in the menu bar at the top of the page, click on “Hunting,” scroll down and click on “Black Bear” in the “Big Game” listing, and then scroll…
Meadville, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced this week that the Mill Creek Access, Mill Creek Township, Clarion County. is scheduled to temporarily close on Monday Aug. 9. Agency construction crews plan on emergency repairs to extend the launch ramp. It is expected that the access area will re-open on Aug. 18. Boaters are advised to use the…
Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Game Commission has published a new planning guide to assist conservation organizations – or individual hunters – host a species-specific hunt for eligible junior hunters. To view a copy of the new manual, go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “Education” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, select “Special Hunts” in…
Washington, D.C. — This week, two environmental groups filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking a nationwide ban on lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle. Such a ban would drastically reduce sportsmen numbers and result in decimated funding for wildlife conservation programs due to a loss of revenue from licenses and taxes on sporting equipment. The petition…
Harrisburg — Pheasant Valley Farm, in Robesonia, Berks County, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other conservation-oriented groups are hosting a day-long special women’s hunt for 20 participants on Friday, Sept. 24, at the Pheasant Valley Farm preserve. Check-in will be held at 8:45 am, followed by a safety lesson at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the 20 participants will practice…
Harrisburg — In addition to publishing a new planning guide for hosting youth hunts, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has unveiled a new feature on its website to enable those interested in participating in youth hunts to find events in their area and register online. To find a hunt in your area, go to the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe today announced an invitation for project applications to the State Wildlife Grants Program. These projects will help address conservation needs for high-priority projects for endangered, threatened and at-risk species across Pennsylvania. The federal dollars for this program are awarded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grants Program (SWG)….
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has entered the fray over the listing of wolves on the Endangered Species List. Last week, the group asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to develop a plan to introduce wofves across the nation. The petition to FWS called for a nationwide “recovery” program for the wolves, something they say has…
Harrisburg — Hunters looking to participate in this year’s Pennsylvania elk season have until Aug. 27 to submit an application through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS). This can be done at any issuing agent or through the “2010 Elk Hunt” icon in the center of the agency’s homepage (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Applicants must pay a $10.70 non-refundable application…
Pennsylvania is again reaping the rewards of itsexpanded efforts at recruiting new sportsmen into the fold through their Mentored Youth Hunting Program. According to the state Game Commission, Pennsylvania sold nearly 30,000 mentored youth hunting permits during the 2009-2010 hunting season alone. This brings the state’s total to over 100,000 Mentored Youth Licenses sold since passing a Families Afield measure…
Rochester, Minn. — Two Pennsylvania Outdoors News columnists and a regular contributor were honored for conservation achievement and writing excellence recently at the close of the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference here . Saltwater columnist Terry Brady received OWAA’s top conservation honor, the The Jade of Chiefs Award, representing “an affirmation of OWAA adherence to and support of the…
Harrisburg, Pa. -– Edward P Mascharka III, of Erie County, has been sworn in as the District 1 Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), representing Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties. Commissioner Mascharka was nominated by Gov. Ed Rendell in late March and was confirmed by the Senate on June 21. Commissioners…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe today applauded Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Rep. Michael Hanna (D-76), Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-171) and Sen. Jake Corman (R-34) for enactment of legislation to transfer more than 1,200 acres of state-owned property, presently part of Rockview State Correctional Institution in Centre County, to the agency’s State Game Lands system. Gov….
Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area visitor center will feature hundreds of original paintings and fine-art prints from some of the best-known wildlife artists in the state during its annual Wildlife Art Show from Aug. 6-8. The show is free, and the hours are: Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10…
York, Pa. — Michael Sponseller Jr., 19, of East Berlin, Adams County, was found guilty and sentenced to pay $1,100 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs for the unlawful poaching of a trophy-class white-tailed deer in York County, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission officials. The sentence was handed down, on June 29, by Senior Magisterial District Judge Roger…
Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, at their recent quarterly meeting, approved a land exchange with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation involving three tracts of land totaling 53.8 acres in exchange for replacement lands for a highway easement. The tracts that are being conveyed from PennDOT are an indenture into State Game Land 153 in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana…
Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a donation from the Sandy Ridge Wind LLC of a seven-acre tract of land in Snyder Township, Blair County, adjoining State Game Land 158. The property borders Route 453 and this acquisition will secure access through an existing access road to portions of SGLs 158 and 60. The property is…
Harrisburg — The bald eagle’s amazing recovery from the brink of extinction in this state continues at a heartwarming pace as America prepares to celebrate the birth of its independence, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. So far this year, 192 bald eagle nests – in 50 counties – have been recorded in Pennsylvania. As recently as 1983, only three…
Harrisburg — Following the successful fledging of four bluebird chicks about two weeks ago, a pair of bluebirds wasted no time in getting on with a second nest that can be viewed through a live webcast on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). The live video feed from a bluebird nestbox on the grounds of the Game Commission’s Harrisburg Headquarters…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today reminded hunters that county treasurers will begin accepting antlerless deer license applications from resident hunters starting Monday, July 12; and from nonresidents beginning Monday, July 26. For the 2010-11 license year, antlerless deer license fees are the same as they have been since 1999, except for the 70-cent transaction fee…
Harrisburg — Women are Pennsylvania’s fastest growing group of hunters and a beneficial new partnership between the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will help provide more outdoor opportunities to women in the Keystone State. Thanks in large part to funding provided by the Game Commission, the NWTF has hired Jeff Souders, of Harrisburg, to serve…
Harrisburg — As hunters prepare for the upcoming antlerless deer license application period, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer permits will be available through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) on July 2. “DMAP is a Game Commission program designed to help landowners manage deer numbers on their…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists are seeking assistance from residents in a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data this summer. This monitoring is especially important due to the mortalities in bat populations throughout the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania, being caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). “WNS primarily kills during the winter, but the true impact of WNS…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the agenda for the Board of Game Commissioners upcoming June meeting has been posted on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). To view a copy of the agenda, select “Commissioners’ Meeting,” under “Quick Clicks” and then click on the text link to the agenda. The Board will meet…
Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Game commissioners will hold their upcoming meeting on June 28-29, in the auditorium of the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters at 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 here. On Monday, June 28, the board will gather public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. Registration for…
