Region’s Game Commission seat opens
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Know someone who knows a lot about hunting, fishing, trapping and environmental conservation? Someone who lives in southwestern Pennsylvania and has volunteer time to spare?
A search is underway for qualified candidates to replace departing Commissioner Bob Schlemmer of Export, Westmoreland County, whose term expired in June. Schlemmer represented District 2, which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmorelandcounties.
The Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation is charged with recommending board candidates. Gov. Tom Wolf will select the final candidate to be presented to the state senate for confirmation.
Commissioners serve a four-year term and might be reappointed for a maximum of two additional terms. The job doesn’t pay, but commissioners get reimbursed for travel expenses.
“The governor is reaching out to the hunting and trapping community in District 2 to find a diverse group of applicants, one of whom will be nominated by the governor to fill this vacancy,” said Robb Miller, director of the advisory council, in a written statement. “We’re encouraging anyone interested in volunteering to serve on the board to send us a letter of intent and their professional resume.”
Traditionally, candidates for commissioner come from outdoors-related industries THIS WEEK: If asked by the state legislature to consider switching to another wildlife management system, the Game Commission Board should vote to replace its members with hired staff. • Agree • Disagree • LAST WEEK: Should trout stocking be strictly banned in waters where breeding populations of wild trout have been confirmed? and have volunteered for hunting, shooting or conservation organizations. Neither the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code nor the commissioners’ 35-page policy manual list the most important qualification — thick skin. Despite a lot of insincere glad-handing from people who want something, being a member of the Game Commission Board is largely a thankless job that, at its best, requires political skills, the ability to compromise and a willingness to live with the results.
Anyone interested in applying for the District 2 position should send a resume and cover letter via email to Robb Miller at robmille@ Send postal mail to Miller at Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation, 400 Market St., 7th Floor, Harrisburg, 171012301. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15.
The next commissioner likely will make decisions regarding old topics, including the use of a new generation of sporting arms and ammunition, Sunday hunting and the consolidation of the Game and Fish and Boat commissions, as well as the possible replacement of the commissions with another system of wildlife management.
Truth about bowfins
Among the many angling myths is the belief that the stalk-and-strike instinct of the ancient bowfin makes its survival detrimental to game fish populations. With its cylindrical body, long dorsal fin and rounded tail, some anglers mistake it for the invasive snakehead. Every year, incidentally caught bowfins are tossed onto the shore to die.
Research has proven that bowfins are no more of a threat to game fishes than other wildlife that consume immature game fish and baitfish. In Pennsylvania, the bowfin is not listed on conservation indexes and is regulated with panfish, yellow perch, carp and catfish in a year-round season with no minimum size and a 50fish combined species limit.