Pa. considers new wild turkey management plan
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
First wildlife managers helped to focus Pennsylvania’s burgeoning wild turkey population and developed partnerships with likeminded agencies, groups and organizations such the National Wild Turkey Federation. Then Mary Jo Casalena, the state Game Commission’s turkey biologist, completed a 10-year plan that gathered and studied detailed turkey harvest data; quantified, acquired and enhanced turkey habitat and made turkey hunting safer through hunter education. Now the Game Commission is preparing its 2018-2027 Wild Turkey Management Plan, Pennsylvania’s third turkey plan since 1999, and they want hunter input.
“The new plan uses the information gained during the two previous plans and focuses on developing turkey population models for each wildlife management unit in the Commonwealth,” Casalena said in a statement.
Instead of a one-size-fitsall plan, managing by WMU is intended to enable the agency to respond more surgically to localized increases, decreases and anomalies such as disease outbreaks. Casalena believes that through the study of more detailed population models, she’ll more quickly understand how the birds respond to harvest regulations and identify what’s working and what’s not at the management unit level.
The draft plan is expected to help the Game Commission to identify priority areas for habitat improvements on individual state • LAST WEEK: Should the Fish and Boat Commission do more to encourage anglers to target catfish? game lands. Habitat suitability models will be routinely updated, and foresters will increase acreages of habitat management-related prescribed burns.
As Pennsylvania’s 200,000 fall turkey hunters and nearly 230,000 spring turkey hunters age, elements of the new plan are expected to identify ways to increase hunter participation, retention, recruitment and reactivation. Parts of the plan were developed to improve turkey hunter safety and compliance with regulations, and increase public awareness of the benefits of managing wild turkeys.
The draft plan can be viewed on the agency’s website at www.pgc.pa.gov. At the top menu, hover over the Hunt & Trap tab and select Hunting. In the Big Game category, click on Wild Turkey.
Comments will be accepted through Aug. 31, and can be emailed to WildTurkeyComments@pa.gov, or sent by postal mail to: Turkey Management Plan, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, Pa. Commissioners will vote on the plan’s final version during the Sept. 25 board meeting.
Intro to fly fishing
Learn to fly fish courtesy of the Tri-County Trout Club at Peoples Library, New Kensington, 12:30 p.m. Aug. 4. The program is for ages 10plus and their families and includes rod setup, casting and fly tying. Register at peopleslibrary.org.
Fishing derby
The Pymatuning Lake Association will sponsor a free fishing derby for anglers age 2-15 at the Espyville Boat Launch 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 4 and 8-11 a.m. Aug. 5. Details at pymatuninglake.com.
City fishing
The Let’s Go Fishing group sponsors a free fishing program 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through August at Carnegie Lake in Highland Park. Details at letsgofishing@pancakesandjesus.net.