Highlights from the Pa. Board of Game Commissioners meeting
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met over the weekend in Harrisburg, hearing public comment and conducting official business. The commissioners gave final approval to the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, which are outlined in a separate news release. Other highlights from today's meeting follow.
Marten plan postponed indefinitely
The Board of Game Commissioners in a split vote postponed indefinitely final acceptance of the 2024-2033 American Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan, which calls for returning the native furbearer to the state.
But that might not be as long a delay as it might seem.
The plan outlines a long-term, 10-year strategy to translocate the species back to the state then conduct longterm monitoring to evaluate the reintroduction. It includes strategies on communications, partner engagement, costs and timelines.
The board released the marten plan for public comment in September 2023 then tabled adoption of the plan in January 2024 to collect additional information on habitat and human dimensions related to potential reintroduction.
Today, commissioners universally praised staff in the agency's Bureau of Wildlife Management, and furbearer biologist Tom Keller in particular, for working to get those answers. Several board members said the resulting outreach efforts have helped erase opposition to marten reintroduction.
But a majority of the board stated such work should continue, to further educate hunters and nonhunters alike and build additional support.
Voting to postpone adoption of the plan were Commissioners Robert Schwalm, Scott Foradora, Allen Di Marco, Stanley Knick, Todd Pride and Dennis Fredericks, who first suggested the idea. Opposing postponement were Commissioners Michael Mitrick, Haley Sankey and Kristen Koppenhafer.
Commissioners said they've heard from lots of people about the issue and want to address their concerns before moving forward.
In the meantime, no one should get too hung up on the word “indefinitely,” Fredericks added. The board could revisit marten reintroduction soon, perhaps even before the end of the year.
President Commissioner Scott Foradora agreed this postponement is more a matter of timing than anything.
“I believe in a short amount of time we will have an affirmative decision,” he said.
Concerns over reintroducing martens have mostly been related to the potential impacts of martens on prey species, potential impacts of other predators on martens and the suitability of habitat in areas martens would be released.
Wild pheasant hunting season could be coming
The opportunity to hunt wild pheasants in Pennsylvania might become a reality for those able to gain access to private property within a Wild Pheasant Recovery Area.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to a measure that allows the Game Commission's Executive Director annually to decide whether a Wild Pheasant Recovery Area (WPRA) will be open to rooster-only pheasant hunting, and if so, the season length and bag limit that applies.
That's not to say there will be such a season in the coming year. The decision will be based on data collected within the state's two WPRAs in the coming months.
But if a season is put in place, it will be open to all hunters eligible to hunt pheasants.
Within WPRAs, wild ringnecks translocated from other states have established populations. There has been a limited opportunity in recent years to hunt pheasants within the Central Susquehanna WPRA, with young hunters selected by drawing for their chance to take part. Now, all eligible pheasant hunters will be able to take part if a season is held.
Those seeking to hunt wild pheasants likely will find themselves asking for landowner permission, given the WPRAs largely are comprised of private farmland. But the opportunity could be there.
If a WPRA is opened to pheasant hunting, limiting harvest to roosters would adequately control the biological impacts of hunting on the wild population, the Game Commission has determined.
Proposal would change ratio for mentored youth
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a measure that would allow mentors hunting with a mentored youth to accompany up to two additional hunters, be they mentored youth, junior hunters or mentored adults.
Presently, no additional junior or mentored hunters may accompany a mentor who's hunting with a mentored youth. There's a required oneto-one mentor/mentee ratio. That limit would change to three based on the proposal that was preliminarily approved today.
If the measure is adopted, the requirement that limits mentors and mentored youth from possessing only one sporting arm between them will remain. A mentor would continue to carry the sporting arm at all times while moving. Junior hunters and mentored adults would be able to possess their own sporting arms while accompanied by a common mentor.
The Game Commission has evaluated the relevant safety data and determined the amendments will not create an unreasonable safety risk.
Since its inception in 2006, the mentored hunting program gradually has grown and expanded to include new hunting opportunities and groups eligible to participate. With each progressive expansion, the program has come into closer alignment with the Game Commission's traditional hunting license structures. This proposal, which will be brought back to the July meeting for final approval, mirrors that.
Deer opener to get additional review
Once again this year, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners set the opening day of the firearms deer season as the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The board long has expressed the belief the Saturday opener better accommodates the majority of hunters and is better for the future of hunting, opinions backed by evidence such as license sales and a scientific survey of hunters.
But President Commissioner Scott Foradora said the board wants to know more about the impacts of the Saturday opener, especially knowing that some hunters would like to see the opener returned to the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Following today's adoption of 2024-25 hunting seasons and bag limits, Foradora read a statement directing Game Commission staff to work with the Legislature on the issue. The statement appears below.
“With today's vote, the Board has once again scheduled the start of the firearms deer season to be on a Saturday. We do this, firmly believing that starting the season on a Saturday creates the most opportunity for hunters, and thus helps ensure the future of the sport that we are charged with protecting.
“Nonetheless, we recognize that there are those with a different opinion, who would like to see a return to a Monday opener. And we recognize the passion that many of you feel about this issue. We may disagree, but we have heard your voices.
“As the debate over a Saturday or Monday opener lingers on, it has unfortunately caused considerable disagreement within our hunting ranks. It has fractured and divided us, at a time when we should be united.
“Therefore, I am directing staff within the Game Commission to work with the leadership of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, to once again study and analyze this issue. It is my hope that a comprehensive review can take place, to address some of the concerns that we have heard and ensure that the Board's decision is truly in the best interest of our hunting community.”
Land additions approved by the board
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved acquisitions that would add nearly 310 acres to state game lands.
That involves the purchase of four properties. They are:
Roughly 200 acres in Rockland and Cranberry townships in Venango County that's adjacent to State Game Lands 45. The North Country National Scenic Trail runs through the property, which also contains critical and unique riparian habitat of East Sandy Branch Creek, a stocked trout stream.
Roughly 20 acres in Catherine Township, Blair County, adjacent to State Game Lands 166. This acquisition connects two existing game lands tracts.
Roughly 67 acres in Snyder Township, Blair County, that's an indenture to State Game Lands 278 and connects two parcels of the game lands.
Roughly 24 acres in Liberty Township, McKean County, adjoining State Game Lands 61.
Game Commissioners also approved one land exchange. They exchanged about a 0.13-acre non-exclusive right-of-way on State Game Lands 335 in Tioga County for roughly 0.25 acres of land adjoining the same game lands.
Game Commissioners also announced two property acquisitions approved earlier by notational vote. Those were:
Roughly 51 acres in Albany Township, Berks County, that's an indenture to State Game Lands 106.
Roughly 198 acres in Albany Township, Berks County, that's likewise an indenture to State Game Lands 106.
Game Commissioners also announced the acquisition of a roughly 52-acre parcel in Ayr Township, Fulton County, adjacent to State Game Lands 53, via auction. The Commission can, with certain limitations, acquire land in such a way in cases where sales are imminent and the agency needs to react quickly. This property provides critical access to the existing game lands.
Hunters and other users of the game lands system should be aware that none of these additions are yet final. Some are contingent upon third parties receiving funding through grants or other means. What's more, Board of Commissioners approval of the agreements is but one step in the land transfer process.
When that process is completed, and the properties are officially game lands, the Game Commission will post signs to that effect, stating that they're now available for public use.
In other action, Game Commissioners approved a request by Irvona Borough Council in Clearfield County for a right-of-way for a borough street be dedicated as a public road. Because the road is currently open to public travel, approving the request eliminates maintenance obligations for the Game Commission, resolves conflicts with access to private properties, and allows for more efficient public utilities service.
Finally, Game Commissioners approved a non-surface cooperative agreement with CNX Resources Corp. involving about 113 acres of State Game Lands 245 in Washington County. Commissioner Dennis Fredericks abstained from voting on the agreement given that he was formerly employed by CNX.
Information to be released for national survey
INFORMATION TO BE RELEASED FOR NATIONAL SURVEY
The Pennsylvania
Board of Game Commissioners voted to release contact information for furtaker license holders as part of a nationwide survey by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) in cooperation with Responsive Management.
The goal of the National Trapper Survey is to capture important information about trappers and trapping in the United States so that agencies can better understand and promote the activity for future generations to enjoy. Information gained in this survey also will help agencies gauge the success of efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate trappers, plan future efforts to increase trapper participation and guide future efforts of the Best Management Practices for Trapping program.
The Game Commission will release to AFWA the Customer Identification Number, license type, name, street address, phone number and email address for each furtaker license holder, including lifetime license holders, in the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 license years.
While the Game Commission generally is restricted from releasing customer licensing data, the law provides for such information to be released “for the sole purpose of exercising legitimate governmental function or duty,” as in this case.
AFWA will be responsible for the information released and would be subject to applicable civil and criminal restrictions regarding any further publishing, circulation or disclosure of any records it receives.
Wagner recognized
As part of the meeting in Harrisburg, the Game Commission and Board of Commissioners presented awards recognizing several agency employees and volunteers.
Shikar-Safari Award – Recognizes a game warden who goes above and beyond in performance of their duties.
Game Lands Maintenance Group Supervisor Jason Wagner, Elk County – Overseeing those state game lands that hold Pennsylvania's most-visible elk population, and lots of tourists, Wagner finds himself with unique demands and challenges. He embraces his role, not only as a habitat manager, but as a training instructor, public contact, searchand-rescue manager, and especially in law enforcement, where his notable contribution is appreciated by fellow officers.