PGC - Board of Game Commissioners April Meeting

[nitelight]

The Board of Game Commissioners will meet on April 17 -18, 2006 at the Pennsylvania Game Commission Headquarters building, 2001 Elmerton Ave. Harrisburg, PA 17110.

[nitelight]

If your interested in viewing the agenda for next weeks Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners meeting go to www.pgc.state.pa.us

On page 13 under Furtaking - Hunting, Fox season will start on October 21, 2006 and end on February 17, 2007.

The regulations on the Mentored Youth Hunting Program are listed. They will be able to hunt Squirrel, Woodchuck and Wild Turkey (Spring Gobbler season only)

Anybody planning to attend?

[Dale]

I'm going to try and be there... that's great to hear about the youth program...

 I got a young buck his Hunter/Trapper education card this past weekend... it's good to know he'll legally be able to shoot groundhogs this summer with me...  I hope they expand on the program to allow deer hunting also...

[nitelight]

Attended the a.m. portion of the meeting today.

Some of the comments made by public to the Board of Commissioners.

Pro & Con about the overall deer situation in different counties.

Request that part of Game lands in the Stoney Creek area of Dauphin County not be given to Fort Indiantown Gap for use as a buffer zone to extend the area of an existing military firing range.

Suggested that crossbow information be added to lesson plan for archery classes.

Many request by presenters for the adding of Deer to the list of animals that many be taken under the new Youth Mentored Hunting Program. A request was also made to have a permit added so that the success rate  of the program could be tracked.

PA Fox & Coyote Association expressed appreciation to the Board of Commissioner for their action in regard to approving the use of a  electronic tracking device; on their dogs while hunting fox & coyote.

Farm spokeperson mentioned that many complaints are being received  from farmers in regard to an increase in the killing of their livestock by coyotes.

[rjf3]

Tom,
Thanks for taking the time to go and report back , so those unable to attend stay informed.

Russ

[nitelight]

The Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to regulations that establish the Mentored Youth Hunting Program. The proposal must be approved at a subsequent meeting before taking effect for the upcoming hunting season.

The species identified as legal for the first year of the MYHP are squirrels, woodchucks (groundhogs) and spring gobbler.

The Board amended the staff recommendation to note that antlered deer would be included in the 2007-2008 seasons. Youth participating in the MYHP would be required to follow the same antler restrictions as a junior license holder, which is one anthler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.

The proposed program also require that both the mentor and the youth must abide by any fluorescent orange regulations.

You can view all the additional actions taken by the Board of Commissioners by going to www.pgc.state.pa.us