BOARD TAKES STEP TO RE-EVALUATE CROSSBOWS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, by a vote of 4-3, today gave preliminary approval to regulatory changes that would, if approved at a subsequent meeting and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, restrict the use of crossbows for the upcoming fall hunting seasons.
Those voting in favor of the proposal were Game Commissioner Ron Weaner, who requested that the proposal be placed on the July meeting agenda; as well as Game Commissioners Tom Boop, David Schreffler and Jay Delaney. Those voting against the proposal were Game Commissioners Greg Isabella, David Putnam and Robert Schlemmer. There currently is one vacancy on the eight-member Board.
Under the proposal given preliminary approval today, any archery license-holding hunter could use a crossbow during the first two weeks of the statewide early archery deer season (Oct. 3-16); only disabled hunters with a permit to use a crossbow could use them for the remainder of the early archery season, as well as all of the late archery season. Crossbows would continue to be legal for all deer seasons, including the early and late archery seasons, in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. Only those with a disabled person permit to use a crossbow could use a crossbow during the two-day archery bear season. Lastly, crossbows could be used by any muzzleloader license-holding hunter in both the October antlerless muzzleloader season (Oct. 17-24) and the late flintlock muzzleloader season (Dec. 26-Jan. 9).
BOARD TAKES ACTION TO INCREASE STATE GAME LANDS SYSTEM
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved the purchase of two tracts in Somerset and Clearfield counties, and one land exchange that will increase the total acreage of four State Game Lands in Erie and Warren counties.
BOARD APPROVES LAND BANK PROJECTS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved two projects for State Game Land Bank Site Agreements for transportation development projects that impact less than five acres of established State Game Lands within PennDOT Engineering Districts 2-0 and 3-0.
BOARD APPROVES COAL LEASE IN INDIANA COUNTY
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a surface mine coal lease with P & N Coal Company Inc., of Punxsutawney, to remove about 15,000 tons of coal from a 10-acre portion of State Game Land 174 in Indiana County. The Game Commission does not own the coal, but is the owner of the surface support rights on this tract of land.
For more information on these and other actions taken by the Board today, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176837