NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT TO ALLOW GUN-MOUNTED LIGHTS FOR PREDATOR HUNTERS
Effective Sept. 1, Pennsylvania furbearer hunters may use gun-mounted lights
when furbearer hunting, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of
Wildlife Protection Director Richard Palmer. The change in law took effect
following Governor Edward G. Rendell's signing of House Bill 881, sponsored by
Rep. Gary Haluska (D-Cambria), on July 3.

Now Act 26, the new law was first approved in House by a vote of 195-2 on May
21. The Senate approved an amended version of the bill by a vote of 50-0 on
June 27, and the House concurred with the amended bill by a vote of 195-3 on
July 2.

Supported by the Pennsylvania Predator Hunters Association, the new law permits
those hunting for furbearers, including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons,
skunks, opossums and weasels.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172273

WILDLIFE ART AVAILABLE FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy owning wildlife art and help support programs
that benefit Pennsylvania's wildlife at the same time by purchasing any of the
wildlife prints offered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. All of the prints
can be seen and are available through "The Outdoor Shop" on the agency's
website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) or Harrisburg headquarters.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172287

FIVE WMUS SELL OUT OF ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES

Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2E, 3C, 4A and 4D have exhausted their entire
allocation of antlerless deer licenses as of yesterday, announced Pennsylvania
Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. Today, WMU 2D was added to
the list.

WMU 2D, which was allocated 56,000 antlerless deer licenses, consists of all of
Armstrong County and portions of Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, Venango
and Westmoreland counties.

WMU 2E, which was allocated 21,000 antlerless deer licenses, consists of
portions of Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana and Jefferson counties.

WMU 3C, which was allocated 27,000 antlerless deer licenses, consists of
portions of Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

WMU 4A, which was allocated 29,000 antlerless deer licenses, consists of
portions of Bedford, Blair, Franklin, Fulton and Huntingdon counties.

WMU 4D, which was allocated 40,000 antlerless deer licenses, consists of
portions of Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Juniata,
Lycoming, Mifflin, Snyder and Union counties.

Additionally, WMU 2G sold out of its allocation of 26,000 antlerless deer
licenses on Aug. 13; WMU 2F sold out of its allocation of 28,000 antlerless
deer licenses on Aug. 14; WMU 1B sold out of its allocation of 30,000
antlerless deer licenses on Aug. 16; and WMU 4B sold out of its allocation of
23,000 antlerless deer licenses on Aug. 20.

Of the 865,000 antlerless licenses originally allocated, agency employees have
distributed to county treasurers 613,462 applications. Following is a listing
of the remaining WMUs antlerless deer licenses as of today (along with the
initial allocation for each WMU): WMU 1A, 11,142 (42,000); WMU 2A, 34,182
(60,000); WMU 2B, 59,211 (68,000); WMU 2C, 3,876 (49,000); WMU 3A, 1,479
(29,000); WMU 3B, 12,071 (43,000); WMU 3D, 8,836 (38,000); WMU 4C, 3,063
(39,000); WMU 4E, 14,980 (38,000); WMU 5A, 9,584 (22,000); WMU 5B, 26,654
(53,000); WMU 5C, 50,641 (84,000); and WMU 5D, 15,819 (20,000).

For more updates on the availability of antlerless deer licenses by WMU, visit
the Game Commission's "Doe License Update" in the "Quick Clicks" box in the
upper right-hand corner of the agency's homepage (www.pgc.state.pa.us).
The timetable for applying for remaining antlerless deer licenses is:

Beginning Monday, Sept. 10, the Game Commission will accept, only through first-
class mail, applications for the second round of unsold antlerless licenses.
Hunters who applied for an unsold antlerless license during the first round may
apply for and receive only one antlerless deer license during the second
round. Those hunters who did not apply for an unsold license during the first
round may make separate applications for and receive up to two unsold
antlerless licenses during the second round. The separate applications may be
submitted to one or two WMUs.

Regular antlerless deer licenses and first-round unsold licenses will be mailed
by county treasurers to successful applicants no later than Monday, Sept. 17.
Second-round unsold licenses will be mailed no later than Oct. 1.

Also, beginning Monday, Sept. 17, applicants may apply over-the-counter at
county treasurers' offices in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. Beginning Monday, Nov. 5,
hunters may apply over-the-counter for unsold antlerless licenses in all other
WMUs.

GAME COMMISSION WILL REACH OUT TO RESIDENTS WITH SEVEN OPEN HOUSES ON DEER
MANAGEMENT
In an effort to explain the state's deer management program and meet interested
residents closer to home, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is hitting the road
in coming weeks to hold seven open houses across the state.

"Open houses provide a means for the agency to reach out and interact with
hunters and other Pennsylvanians whose lives are influenced by deer," said Carl
G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "They have been used by the agency
in the past and have been warmly received by residents who attend them.

"With deer seasons just around the corner, the timing is right to hold these
open houses to provide the general public a convenient way to review our deer
management program, which will be updated this year, and to gather public input
on additional goals we're considering."

In the 2003-07 Deer Management Plan, three goals, all identified and supported
by Pennsylvanians, were established to guide the program. They were to:
improve deer health, improve forest health and reduce deer-human conflicts.

Now, the agency is considering two additional goals, and is seeking public
input on them at the upcoming open houses. Those additional goals are to
manage deer to provide recreational opportunities; and to improve the public's
knowledge and understanding of deer and the deer management program.

Roe noted that the open houses will be held in seven different locations, with
six of the open houses set for a Sunday and Monday format to maximize the
opportunity for those interested in attending. The scheduled days and hours
for six of the open houses are Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Mondays from
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The seventh open house, which is slated for the State
Capitol, will be for one day only, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The schedule for the open houses is as follows:

Southeast Region: Sept. 9 and 10, at Berrier Hall at Lehigh Carbon Community
College, Schnecksville, Lehigh County. Directions: From Route 22 in
Allentown, travel north on Route 309 for 5.3 miles. At traffic light past the
main entrance of LCCC, turn left onto Orchard Road and Berrier Hall is on the
right about one-half mile.

Northeast Region: Sept. 16 and 17, at Lehman Volunteer Fire Company Hall,
Dallas, Luzerne County. Directions: From Interstate 81, take Exit 170 to
Route 309 North to Dallas. At Dallas Shopping Center, stay straight onto Route
415 North and travel about 3.5 miles to the intersection of Route 118. Turn
left onto Route 118 West; travel 2.5 miles and turn right onto Lehman Outlet
Road. Go 50 yards to the stop sign, and turn right again onto Firehouse Road.
The Lehman Volunteer Fire Hall building is the second building on the right.

State Capitol: This event is set for Tuesday, Sept. 18, and will be held from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the East Wing Rotunda, just off Commonwealth Avenue,
between North and Walnut streets, Harrisburg, Dauphin County.

Southwest Region: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, at the Youngwood Volunteer Hose Co. #1
Building, Youngwood, which is along U.S. Route 119 between Greensburg and New
Stanton, in Westmoreland County. Directions: The facility is at the
intersection of Chestnut and Second streets in Youngwood.

Southcentral Region: Oct. 14 and 15, at the Blair County Convention Center in
Altoona. Directions: The facility is at 1 Convention Center Drive, Altoona,
PA 16602. Take I-99 North to Altoona, and get off at the Plank Road Exit.
Turn south onto Plank Road, and proceed for about one-half mile and turn left
onto Convention Center Boulevard. At the first stoplight, make a left onto
Convention Center Drive.

Northwest Region: Oct. 21 and 22, at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall, 29 Wood
Street, Franklin, Venango County. Directions: Take Route 417 North from
Franklin, make right at blinking light; fire hall is on the left.

Northcentral Region: Oct. 28 and 29, at the Little League Recreation Room at
Little League Headquarters, South Williamsport, Lycoming County. Directions:
The facility is along U.S. Route 15, just 18 miles north of I-80. Traveling on
Route 220 at the Market Street Bridge in Williamsport, take U.S. 15 South into
South Williamsport, travel about two miles, and the recreation room is on the
left.

In addition to the seven open houses, the Game Commission is working with
Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN-TV) to record a walk-through of an open house
for broadcast on "PCN Tours."

The open houses and the outreach information they will provide to the public
were developed by a Deer Communications Working Group that was proposed by the
Deer Management Section and created by Roe in late April.

"This group has worked hard to identify Pennsylvania's and the Game
Commission's deer management educational and outreach needs, and develop the
displays, brochures, workshops and website information, that will help deliver
that important m




 

YOUTH HUNTING SEASONS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
As hunters take time to prepare for upcoming seasons, Pennsylvania Game
Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe is encouraging adults to promote the
state's hunting and trapping heritage by introducing youngsters to the great
outdoors during the variety of youth hunting seasons.

A list of youth seasons and requirements for the various opportunities are
outlined on page 15 of the 2007-08 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping
Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer. A complete copy of the
Digest also is posted on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) in the
"Quick Clicks" box in the upper right hand corner of the page.

"Part of the Game Commission's overall vision is to promote our state's rich
hunting and trapping heritage," Roe said. "The future of hunting and trapping
is directly related to the continuing participation of young Pennsylvanians in
our hunting and furtaking seasons. The challenge is to successfully compete
with all the other activities and recreational opportunities that vie for a
young person's time. It won't be easy for the Game Commission or Pennsylvania's
more than a million hunters. But the future of wildlife conservation - and the
$4.8 billion economic impact hunters provide to the state annually - is
directly related to hunter recruitment. We will continue to do our best to
improve the situation."

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172378




 

GAME COMMISSION TO HOLD STATE GAME LAND TOURS FOR PUBLIC

As part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts to highlight its ongoing
habitat improvement initiatives, the public is invited to take part in upcoming
tours of several State Game Lands between Sept. 22 and Oct. 21. All tours are
free.

For more information and a list of the planned SGL tours, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172392




 

LANDOWNERS/HUNTERS ENCOURAGED TO AVOID BAITING VIOLATIONS BY CLEANING UP
ARTIFICIALLY-PLACED FOOD NOW

With hunting seasons fast approaching, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials
are reminding hunters and landowners who are feeding wildlife that they must
clean up all non-naturally occurring food and any residue at least 30 days
prior to the opening of the hunting season to avoid violating the state law
that prohibits hunting over bait.

"The law clearly states that a person can not hunt in any area where bait or
food is placed to serve as an enticement for game or wildlife unless all of the
substance and its residue is removed 30 days prior to the season," said Richard
Palmer, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection director. He noted that
the specific section that prohibits hunting over bait is found in Title 34
(Game and Wildlife Code), Section 2308, subsection 8.

Palmer stressed that state law mirrors federal law, in that supplemental
feeding is not considered a legitimate habitat management practice, and
therefore not an exception to the prohibition on hunting through the use of
bait.

For those hunters and landowners interested in helping wildlife, the Game
Commission recommends the use of natural food plots and other habitat practices
instead of supplemental feeding programs that have been scientifically proven
to create negative impacts on wildlife.

"In addition to benefiting all wildlife, natural food plots are not a violation
of the baiting statute," Palmer stressed. "The Game Commission maintains
thousands of acres of food plots on its more than 1.4 million acres of State
Game Lands as a means to improving the habitat for game and nongame species
throughout the year."

Anyone aware of illegal baiting activity is encouraged to contact the region
office that serves the county where the activity is occurring. Region office
contact information, including a listing of the counties served, can be found
on page 3 of the 2007-08 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping
Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer, or by going to the Game
Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and clicking on "Contact Us" at the
bottom of the homepage.

"If you intend to hunt a property, simply remove all artificially placed food
sources 30 days prior to the season and don't put food out until after the last
season you intend to hunt," Palmer said. "Or, even better, don't put out
artificial food and, instead, invest in habitat improvement projects on your
property, such as planting a food plot."

GAME COMMISSION TO HOLD BOARD MEETING OCT. 1-2
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will be meeting Oct. 1-2, at the
agency's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress
Avenue exit of Interstate 81. The meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m. both
days.

WMU 1A SELLS OUT OF ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 1A has been added to the list of 13 WMUs that
have exhausted their entire allocation of antlerless deer licenses, according
to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe.

WMU 1A, which exhausted its allocation of 42,000 antlerless deer licenses on
Sept. 7, is comprised of all of Lawrence and Mercer counties, and portions of
Beaver, Bulter, Crawford and Venango counties.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172420

FALL DEER ARCHERY SEASONS WILL START SOON
Bowhunters will be returning to the state's forests and suburban woodlots with
high hopes of taking a big buck or bringing home the venison on Sept. 29 for
the start of Pennsylvania's six-week archery season, according to Pennsylvania
Game Commission officials.

However, if you are a bowhunter with an antlerless deer license for Wildlife
Management Units (WMUs) 2B, 5C or 5D, you can take part in the new early
antlerless deer archery season in those WMUs. The new season starts this
Saturday, Sept. 15, and runs through Friday, Sept. 28. A late fall archery
antlerless deer season also will be held in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D from Nov. 12-
24.

The statewide archery deer season runs from Sept. 29 to Nov. 10, and the
statewide late archery season will run Dec. 26-Jan. 12.

WMU 3D SELLS OUT OF ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3D has been added to the list of 14 WMUs that
have exhausted their entire allocation of antlerless deer licenses, according
to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe.

WMU 3D, which exhausted its allocation of 38,000 antlerless deer licenses
today, is comprised of all of Monroe and Pike counties, and portions of Carbon,
Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton and Wayne counties.

Of the 865,000 antlerless licenses originally allocated, agency employees have
distributed to county treasurers 768,860 applications. Following is a listing
of the remaining WMUs antlerless deer licenses as of today (along with the
initial allocation for each WMU): WMU 2A, 13,766 (60,000); WMU 2B, 47,369
(68,000); WMU 3B, 1,417 (43,000); WMU 4E, 6,312 (38,000); WMU 5A, 777 (22,000);
WMU 5B, 957 (53,000); WMU 5C, 14,638 (84,000); and WMU 5D, 10,904 (20,000).

For more updates on the availability of antlerless deer licenses by WMU, visit
the Game Commission's "Doe License Update" in the "Quick Clicks" box in the
upper right-hand corner of the agency's homepage (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172434




 

YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST DEADLINE APPROACHES
Young hunters ages 12 to 16 from throughout Pennsylvania are reminded all
entries for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Hunter Education Youth Essay
Contest must be postmarked no later than Oct. 31.

The theme for this year's contest is: "Why is Hunting a Timeless Tradition?"
The prize list features the grand-prize winner receiving a scholarship to the
Safari Club International's Apprentice Hunter Program at the Indianhead Ranch
in Del Rio, Texas, during the summer of 2008. The scholarship is provided by
the Pennsylvania chapters of Safari Club International (SCI).

The grand-prize winning essay also will be published in the agency's
Pennsylvania Game News magazine. Previous grand-prize winners will not be
eligible for this year's grand prize.

The first-prize winner will receive a $500****s Sporting Goods gift card;
second prize will receive a $300****s Sporting Goods gift card; and the third-
prize winner will receive a $200****s Sporting Goods gift card. The fourth-
prize winner will receive a Sightron 10x42 binocular. All entries receive a
Game Commission "Working Together for Wildlife" embroidered patch.

WMU 5A SELLS OUT OF ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
HARRISBURG - Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 5A has been added to the list of 16
WMUs that have exhausted their entire allocation of antlerless deer licenses,
according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe.

WMU 5A, which exhausted its allocation of 22,000 antlerless deer licenses
today, is comprised of portions of Adams; Cumberland; Franklin; and York
counties.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172455




 

GAME COMMISSION OPEN HOUSES ON DEER MANAGEMENT CONTINUE
PCN to air tour Friday afternoon

In an effort to explain the state's deer management program and meet interested
residents closer to home, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is hitting the road
in coming weeks to hold open houses in Westmoreland, Blair, Venango and
Lycoming counties. The agency already has held open houses in Lehigh and
Luzerne counties, as well as at the State Capitol.

In addition to these open houses, Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN-TV) will air
a 20-minute tour of the open houses at 2:50 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21. For more
information on future broadcasts, visit PCN's website at www.pcntv.com.

The schedule for the remaining open houses is as follows:

Southwest Region: from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, and from 3 p.
m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, at the Youngwood Volunteer Hose Co. #1
Building, Youngwood, which is along U.S. Route 119 between Greensburg and New
Stanton, in Westmoreland County. Directions: The facility is at the
intersection of Chestnut and Second streets in Youngwood.

Southcentral Region: from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, and from 3
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, at the Blair County Convention Center in
Altoona. Directions: The facility is at 1 Convention Center Drive, Altoona,
PA 16602. Take I-99 North to Altoona, and get off at the Plank Road Exit.
Turn south onto Plank Road, and proceed for about one-half mile and turn left
onto Convention Center Boulevard. At the first stoplight, make a left onto
Convention Center Drive.

Northwest Region: from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, and from 3 p.
m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall, 29 Wood Street,
Franklin, Venango County. Directions: Take Route 417 North from Franklin, make
right at blinking light; fire hall is on the left.

Northcentral Region: from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, and from 3 p.
m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, at the Little League Recreation Room at Little
League Headquarters, South Williamsport, Lycoming County. Directions: The
facility is along U.S. Route 15, just 18 miles north of I-80. Traveling on
Route 220 at the Market Street Bridge in Williamsport, take U.S. 15 South into
South Williamsport, travel about two miles, and the recreation room is on the
left.

For more information about the open houses, see "Release #109-07" in the
"Newsroom" on the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

For more information about the agency's deer management program, visit the Game
Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on "Deer Program" in the
"Quick Clicks" box in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.

GAME COMMISSION OFFERS ADVICE TO HUNTERS HEADED OUT OF STATE

With thousands of Pennsylvania hunters heading off to hunt big game in other
states and Canadian provinces, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director
Carl G. Roe reminds hunters that, in an effort to prevent the introduction of
chronic wasting disease (CWD) into the Commonwealth, the agency prohibits
hunters from importing specific carcass parts from members of the deer family -
including mule deer, elk and moose - from 11 states and two Canadian
provinces.

Roe noted that this importation ban was contained in an executive order signed
into effect in December of 2005, and affects hunters heading to: Colorado,
Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York (only from CWD containment
area), South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia (only from Hampshire County),
Wisconsin and Wyoming; as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and
Saskatchewan.

The specific carcass parts, where the CWD prion (the causative agent)
concentrates in cervids, that cannot be brought back to Pennsylvania by hunters
are: the head (including brain, tonsils, eyes and lymph nodes); spinal
cord/backbone; spleen; skull plate with attached antlers, if visible brain or
spinal cord tissue is present; cape, if visible brain or spinal cord tissue is
present; upper canine teeth, if root structure or other soft tissue is present;
any object or article containing visible brain or spinal cord tissue;
unfinished taxidermy mounts; and brain-tanned hides.

Roe noted that the prohibition does not limit the importation of: meat,
without the backbone; skull plate with attached antlers, if no visible brain or
spinal cord tissue is present; tanned hide or raw hide with no visible brain or
spinal cord tissue present; cape, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is
present; upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is
present; and finished taxidermy mounts.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172476




 

GAME COMMISSION ADVISES MOTORISTS TO WATCH FOR DEER

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today advised
motorists to slow down after sundown and before sunrise to reduce their risk of
having a close encounter with a white-tailed deer.

Deer collisions are an annual occurrence that will continue through
Thanksgiving week and begin to slow down in mid-December. For the sake of
public safety, the Game Commission is urging motorists to drive cautiously
after dark for the next several weeks.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172553

GAME COMMISSION ANNOUNCES FALL PHEASANT STOCKING PLANS
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has slated 100,000 ring-necked pheasants for
release on public lands throughout the Commonwealth for the upcoming small game
hunting seasons, including 16,500 birds for the youth only season (Oct. 6-
12).

"Based on agency's budget cuts first implemented in the 2004-05 fiscal year and
carried forward since, we reduced our pheasant propagation program by 50
percent," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Reducing the
pheasant propagation program has saved the agency more than one million
dollars. Without a hunting license fee increase, we expect to continue
producing at the 100,000-bird level.

"Despite the overall reductions, this year our game farm staff had an excellent
production season. They have worked hard with limited resources to achieve
the goal to have 100,000-birds available for stocking this fall."


GAME COMMISSION POSTS OFFICER GAME FORECASTS ON WEBSITE
Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) and Land
Management Group Supervisors (LMSGs) spend a considerable amount of time
gathering information about wildlife population trends in their districts.
With the hunting and trapping seasons just around the corner, the Game
Commission now is sharing that information - through its website - with those
who enjoy Penn's Woods.

To view these forecasts offered by Game Commission officers, go to the Game
Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the "Field Officer
Game Forecasts," select the region of interest in the map, and then choose the
WCO district of interest from the map. For LMGS reports, select the link to
the LMGS Group of interest within that region.


For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172651

NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL LISTED AS STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to add to the state's
endangered species list the northern flying squirrel, which is the larger and
rarest of Pennsylvania's two flying squirrel species.

BOARD ADDRESSES DOE LICENSE DELAY FOR EARLY ARCHERY
For those planning to participate in the new early archery antlerless deer
season in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D in 2008, the Board of Game
Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change requiring
county treasurers to accept and issue antlerless deer licenses over-the-counter
starting the second Monday of September - a week earlier - so that hunters can
obtain the required licenses before heading afield.

BOARD MOVES TO REMOVE ORANGE REQUIREMENT FOR SPRING GOBBLER
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a regulatory
change to remove the fluorescent orange requirements for hunters participating
in the spring gobbler seasons. If approved at its meeting in January, the
change would take effect for the 2008 spring gobbler season, which is set for
April 26-May 26, as well as the youth spring gobbler day on April 19.

FARMERS TO GAIN NEW TOOL TO ADDRESS CROP DAMAGE
In response to a change in state law, the Board of Game Commissioners today
gave preliminary approval to create a special permit process for farmers to use
assistance from up to two licensed hunters to address the need to kill game or
wildlife for crop damage.

BOARD TAKES STEPS TO CREATE SPECIAL SNOW GOOSE SEASON
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to establish a
"Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit" to help stem the growth of continental
snow goose populations. The permit, if adopted by the Board at its January
meeting, could be implemented as early as March 2008, and only after the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service establishes a conservation order to authorize states
to use hunters to take snow geese.

BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTION

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172707