January PGC Meeting --- COOL !!!!

GAME COMMISSION POSTS AGENDA FOR JANUARY MEETING ON WEBSITE
Board actions to be webcast beginning with staff reports
 
HARRISBURG – The agenda for the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners meeting, which is slated for Jan. 24-26, was posted on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) today, and can be viewed by clicking the “Next Commissioners’ Meeting” box on the homepage and then on the agenda link.

The Board meeting will be held in the auditorium of the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters to collect additional recommendations on the 2010-11 seasons and bag limits, and to conduct a workshop and formal meeting.  The headquarters is at 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg.

On Sunday, Jan. 24, beginning at 1 p.m., the Board will hear public recommendations for 2010-11 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits.  Doors will open at noon.  Individuals interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes -- may begin to register at noon on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.

On Monday, Jan. 25, the Board will gather any additional public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Doors open at 7:45 a.m.  Registration for those interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes – also will begin at that time.  Additionally, starting with the staff reports on Monday, Jan. 25, the Game Commission will begin webcasting the Board’s meeting through its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) for those unable to attend the meeting in Harrisburg.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Game Commission will take up its prepared agenda to, among other things, give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2010-11.  Doors open at 7:45 a.m. Additionally, the Board’s meeting will be webcast beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Antlerless deer license allocations for the 2010-11 seasons will be presented for the Board to consider at its meeting in April.  Harvest results from the 2009-10 deer seasons will be announced in mid-March.

Dates for the Board’s April, June and October meetings, and for the January 2011 meeting, will be set by the Board on Jan. 26.

“In the past, we printed and mailed copies of the agenda to more than 100 sportsmen’s club representatives, outdoor writers and legislators,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.  “However, in our ongoing efforts to cut operational costs, we have decided that it would be better to post this information on our website providing a wider and more uniform distribution, while saving money for important conservation work.”

A limited number of copies of the agenda will be made available to those who attend the meeting.

Once the January meeting ends, Roe also noted that a copy of the January meeting minutes will be posted on the website as soon as they are transcribed, which generally takes between two to three weeks.  Previous meeting minutes are posted on the website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) in the “Reports/Minutes” section of the homepage.

“Posting the minutes on the website allows us to cut the costs of printing and mailing copies of this document and reach a wider audience,” Roe said.  “It’s a cost-savings move that makes Game Commission actions and decisions more accessible to the public.”
 

The only change proposed for deer is eliminating the two weeks regular firearm season that leads up to Christmas in WMU 2B, 5C, and 5D.   Allocation changes will not be looked at until the next meeting.


Another noticed...    archery bear season to be proposed to be extended to a full week.
 
WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B & 4D

Agenda:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=563329&mode=2

Click on link at bottom of page.


The availability of deer harvest data is not anticipated until March, therefore the only proposed deer season change is to eliminate the two weeks following the regular firearms season that lead up to Christmas in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. There is no evidence that this season has increased the deer harvest, increased the proportion of deer harvested by firearms, or increased hunter effort. This change will simplify opening and closing dates of seasons, which are confusing to many hunters.

Several bear hunting season changes are proposed. Bear populations are in great shape throughout much of the state. We are proposing to expand the archery bear season to a full week, Monday through Saturday preceding the opening of the statewide firearms bear season. Archery bear harvest has consistently been below 5 percent of the total harvest.

Bobcats:

Proposal to shorten the season but offer unlimited permits. 

Small game:

Final adoption of crossbow inclusion.
 
Fishers:
 
Limited trapping opportunities.

I received this link this morning.. it highlights all that is on the agenda for the meeting on the 24th..
 
 
[url]http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/747405/january_2010_agenda_pdf[/url]