I love the Pa. Game Commission!!!

I purchased 107.4 acres of land in Warren Co. in July of 2009. I contacted a Wildlife Diversity Biologist who works for the PGC. With NO COST to me he walked my property in April of last year. He came up with a wonderful Wildlife Habitat Management Recommendations plan for my land. No one believes me that I didn't pay for this plan, let alone the PGC did it for free. Anyhow my brother and I immediately set about making improvements to my property.(pruned apple trees,sprayed the Knot weed...) In August of this year the same PGC employee called and told me to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service(Federal) and ask them about their programs for free money for land owners who want to improve their property for the wildlife. I filled out some forms and sent them back to the NRCS. I was told I would be considered for a bunch of federal programs like the WHIP,EQUIP, and CSP to name a few. I just found out this morning I am approved for $8300 of FREE MONEY to improve my property. I will be doing a Forest Stand Improvement and Mast Tree Release on 13 acres of Black Cherry trees, and a Forest Stand Improvement on another 22 acres(low grading). If it were NOT for the PGC I never would have even heard of these federal programs. I thought it was about time the PGC got a pat on the back and not slandered.  Once again thank you to the PGC!!   Go ahead and bash me all you want PGC haters but here is just one of the many GOOD THINGS the PGC does EVERYDAY for the public. 

That's awesome! I'm looking to help my neighbor do some improvements to her land, that she bought out in the sticks. She has hundreds of apple trees that are getting snuffed out by other trees, and are not producing much for apples anymore. Besides cutting down the invasive trees, when and how would be a good way to prune them apple trees? I'd like to at least get some of them going again.

Work at them as much as you can BH.  The answer to your question Dardys is no. Remember I am enrolled in a Federal program not State(PGC).

You would be surprised what mother nature can do with just a little help from us.

I may be wrong, but I thought the State Forestry Dept, for years , have offered a free service forforest management..WF

Tull, I have also payed taxes for about 24 years. I just found a legal way to get some of my taxes back AND help the environment. W.F. you are right BUT I want my land managed for wildlife mainly, NOT the lumber.  Wayne, in all my years of hunting(28) I have never had a BAD experience with the PGC. But then again I try to obey the laws NOT break them. Most of the people who dislike the PGC have been caught breaking some sort of rule or law(road hunting,baiting,safety zone). Thank you, Tull and Wayne.

While you have done well by the PGC it is only because they have taken a bit of the money from all hunting license holders to pay for their work for you. A bit of history----While the PGC has been crying broke and asking for a license increase the last few years they also created a new department and hired 14 new employees to staff it which is dedicated to Non Game Species. There were six Wildlife Diversity Biologists hired in this dept for the task of creating cover for non-game species throughout the state. While some of what they want you to do may benefit game species their job and reason for their hire was for Non-Game birds and animals. The PGC has increased their level of spending in this area by a factor of 10 since 2001. Since the free PGC labor came from my license money and the free $8300 came from my taxes when can we meet at Tidioute so I can decide on where to place my tree stand?

Noplace you need help disposing of the those nasty old Cherry trees..

If you happen to put it up for bids let me know..
Have chainsaw will travel...

ORIGINAL: Noplacelikehome

I purchased 107.4 acres of land in Warren Co. in July of 2009. I contacted a Wildlife Diversity Biologist who works for the PGC. With NO COST to me he walked my property in April of last year. He came up with a wonderful Wildlife Habitat Management Recommendations plan for my land. No one believes me that I didn't pay for this plan, let alone the PGC did it for free. Anyhow my brother and I immediately set about making improvements to my property.(pruned apple trees,sprayed the Knot weed...) In August of this year the same PGC employee called and told me to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service(Federal) and ask them about their programs for free money for land owners who want to improve their property for the wildlife. I filled out some forms and sent them back to the NRCS. I was told I would be considered for a bunch of federal programs like the WHIP,EQUIP, and CSP to name a few. I just found out this morning I am approved for $8300 of FREE MONEY to improve my property. I will be doing a Forest Stand Improvement and Mast Tree Release on 13 acres of Black Cherry trees, and a Forest Stand Improvement on another 22 acres(low grading). If it were NOT for the PGC I never would have even heard of these federal programs. I thought it was about time the PGC got a pat on the back and not slandered.  Once again thank you to the PGC!!   Go ahead and bash me all you want PGC haters but here is just one of the many GOOD THINGS the PGC does EVERYDAY for the public. 

 
Thanks Noplacelikehome!
 
The Game Commission is always enthusiastic to work with qualifying landowners willing to make improvements on their land that benefit wildlife.
 
It is we, the hundreds of thousands of hunters and millions of other state citizens who owe you the gratitude for allowing your land to be used to the benefit of our state’s wildlife resources.
 
My hat is off to you Sir!
 
R.S. Bodenhorn

^^^ X 2 ^^^

Now they have money to give away to landowners

roll caster... re- read the post.. the money DID NOT come from the PGC... gheezzzz.....

Why did the PGC spend millions on a new regional office when the old building was adequate? Why wasn't the money put into wildlife habitat like the monies were interned to to be used from the Grower Greener Fund ? Lack of food plots due to not having funds to provide them is ridiculous !!

roll caster... re- read the post.. the money DID NOT come from the PGC... gheezzzz.....

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While the $8300 didn't come from the PGC the salary for the Diversity Biologist's time and his expenses did. Remember his job it to improve the habitat for Non-Game Wildlife and since No place has previously said he intended to post his property there is no benefit to the license buying public for the money invested. It's great for the landowner but not so great for the folks funding it. It surprises me a bit about the Free money as most grants require matching funds plus restrictions on it's use. Maybe it's in the fine print.

The PGC only guided him. I'm sure there is something in it for the PGC otherwise they wouldn't go through the effort.

ORIGINAL: Outdoor Adventures

Why did the PGC spend millions on a new regional office when the old building was adequate? Why wasn't the money put into wildlife habitat like the monies were interned to to be used from the Grower Greener Fund ? Lack of food plots due to not having funds to provide them is ridiculous !!

I think every hunter should have an interest in what is going on with the PGC and public land, but you've stated yourself that you own your land, you hunt on it, and practice your own QDM. Why the rabid interest in what happens on other people's land, or on public lands?