PA BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTIONS
In other action today, the Board of Game Commissioners:
- Approved a resolution, introduced by Game Commission President Jay Delaney, to support legislative efforts to allow for adult mentors to transfer one antlerless deer license or permit to a youth under the age of 12 participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program. If such legislation is approved by the General Assembly and Governor, the Board would be able to add antlerless deer to the list of legal species for youth to pursue under the MYHP. Current legal game species are: antlered deer, coyotes, groundhogs, squirrels and spring gobbler;
- Approved a resolution, introduced by Game Commission President Jay Delaney, directing agency staff to provide the public with Wildlife Management Unit deer population estimates at or before the Board’s annual January meeting. The Board’s goal with this resolution is to increase the public trust in deer management. This resolution is consistent with the recently completed Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s audit of the Game Commission’s deer management program, which was conducted by the Wildlife Management Institute;
- Gave final approval to falconry permit regulations to require that a sponsor for a new falconer be a general or master class falconer having at least two years experience as a general class falconer. The regulatory change also expands the list of eligible species of eagles that a master class falconer may possess with additional written authorization to include eagles not covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act;
- Gave preliminary approval to a technical change to remove conflicting language in the regulations (Title 58) that resulted when the law (Title 34) was changed to permit hunters or trappers to harvest furbearers with a firearm having a light mounted on it;
- Gave preliminary approval to a measure to apply the regulatory protections afforded to State Game Lands to State Game Farms, where the agency raises pheasants;
- Gave preliminary approval to expand the non-toxic shot authorization to both fall turkey and spring gobbler seasons. The Board previously had approved the use of types of non-toxic shot that could be used for small game;
- Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to prohibit the use of fishing hooks or snagging hooks or any other device that is not a lawful trap, firearm, bow or crossbow from being utilized during licensed trapping activities;
- Changed the dates of the Board’s January 2011 meeting to Jan. 30-Feb. 1, to be held at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81.
