Pennslvania 2013-14 Hunting/Trapping Seasons Receive Preliminary Approval

Many seasons will start later in coming license year.

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2013-14 license year. The package includes allowing qualified adult mentors to transfer one Deer Management Assistance Program antlerless deer permit to a youth they are mentoring as part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.

Hunters and trappers – particularly those setting vacations for this fall and winter – also are advised that several seasons will open or run about a week later in the 2013-14 license year to accommodate calendar swings – related to the timing of Thanksgiving – that occur about every seven years.

Other modifications proposed for the 2013-14 seasons include: changes to fall turkey seasons in several Wildlife Management Units; an earlier start to the junior and regular squirrel seasons; four changes to extended bear hunting opportunities; increased daily and season bag limits for beavers in certain WMUs; the addition of WMUs 3A, 3D and 4E to the list of WMUs open for fisher trapping; and a return of the statewide snowshoe hare hunting season with a shortened season in WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D.

Another proposed change is to eliminate the extended regular firearms season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. Only the Special Regulations Area counties – Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties – will retain the extended regular firearms season.

The public may offer comments on all proposed 2013-14 seasons and bag limits, as well as other Board actions, between now and the Board’s next meeting, April 14-15, at which time the Board is scheduled to finalize seasons and bag limits for 2013-14.

Also, the Board will receive staff recommendations for antlerless deer license allocations for the 22 WMUs at its April meeting. Deer harvest estimates for the 2012-13 seasons will be available in mid-March.

Following are several articles on meeting highlights.

BOARD OPTS TO RETAIN SPLIT RIFLE DEER SEASONS

The Board of Game Commissioners gave adopted a slate of deer seasons for 2013-14 that retains the split, five-day antlered deer season (Dec. 2-6) and seven-day concurrent season (Dec. 7-14) in 11 Wildlife Management Units. The list includes (WMUs) 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. The package also retains the two-week (Dec. 2-14) concurrent, antlered and antlerless deer season in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.

Hunters with Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer permits may use them on the lands for which they were issued during any established deer season, and will continue to be permitted to harvest antlerless deer from Dec. 2-14 in WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. Fees for DMAP permits are $10.70 for residents and $35.70 for nonresidents.

To expand offerings of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, the Board also adopted allowing an adult mentor to transfer a DMAP antlerless deer license to a Mentored Youth Hunting Program participant.

The Board retained the antler restrictions in place for adult and senior license holders since the 2011-12 seasons. It remains the “three-up” on one side, no counting a brow tine, provision for the western Wildlife Management Units of 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D, and the three points on one side in all other WMUs. Those exempt from these antler restrictions are junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military on leave.

BOARD VOTES TO EXPAND BEAR SEASONS

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today proposed four changes to the 2013 extended bear seasons lineup designed to make it easier for hunters to understand.

The Board retained expanded bear seasons in the state’s most urban Wildlife Management Units – WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D – and allowing the harvest of black bears with a bear license during all deer seasons from September through early-December, which were first adopted as part of the 2012 seasons. The extended bear season dates for 2013 are:

- Sept. 21-Nov. 16 in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, for archery only;

- Oct. 5-Nov. 16 in WMUs 5B, for archery only;

- Oct. 19-26 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, for muzzleloaders only;

- Oct. 24-26 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, for any legal sporting arm for juniors and seniors, disabled person permit holders to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty in armed services; and

- Dec. 2-14 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.

The 2013 statewide bear seasons are the statewide five-day archery bear season (Nov. 18-22); and the four-day statewide bear season that will open on Saturday, Nov. 23, and then continue on Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 25-27.

Extended bear seasons have been proposed as follows:

- Dec. 4-7 in WMUs 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E; and

- Dec. 2-7 in WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D.

- Dec. 2-14 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.

BOARD MOVES TO CHANGE UP FALL TURKEY SEASONS

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to fall turkey seasons for 2013 and spring gobbler dates for 2014. A population decline has become apparent in WMU 1B, and to be consistent with guidelines for setting fall season length outlined in the Turkey Management Plan, the second week of the season was eliminated. Also, 2013 marks the third year of the hen harvest rate and survival rate study. The study design calls for switching from a two-week fall season to a three-week season for 2013 and 2014 in Study Area 1 (WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, 4B, and 4D), and switching from a three-week season to a two-week season in Study Area 2 (WMUs 2F and 2G). Simultaneously increasing the season in Study Area 1 and shortening the season in Study Area 2 will allow the Game Commission to detect differences in harvest rates within study areas, and improve wild turkey management.

The fall season dates for 2013: WMU 1B, Nov. 2-9 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 2B (shotgun and bow only), Nov. 2-22, and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 1A, 2A and 2D, Nov. 2-16, and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D, Nov. 2-22, and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2F and 2G, Nov. 2-16, and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E, Nov. 2-22, and Nov. 28-30; and WMU 5A, Nov. 5-7. WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D will remain closed for the fall seasons.

For the 2014 spring gobbler season, which is proposed to run from May 3-31, the Board continued the change in legal hunting hours to reflect the following: from May 3-17, legal shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until noon timeframe; and from May 19-31, hunters may hunt all day, from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

The Board proposed holding the one-day Spring Gobbler Youth Hunt on April 26, which will run from one-half hour before sunrise until noon. All junior license holders and Mentored Youth Hunting Program permit holders can participate in this special one-day hunt, as well as the other spring season dates.

PROPOSED 2013-14 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Sept. 7-13 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Sept. 14-Nov. 30; Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (6 daily, 12 possession).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 19–Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 25 (2 daily, 4 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 12-19 (4 daily, 8 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (4 daily, 8 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 12-19 (2 daily, 4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasants may be taken in all other WMUs. There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.

PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 26-Nov. 30. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 1 (2 daily, 4 in possession). There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 26-Nov. 30 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan. 1, in all WMUs except WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D, where season will run from Dec. 26-28 (1 daily, 2 possession).

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.

PORCUPINES: Sept. 1-March 31, except during overlap with the regular firearms deer season. Daily limit of three, season limit of 10.

CROWS: July 5-April 6, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deer season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): WMU 1B – Nov. 2-9 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 1A, 2A and 2D – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, and 4D – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2F and 2G – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 5A – Nov. 5-7; WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 26, 2014. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 3-31, 2014. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From May 3-17, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 19-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 18-22. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 23-27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 4-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 2-14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Dec. 2-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 21-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 5B) archery: Oct. 5-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 19-26. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) special firearms: Oct. 24-26, for junior and senior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 4-9. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 11-16. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 6, in designated areas.

Elk, Special Conservation Tag (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 2-Nov. 9. One elk tag for one antlered or antlerless elk will be auctioned at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 21-Oct. 4, and Nov. 18-30. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Jan. 13-25. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 5-Nov. 16 and Dec. 26-Jan. 11. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 2-14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 2-6. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.)

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 7-14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 24-26. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in

U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 19-26. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 11. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 25. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS: (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties): Dec. 26-Jan. 25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners Takes Action Against Feral Swine

After considerable discussion, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a proposal to remove protection for feral swine and wild boar statewide, wherever found, in order to protect the natural resources of the Commonwealth, its traditional agricultural and forest products industries and mitigate threats to human health and safety.

“The Game Commission views the complete eradication of feral swine and wild boar from the wild within Pennsylvania as a necessary step to prevent further harm to our natural resources, agricultural industry, forest products industry and threats to human health and safety,” said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. “The Game Commission previously promulgated an Executive Order to remove protection for feral swine, and we’ve worked with the state and federal agriculture departments to trap and remove feral swine populations.

“This action, which must receive final approval by the Board at its April meeting, is the next step, and is the result of our soliciting public input over the years, including a request for comment in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.”

The Game Commission also is proposing to prohibit the importation, possession and release into the wild of feral swine and wild boar to further these ends.

In separate action, the Board also proposed adding feral swine and wild boar to the list of species that may be lawfully taken during the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons (Dec. 2-14).

In 2007, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared that the Game Commission has jurisdiction over matters relating to wild boars, which is a member of the family Suidae, and also a feral swine, in Seeton v. PGC. Since that time, the agency first attempted to address those animals reproducing and inhabiting the wild. With this regulatory change, the agency now is focusing on the source of those animals, which are not native to Pennsylvania.

Register Now For The March 2013 Hunter-Trapper Education Class at Bull Creek! You MUST Register Online. ALSO: Successful Turkey Hunting Class On March 23rd

Our Next course will be Offered on March 9th, 2013. You may register for the March class here.

HUNTER-TRAPPER EDUCATION CLASSES


Sanctioned By
PA Game Commission

All Hunter Education classes MUST be registered for online 
Click Here To Register for March 9th basic class

CLICK HERE for the successful turkey hunting class at Bull Creek on March 23rd

These Classes are FREE, but you must pre-register. Space is limited! Please register early!

Bull Creek Rod and Gun Club's Hunter-Trapper Education classes are held twice a year, in early spring and late summer. Our last class was held in March, 2011. Classes are taught by 4 or 5 certified instructors who are both Bull Creek club members and trained by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Plus, volunteers from the club and community assist the instructors with presentations offered in:

• History of Hunter-Trapper Education in Pa.
• Knowledge of sporting arms, ammunition, and traps.
• Safe handling of sporting arms and trapping equipment
• Wildlife Conservation and Management
• Wildlife Identification
• Hunting and trapping laws
• Hunter-Trapper/Landowner relations and ethics
• Safe Clothing
• Outdoor Safety (Emergency first aid and survival)
• Field care of game
• Game Law presentation by Game Commission Officers
• Range Instruction
• Walk through shoot/don't shoot course
• Archery Demonstration
• Tree Stand Demonstration

STUDENT EXAM FOLLOWS COURSE
Eligibility: Student must be 11 years of age or higher to register and receive a training certificate. You MUST have completed this mandatory training and have reached at least 12 years of age to hunt in Pennsylvania.

Call 1-800-243-8519 to reach the Southwest Region Office in Ligonier, PA, for other
class schedules near you.
THESE COURSES ARE FREE!

Read a testimonial:

Gun, Ammo Sales Boom To Help Wildlife In Record Way

By Bob Frye Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Been in a gun shop lately? I mean, holy smokes, right?

The lines at the gun counter are five deep. Ammunition shelves are as bare as those that hold toilet paper and milk right after the weatherman predicts a storm. The normal, five-minute wait for a background check is sometimes taking hours.

It’s crazy out there.

Wildlife and sportsmen are going to benefit, though.

When the final figures are tallied, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expects to have collected a record $570 million in excise taxes on sporting equipment — or Pittman-Robertson funding — in 2012. That’s not only significantly more than the $390 million collected in 2011, it’s nearly $100 million more than the previous high of $474 million collected in 2010.

“It’s off the chain, it really is,” said Hannibal Bolton, assistant director of the service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. “This is the highest increase we’ve seen, ever.”

The program gets its money from an 11-percent tax on shotguns and rifles, archery equipment and ammunition, and a 10-percent tax on handguns.

The service has seen increases in sales in each category, Bolton said. The sale of ammunition is up the most and “really driving the pack,” he said, though the sale of long guns also is up significantly.

He attributes that in part to a rebounding economy, given that the buying boom started more than a year ago. The more recent gun-buying frenzy that’s been ongoing since talks of gun bans heated up again also are playing a role, he said. In fact, it may lead to an even bigger increase in funding next year, he added.

In the meantime, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and its wildlife programs are going to benefit. By law, Pittman-Robertson money can be used only for hunter education, hunter recruitment and outreach, wildlife habitat, land purchases and wildlife research. The Game Commission received about $13.36 million in Pittman-Robinson funding last year, said Gary Camus, chief of federal aid and grants coordination for the agency. It got $17 million in 2010; that was the highest allocation ever.

The commission expects at least $18.5 million this year, “with a more realistic number $20 million,” Camus said.

“That’s the beauty of excise taxes,” said Joe Neville, director of the commission’s bureau of information and education. “As the price of ammunition or sporting arms goes up, or the demand for them goes up, the amount of excise taxes goes up. It means sportsmen are contributing more money for wildlife programs.”

So when you’re standing in line or searching an empty shelf, remember, at least you’re helping wildlife.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Slashes Trout Stocking Program

By Bob Frye, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is closing two hatcheries and reducing the number of trout it stocks statewide by about 22 percent starting in 2015.

The agency’s board approved the cost-cutting move Wednesday.

The commission has to pare $9.1 million from its budget over the next four years, per orders of the governor’s office to absorb contractually mandated salary and health care and pension costs without increasing spending, said executive director John Arway.

“That’s significant for us,” he said.

The commission’s solution largely is to raise fewer trout. It has been stocking about 3.2 million annually since 2007.

That’s going to decline by almost 700,000 in 2015. The commission is going to shutter the Oswayo hatchery in Potter County, which produces 245,000 adult trout a year, and the Bellefonte hatchery in Centre County, which produces 540,000.

The adult trout in them will be stocked this year, and the juvenile fish at each will be raised and stocked next spring.

They’ll close after that, saving the commission about $2 million annually each of the next four years.

No employees will lose their jobs, Arway said. Each facility employees nine people. All will be offered positions at other hatcheries, Arway said.

The commission also has canceled plans to recruit and train a new class of waterways conservation officers. That will save $1 million but leave at least 13 vacancies.

The decision to stock fewer trout — the most popular fish in the state, pursued by two-thirds of fishermen annually — was not easy, Arway said.

There’s no interest among legislators to boost revenues by increasing fishing license fees, and that’s not something the agency wants anyway, given that every time license fees go up, angler numbers drop, he said.

“By increasing license fees, we’d be decreasing opportunities for people to fish and boat,” Arway said. “And we don’t want to do that.”

To account for fewer trout, the commission will remove some lakes and/or streams from the stocking program and reduce the number of fish released into others, among other changes, said Dave Miko, head of the commission’s fisheries management division. Details are being finalized and likely will be announced at this time next year, he said.

The decision to close the hatcheries was not unanimous. Nine commissioners voted for it; one — Bill Sabatose of Elk County — did not.

“It’s just too drastic for me,” Sabatose said. “I’m just not ready to make that decision. I’d like to look at other alternatives.”

Other commissioners, though, praised Arway for having the courage to suggest the difficult move.

“We have to think down the road and into the future,” said commission president Steve Ketterer of Dauphin County.

Local Businesses Become Collateral Damage In 2013 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show Controversial Decision

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The producers of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, a longstanding tradition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania dating back to 1951, announced today that the event was being postponed due to the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles at the event, according to a statement posted on the show's website on January 24, 2013.

Tourism Officials at the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) estimate the postponement of the state's largest outdoor sports show means $44 million in direct spending from vendors and attendees and $80 million in lost revenue for the local economy. The 22 hotels offering special room rate agreements for show vendors and attendees say the event accounted for approximately 12,000 room-nights over a 10-day period in a traditionally slow tourism season for a region that welcomes 10 million visitors annually.

Tourism officials claim the estimated loss is conservative, factoring in only the direct and indirect spending for the 1,000 vendors and anticipated 250,000 attendees.

"Reported numbers do not account for lost revenue at the event complex from parking, food and beverage, and service and rental fees," said Mary Smith , president of HHRVB.

The bureau did not have details on the lost revenue at the complex but Smith said it would be in the millions considering the scale of this event compared to other shows they have secured for the complex. The estimates also do not account for lost revenue from the 5 percent hotel tax collected by Dauphin County.

Officials are not commenting on the producer's postponement decision, nor are they aware at this time what Reed Exhibitions plans are for rescheduling.

"Our relationship with Reed Exhibitions has continued to strengthen and grow over the years and we are hopeful that the show will return," said Sharon Altland , director of sales for HHRVB. "This is the largest privately produced show at the complex considering the PA Farm Show is a state organized event. Those two traditional events have become pillars of our January and February tourism business with many local businesses relying on them to make their first quarter numbers."

2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show "Postponed For Now"

From the promoters website http://www.easternsportshow.com/

Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone, for now, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show given the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles (also called ARs) at the event. The show was scheduled to take place February 2-10 in Harrisburg, PA.

“Our original decision not to include certain products in the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show this year was made in order to preserve the event’s historical focus on the hunting and fishing traditions enjoyed by American families,” said Chet Burchett, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas. “In the current climate, we felt that the presence of MSRs would distract from the theme of hunting and fishing, disrupting the broader experience of our guests. This was intended simply as a product decision, of the type event organizers need to make every day. 

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.

“ESS has long been proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions, and we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates.”

Dead Buck Fight!

Sent in by club member Mark Trocki...

A man shoots a nice buck in Colorado during the 2012 season and another buck comes in and starts trying to fight the dead buck - all while being video taped,, photographed and talked to by the hunters.  The rut truly does cause buck to go crazy!

2012 Final Bear Harvest Ranks Third Overall

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the final bear harvest results from the state’s recently concluded seasons show that hunters harvested 3,632 bears, which ranks as the third highest in Pennsylvania history.

The record bear harvest was set in 2011, when hunters took 4,350 bears. In 2005, hunters harvested 4,164 bears, which was the second highest in history.

The final harvest tallies by season are: 13 in the new, early seasons in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D; 262 bears taken during the statewide, five-day archery bear season; 2,685 bears taken during the four-day bear season, which included a Saturday-opener; and 672 bears taken during the extended bear season held in various WMUs during all or portions of the first week of the deer season.

In the 2005 bear season, hunters harvested 4,164 bears, and stood as the record harvest until 2011.

Other recent bear harvests include: 3,090 in 2010; 3,512 in 2009; 3,458 in 2008; 2,362 in 2007; 3,124 in 2006; 2,976 in 2004; 3,000 in 2003; 2,686 in 2002; 3,063 in 2001; 3,075 in 2000; 1,740 in 1999; and 2,598 in 1998.

The final bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit (with final 2011 figures in parentheses) were: WMU 1A, 4 (13); WMU 1B, 38 (64); WMU 2B, 6 (1): WMU 2C, 268 (226); WMU 2D, 162 (150); WMU 2E, 50 (79); WMU 2F, 285 (345); WMU 2G, 829 (1,086); WMU 3A, 342 (564); WMU 3B, 279 (479); WMU 3C, 146 (299); WMU 3D, 305 (318); WMU 4A, 139 (72); WMU 4B, 84 (70); WMU 4C, 163 (148); WMU 4D, 403 (355); WMU 4E, 110 (79); WMU 5A, 1 (1); WMU 5B, 2 (0); and WMU 5C, 16 (1).

Bears were harvested in 56 of the state’s 67 counties; which also marked a record for the number of counties included. The top five bear harvest counties this year, once again, all come from the Northcentral Region: Lycoming, 341 (336 taken in 2011); Clinton, 265 (205); Tioga, 227 (381); Potter 179 (399); and Centre, 143 (129).

Final county harvests by region (with 2011 figures in parentheses) are:

Northwest: Warren, 94 (119); Clarion, 77 (47); Venango, 62 (56); Forest, 56 (90); Jefferson, 51 (45); Butler, 11 (9); Erie, 7 (7); Crawford, 6 (16); and Mercer, 1 (6).

Southwest: Somerset, 94 (75); Fayette, 79 (67); Westmoreland, 37 (24); Armstrong, 35 (66); Indiana, 24 (33); Cambria, 11 (35); and Allegheny, 4 (1).

Northcentral: Lycoming, 341 (336); Clinton, 265 (205); Tioga, 227 (381); Potter 179 (399); Centre, 143 (129); McKean, 134 (258); Clearfield, 102 (154); Union, 82 (49); Elk, 76 (153); and Cameron, 67 (100).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 125 (73); Bedford, 86 (44); Mifflin, 62 (48); Blair, 50 (32); Juniata, 37 (33); Perry, 32 (13); Fulton, 25 (15); Franklin, 14 (13); Snyder, 14 (29); Adams, 2 (0); and Cumberland, 2 (4).

Northeast: Pike, 108 (116); Monroe, 102 (88); Luzerne, 100 (99); Bradford, 86 (126); Wayne, 73 (208); Carbon, 67 (45); Sullivan, 60 (180); Wyoming, 57 (57); Susquehanna, 41 (92); Lackawanna, 37 (25); Columbia, 36 (26); Northumberland, 26 (11); and Montour, 3 (0).

Southeast: Dauphin, 48 (46); Schuylkill, 39 (34); Northampton, 21 (4); Lehigh 3 (3); Berks, 7 (2); and Lebanon, 4 (13).

According to final reports, 45 bears weighing 500 pounds or more were legally harvested during the four seasons, and 5 bears surpassed the 600 pound mark. The top 10 bears processed at check stations all had estimated live weights that exceeded 561 pounds. Joseph A. Spano, of East Stoudsburg, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 21, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, the male bear weighed an actual live weight of 709 pounds.

Other large bears (all but one, are estimated live weights) included: a 706-pound male taken by James R. Weisbrod, of Quakertown, in Greene Township, Pike County, on Nov. 20; a 699-pound male taken by William M. Rising, of Indiana, in Hamlin Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken by Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17; a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 573-pound male taken by Michael J. Kelly, of Pittsburgh, in Harmony Township, Forest County, on Nov. 21; and a 562-pound male taken by Bryan L. Leabhart, of Dudley, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19.

“While the Game Commission is not qualified to provide specific food safety advice, bear hunters need to be aware of the need for proper preparation of any bear meat,” said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian. “In addition to the advice already provided on safe handling of game in the field, certain recommendations can be made. If in the course of field dressing and processing game a successful hunter encounters no abnormal odors, colors, or textures to the meat it should be safe to consume if cooked to an internal temperature of 135F for mammals, and 165F for birds as determined by a meat thermometer used according to the manufacturers recommendations.”

To Connect with Wildlife, visit the Game Commission at the following: 

Sportsmen’s Clubs Make Changes To Coyote Hunting

By Bob Frye Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Things are changing in Penn‘s Woods again.

There was a time — 20 years ago — when the state had few, if any, coyotes. But when they moved in and ultimately spread all across the state, sportsmen‘s clubs were quick to take advantage. They began organizing coyote hunts on which hunters paid an entrance fee and competed for thousands of dollars in prize money, often for the biggest or most animals.

But that caught on too well. So many hunts popped up that the competition grew intense.

Clubs are trying new things now.

Some, like Tubmill Trout Club and Sinnemahoning Sportsmen‘s Association, are holding multi-state contests. Hunters can enter not only animals from Pennsylvania, but also New York, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia. The idea is to draw more hunters and more entry fees.

Tubmill is taking things a step further by awarding $10,500 in prize money not to those who have taken the biggest coyote but to six hunters, chosen in a random drawing, from among those who checked in a coyote.

There still will be prize money for the heaviest male and female coyotes, but the move gives everyone a chance to win.

That‘s the direction the Charleroi Sportsmen‘s Association, Pennsylvania State Hunters Organization and others are moving. They‘re going to split their prize money equally among every hunter who brings in one or more coyotes.

Cresson Sportsmen‘s Association, meanwhile, is offering a mix of prizes. There will be $5,000 minimum guaranteed in cash for those who place when it comes to turning in coyotes. But there will be another $5,000 in prizes given away by drawing, with everyone who enters the contest eligible, regardless of whether they bag an animal.

It‘s all part of how things have changed, again, in the state‘s woods.

Coyote hunts

• Cresson Sportsmen‘s Association, Feb. 8-10. Hunters can hunt coyotes and foxes anywhere in Pennsylvania. Call 814-886-7727 or visit www.cressonsportsmans.com.

• Mosquito Creek Sportsmen‘s Association, Feb. 15-17. It paid out more than $39,000 in prizes last year. Call 814-263-4510 or visit www.mosquitocreeksportsmen.com.

• St. Marys Sportsmen‘s Club, Feb. 15-17. Hunters can hunt anywhere in Pennsylvania. Call 814-834-4375 or visit www.stmaryssportsmen.org.

• Sigel Sportsmen‘s Club, Feb. 15-17. Hunters can enter animals already registered in the St. Marys and Mosquito Creek hunts, so long as entry fees in each are paid. Call 814-752-2485 or visit www.sigelsportsmensclub.com.

• Sinnemahoning Sportsmen‘s Club, Feb. 15-17. Call 814-263-4418 or visit www.sinnemahoning-sportsmen.org.

• Tubmill Trout Club, eastern coyote championship big dog hunt, Feb. 22-24. Call 724-235-9798 or visit www.tubmilltroutclub.org.

• Charleroi Sportsmen‘s Association, Feb. 23-March 9. There will be a free party on the last day. Call 724-640-6555 or visit www.charleroisportsmen.com.

Companies distancing themselves from Harrisburg show

In the aftermath of this week's announcement by UK-based Reed Exposition Company that manufacturers and vendors with AR-platform rifles, accessories, magazines and related items will not be permitted at the upcoming Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show (aka "The Harrisburg Show"), some exhibitors—including Cabela's, Lancaster Archery Supply, and Kinsey's Outdoors—have announced they will not attend.

Also read:

Local outdoor show set; counterpart sparks controversy

By Bob Frye Tribune Review

Only once has there been controversy surrounding the Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show.

There was a year when one of the trucks displayed at the show that‘s all about hunting, fishing and the outdoors featured leather seats. That drew protests from animal rights activists.

“Out of all that we had, that‘s the one thing they were upset about, was the leather seats,” said Chris Fassnacht, manager for Expositions Inc., which puts on the show that this year will be held at Monroeville Expo Mart from Wednesday through Sunday, Feb. 13 to 17.

Things are much different this year at another show, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.

It‘s annually the largest outdoor show held on the East Coast, and can usually be counted on to draw tens of thousands of people. This year‘s version is set to be held at the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg from Feb. 2 to 10.

But some are calling for a boycott of it. And they are sportsmen themselves.

The reason is tactical guns. Reed Exhibitions, organizer of the show, has decided not to allow exhibitors to sell those “black” firearms at the show. Reed said in an official statement that it strongly supports the Second Amendment.

“However, this year we have made the decision not to include certain products that in the current climate may attract negative attention that would distract from the strong focus on hunting and fishing at this family-oriented event and possibly disrupt the broader positive experience of our guests,” it added.

The decision will impact fewer than a half dozen of the show‘s 1,200 exhibitors. Still, message boards, social media sites such as Facebook and other venues have featured comments from sportsmen calling for a boycott.

The Allegheny Sport show does not this year, nor has it ever, had tactical firearms, Fassnacht said. Those exhibitors typically attend a separate gun show held in Monroeville each year.

What the Allegheny show will have is more seminars on more topics than in the recent past, ranging from youth fishing and jigging for bass to dealing with extreme weather and hunting deer in management unit 2B. There will be life jacket and hunting vest giveaways and new exhibitors, like the Pittsburgh Rowing Association. Ranger will debut its first-ever 17- and 18-foot aluminum boats, too.

Admission is $10 for those 13 and older, free to those younger. Discount coupons good for $2 off are available at local McDonald‘s. Parking is free. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

“We‘re pretty excited. It should be a good show,” Fassnacht said.

Spreading The Word About Birds On Game Commission Website

Game Commission website offerings on wild bird upgraded

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission today unveiled a redesigned and expanded birding and bird conservation section on its website to help it better communicate the importance of wild birds to the millions who visit the website annually.

“We have always recognized that there is tremendous interest in birding and bird conservation among Pennsylvanians, but it hasn’t been easy to meet that demand with content on our website, because of our limited number of wildlife diversity biologists are incredibly busy,” explained Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. “These upgrades have been in development for the better part of two years, and with them now in place, our wild bird content overnight has become an indispensible resource for anyone from students to birders to backyard bird feeders.”

The new section offers advice on where to go statewide to see birds, when the best times of day are to go and what you can expect to see. Learn about migratory behavior. Figure out what seeds to put in your feeders to attract the wild birds you really want to see. Get help in making your property more bird friendly. Get background on how you can take part in important projects conducted annually to help biologists keep tabs on bird numbers.

“There’s always a need for more participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count, Pennsylvania Annual Migratory Count and even the Christmas Bird Count” explained Doug Gross, supervisor of the agency Endangered and Nongame Birds Section. “Visit these pages and learn firsthand how you can get involved, work with other birders and make a difference in bird conservation. We could really use your help!”

Pennsylvania is truly a keystone state when it comes to wild birds because the Appalachian Mountains have been part of a continental migratory highway for birds since the days of the passenger pigeon. There are 285 species of wild birds that are regular denizens of the state; another 129 species are less frequent visitors. It’s that diversity of birdlife that makes Pennsylvania so special to birders.

“We’ve taken substantial steps on these pages to acquaint more Pennsylvanians with the state’s wild birds and the agency’s role in bird conservation, both within the Commonwealth’s borders and internationally,” said Dan Brauning, supervisor of the agency’s Wildlife Diversity Division. “This content will help more people see the value of wild birds, and get them closer to birds. It also offers ways to get involved in bird conservation and to make your property safer and more attractive to birds. Please visit. You’ll see a side of Pennsylvania that surely will charm you and likely hook you on wild birds for life!”

To access the new Birding and Bird Conservation Section of the agency website – www.pgc.state.pa.us – place your cursor over “Wildlife” in the top navigation, and select “Birding/Bird Conservation in the dropdown menu. The new section can be accessed from the Wildlife Page