Game Commission To Host Annual Waterfowl Briefing

This year’s symposium to be held at Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area.

Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug. 9, co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2013-14 waterfowl hunting seasons.

The briefing will begin at 1 p.m., at the Game Commission’s Pymatuning Administration Building, 9552 Hartstown Road, Hartstown, Pa.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.

Public comments will be accepted at the meeting; or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or via e-mail throughWaterfowlComments@pa.gov.

Based on public comments, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval. 

All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS.  States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.

Early migratory bird hunting seasons – including September Canada goose, mourning dove, American woodcock and webless species – will be announced soon.

By mid-August, when the final selections are made, the Game Commission will issue a news release on the remaining hunting seasons for migratory birds.  The agency also will post the annual brochure outlining the seasons and bag limits for waterfowl and migratory bird seasons on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).