LBJs SLIPPING SOUTH TO THE DELIGHT OF BIRDERS
The view out the window seems to be the same old, same old for many folks who feed songbirds over winter. But the Pennsylvania Game Commission is encouraging residents to look a little closer. Those LBJs on your birdfeeder may not be the same LBJs you usually see.
Little brown jobs (LBJs) is a term some birders and biologists use to describe small, semi-brown songbirds that they see briefly but can't identify, because their markings aren't noticeable enough. It usually refers to sparrows and finches. Right now there's a new LBJ in state, and it has nothing to do with our 36th president, or his wife, Lady Bird.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176186
GAME COMMISSION PRAISES PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 92
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today offered his praise to the House of Representatives for its overwhelming and bi-partisan support of House Bill 92, which will enable the agency to fully transition to an electronic, point-of-sale license system, commonly referred to as Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS).
Roe specifically noted his appreciation to House Game and Fisheries Committee Majority Chairman Edward Staback (D-60), who sponsored the bill, and to House Game and Fisheries Committee Minority Chairman Craig A. Dally (R-168), who co-sponsored the bill.
"Transitioning to PALS has been something that our license buyers and members of the General Assembly have been urging the Game Commission to do for a number of years," Roe said. "We are excited about the many benefits that this new license sale system will provide to our license buying customers, our issuing agents and the agency.
"I want to thank Reps. Staback and Dally, as well as all of the House members who voted in favor of this measure. Also, I look forward to working with Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Majority Chairman Richard Alloway II (R-33) and Minority Chairman Richard A. Kasunic (D-32) to gain approval for this bill in the Senate so it can be sent to the Governor for action soon."
Under House Bill 92, license buyers would be assessed the actual transaction fee costs associated with implementing PALS. Presently, the transaction fee is 70-cents per license or stamp purchased. This fee would be paid directly to ALS, the Nashville-based company contracted to provide an electronic license sale system for the Game Commission, as well as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
During the 2007-08 Legislative Session, the General Assembly approved a similar measure for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to assess transaction fees to the license buyer.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176179
GAME COMMISSION HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT INVOLVES CONTROLLED BURN ON 95-ACRE PORTION OF SGL 176
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today outlined detailed plans for conducting a controlled burn on the Scotia Barrens on State Game Land 176 in Patton Township, Centre County, to improve habitat conditions within this unique ecosystem. Agency officials also covered how the planned prescribed burn will reduce the possibility of an uncontrolled wildfire impacting the surrounding developed communities.
In a briefing held today on SGL 176, agency officials explained that, if weather conditions cooperate, this one-day controlled burn will be conducted on a designated 95-acre parcel sometime between April 6 and May 8.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176137
WNS IDENTIFIED AT SIX SITES IN PENNSYLVANIA
As Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologists continue to monitor bat hibernacula, the number of sites where bats have been confirmed infected or dying from White Nose Syndrome (WNS) has risen to six. The sites are two abandoned mines near Carbondale, Lackawanna County; an abandoned mine near Shickshinny, Luzerne County; and the abandoned Shindle Iron Mine, Aitkin Cave and Seawra Cave in Mifflin County.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176102
GAME COMMISSION RELEASES OFFICIAL 2008 BEAR HARVEST
According to official 2008 bear harvest figures released today by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters took a total of 3,458 bears, which included 69 bears during the second archery bear season, Nov. 19-20; 2,951 bears during the statewide 3-day season, Nov. 24-26; and 438 bears during the extended season, Dec. 1-6, that was open in select areas of the state.
This harvest ranks second among Pennsylvania's annual bear harvests. In 2005, hunters set a record harvest of 4,164 bears. Other recent harvests were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; 2,972 in 2004; 3,122 in 2006; and 2,360 in 2007.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176095
GAME COMMISSION HTE CLASSES STARTING TO FILL UP
With the spring gobbler season set to open in April, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe is reminding all first-time license buyers to make plans to attend a Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) course now.
To register for a course in your area, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), select the "Hunter Education Classes" icon in the center of the homepage, and then follow the instructions.
GAME COMMISSION RECRUITING INSTRUCTORS FOR HUNTER EDUCATION
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking for experienced hunters and trappers who are interested in becoming volunteer instructors for the agency's basic Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE), Successful Bowhunting and cable restraint certification courses.
For more information about becoming an HTE instructor, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and select "Education," then scroll down and choose "Becoming an Instructor." Individuals also can request an application packet online or by calling the agency's Hunter-Trapper Education Division at 717-787-7015.
COLLECTIBLE PATCH/PRINT MARKS 50 YEARS OF HUNTER EDUCATION
To honor 50 years of hunter education, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering a limited edition patch and fine-art print by George LaVanish, of Tyrone, Blair County. The print, titled Tomorrow's Hunters, depicts and instructor and students in a hunter education training exercise. The companion patch is a thumbnail of the print's theme.
As a token of appreciation, the four-inch embroidered patch and 13-inch by 18-inch print will be presented to each active volunteer instructor. The remaining items will be available to the public for sale.
NRA-SPONSORED YOUTH EDUCATION SUMMIT SIGN-UP DEADLINE MARCH 2
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that the Friends of the National Rifle Association application deadline for its upcoming Pennsylvania Youth Education Summit (YES) in Harrisburg is fast approaching. Pennsylvania high school sophomores and juniors have until March 2, to sign up for the event, which is set for April 2-6.
To register or for more information, e-mail Charles and Ursula Fox at eef@epix.net, call at 570-297-4642, or Janet Nyce at huntressjdn@verizon.net or call at 215-234-0330.
To see the complete news release on these four items, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176088
