Board Eliminates Use of Bait in Southeastern Counties; Board Approves Resolution Urging Caution on Marcellus Shale; Board Takes Other Actions

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Based on a recommendation from staff, the Board of Game Commissioners today took action to eliminate regulations that allowed deer hunters to use bait in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, to increase hunter harvest in these largely-developed, high-conflict areas.  The Board accomplished this by allowing the sunset provision to take effect, thereby automatically striking the option from regulations.

In 2006, as recommended in the Game Commission's Urban/Suburban Deer Management Plan, the Board approved the use of bait. However, before giving the regulation final adoption, the Board included a sunset provision that required a future Board to revisit the issue by March 31, 2010.

"After evaluating the impact of baiting on hunting deer populations in these suburban/urban areas, the staff determined that there has been no positive impact," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.  "With no benefit from the option to use bait, the staff recommended that the Board eliminate this regulation by simply allowing the sunset provision to take effect."

Baiting has long been illegal for all big game, small game, waterfowl and migratory game birds in other parts of the state.  The only legal use of bait is for trapping and hunting of furbearers.

BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION URGING CAUTION ON MARCELLUS SHALE

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today unanimously approved a resolution urging caution regarding development of Marcellus Shale gas resources on the agency's State Game Lands system.  The resolution, proposed by Game Commissioner David Schreffler, reads as follows:

"Whereas, there has been increased activity in the exploration of gas in the Marcellus Shale area of the Commonwealth; and

Whereas, a portion of the Marcellus Shale areas falls under State Game Lands under control of the Pennsylvania Game Commission; and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Game Commission does not own all the oil, gas and mineral rights on some State Game Lands; and

Whereas, there is increased pressure for the development of the gas rights on public lands to generate increased revenues; and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent agency that receives no appropriated funds from the State General Fund; and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's funding is primarily based on license fees, federal grants and revenues generated from natural resources on State Game Lands; and

Whereas, the long term supportability of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's wildlife mission is predicated on long term sustainable funding;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the development of Marcellus Shale gas resources on the State Game Land system will be accomplished with great prudence, minimum disruption to State Game Lands, replacement of disturbed lands, and long term sustainability of revenues for the wildlife mission.

BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTIONS

In other action today, the Board of Game Commissioners:

• Gave final approval to a hunting hours table and a migratory game bird hunting hours table for 2010-11;
• Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to update Title 58 (Game Commission Regulations) based on changes to the Right-to-Know law;
• Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to require all hunters using manufactured blinds used for deer, elk and bear to post a minimum of 100 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange-colored material within 15 feet of the blind so that it is visible within a 360-degree arc, in addition to wearing orange while in the blind;
• Gave final approval to a regulatory change to allow for over-the-counter applications of unsold antlerless deer licenses for all WMUs beginning the first Monday of October, rather than the first Monday of November.  Over-the-counter sales of antlerless deer licenses for WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D will continue to be the fourth Monday of August; and
• Announced the next two quarterly meetings of the Board will be held June 28-29 and Oct. 4-5.  The meeting on June 28-29 will be held in the auditorium of the agency's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave.  The meeting on Oct. 4-5 will be held in the Wilkes-Barre area; details will be announced at a later date.  Also, the January 2011 meeting has been set for Jan. 23, 24 and 25, and will be held at the agency's Harrisburg headquarters.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission