Pennsylvania Game Commission Prepares for Second Special Snow Goose Season; Hunters Reminded About Special Spring Gobbler Tag

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are set to offer hunters the opportunity to participate in the second snow goose conservation hunt designed to help stem the growth of continental snow goose populations.

Hunters must obtain a free snow goose conservation hunt permit and report cards from the agency to participate in the season, which will be held from Feb. 20 through April 3. To do so, hunters can access the "Snow Goose Conservation Season" page by clicking on the appropriate icon in the center of the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and then following the instructions. By completing the application online, hunters will be able to print off the permit and report cards and will not have to wait for the package to be mailed.

For those individuals with no online access, permits and the required report cards can be obtained by calling the Game Commission at the Harrisburg headquarters (717-787-4250) and asking for the Bureau of Wildlife Management. However, this process will require mailing the permit and report cards to the applicant, so allow a minimum of one week for processing and mail delivery to obtain a permit.

"Snow goose populations have reached levels that are causing extensive and possibly irreversible damage to their, as well as other nesting birds', arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds," pointed out John Dunn, Game Commission waterfowl biologist. "For some populations of snow geese their nesting habitats can no longer support these large numbers. What's more, these geese are beginning to impact fragile coastal marsh habitats and crops in Mid-Atlantic States and Quebec.

"It's likely that North America has never had as many snow geese as it does now. The current population of greater snow geese that inhabits the Atlantic Flyway is estimated at more than one million birds, more than double the management goal of 500,000. They have become a huge and unexpected problem for themselves and other wildlife that shares the wintering and breeding grounds these waterfowl occupy."

The quickest and probably most effective way for wildlife managers to respond to the problem is to allow additional hunting days - and new hunting methods - to reduce and stabilize snow goose populations. That's why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first offered states the opportunity to allow hunters to take snow geese at a time when all other waterfowl seasons are closed. This will include an option to allow hunting hours for this special snow goose season to extend one-half hour after sunset. Currently, all waterfowl shooting hours close at sundown, except for the September Canada goose season.

Hunters participating in the snow goose conservation hunt may use electronic calls. The daily bag limit during the conservation hunt is 15 daily with no possession limit.

"The regular snow goose season began Nov. 6 and ends on Feb. 19, with a daily limit of 15 birds," Dunn said. "However, the use of electronic calls during the regular snow goose season is not permitted."

Participating states are required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor and assess hunting activity and harvest. That is why the Game Commission has created the free Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit.

"Along with this snow goose conservation hunt permit, hunters must possess a general hunting license, migratory game bird license and a federal duck stamp (for those 16 or older)," Dunn said. "The permit holder will be required to maintain records specifying hunting activity and daily harvest. All permit holders must submit a report, even if they did not hunt or harvest any birds, to the Game Commission no later than May 3. Failure to report by May 3 may result in loss of eligibility to participate in next year's snow goose conservation hunt."

For more information on the snow goose conservation hunt, including hunting tips, visit the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on the "Snow Goose Conservation Season" icon in the center of the homepage, then click on "Special Snow Goose Conservation Season - Spring 2010."

HUNTERS REMINDED ABOUT SECOND SPRING GOBBLER TAG

Pennsylvania hunters who would like the opportunity to harvest a second spring gobbler can purchase a second spring gobbler tag until the spring gobbler season begins on May 1, according to Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. In fact, thanks to the new Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS), hunters can purchase a second spring gobbler tag at any issuing agent or through the agency's website.

In the past, hunters had to wait until Jan. 1 before submitting a license application for the second spring gobbler tag and then wait for the agency to mail the license back to them. The process was made necessary to spread out administrative workload of processing and handling licenses for the fall hunting seasons. However, because of PALS, hunters can now purchase the second spring gobbler tag at any issuing agent and walk out of the store with the license in hand.

Roe noted that hunters are able to take one spring gobbler as part of their general hunting privileges. However, the second spring gobbler tag license affords those hunters interested in this additional opportunity to take a second spring gobbler. Hunters may only purchase one second spring gobbler license during a license year, as the season limit remains two spring gobblers, but they may only harvest one bird per day.

"So, if you are looking for that application in your digest to mail in, you won't find it," Roe said. "You can just purchase the special spring gobbler license either through the Game Commission's website or visit your local license issuing agent."

Fees set by state law for the special license are $21.70 for residents and $41.70 for nonresidents.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission