The Pennsylvania Federation

Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc.

2006

Spring Convention Wrap-Up

Committee Reports

At its spring meeting, March 10 – 12 in State College, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (PFSC) voted the organization’s position and actions on legislation and issues regarding Second Amendment rights, sport hunting, furtaking and wildlife conservation. They met Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann and were addressed by Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, as well as state natural resource agency heads and members of Gov. Rendell’s Youth Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation.

At the Sunday voting session, 42 PFSC county delegates and two statewide organization members -- the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Trappers Association -- voted to support House Bill 2231, a revival of the “Castle Doctrine.” Introduced by Rep. Steven Capelli (R-Lycoming) HB 2231 would eliminate the “duty to retreat” provision in current Pennsylvania law and change the standard for protecting oneself and others by lethal force to “reasonable belief.” Most other states recognize the ancient common law of the “Castle Doctrine” for defense of people and property, and with passage of HB 2231 Pennsylvania would join them.

The delegates also voted to support several items regarding permitted carrying of concealed firearms, or “right to carry.” The PFSC delegates agreed in principal that the provisions of Pennsylvania Title 34 (Game Law) do not supercede other provisions of Pennsylvania law pertaining to the rights of those who have permits to carry firearms concealed. The delegates said that permitted concealed carry is appropriate, even while individuals are engaged in hunting, trapping and other activities governed by the Game Law. Legislation is expected to be introduced shortly on the issue.

The delegates approved a Conservation Resolution, originating in the Johnstown Rifle and Pistol Club, that asked the PFSC to “take appropriate action to seek Congressional intervention to compel the National Park Service to assimilate and comply with state laws regarding lawful concealed carry of firearms.” The club argued successfully that the National Park Service prohibition against permitted concealed carry on its properties was in conflict with the U.S. Constitution Second Amendment and the Pennsylvania Constitution (Article I, Section 21) firearm rights and other laws.

Another Conservation Resolution, brought by the Mercer County Coonhunters Association, which requested the PFSC to urge the Pennsylvania legislature to eliminate all categories of Furtaker License, was defeated by the delegates. Ned Weston, representing the Pennsylvania Trappers Association, spoke against the resolution. He reminded delegates that the trappers’ group had worked with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to establish the furtaker license to help “pay our own way” by funding furbearer biologists and programs and providing a source of data on trapping. The club sponsoring the resolution said that elimination of the furtaker license would increase the opportunity for sportsmen to harvest furbearers recreationally and suggested that privilege could be rolled into any general hunting license fee increase.

The PFSC took positions on two other bills currently before the state legislature. The delegates voted to approve a motion that the PFSC “adamantly” oppose HB 2503, introduced by Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton/Centre), which would have the Game Commission pay all of its legal fees from the Game Fund, rather than have them paid by the Commonwealth’s General Fund, as is currently done.

The delegates also approved PFSC support of HB 904, introduced by Rep. Edward Staback (D-Lackawanna/Wayne). The bill would amend Pennsylvania Title 34 (Game Law) by deleting provisions relating to the prohibition on Sunday hunting. If HB 904 becomes law, the Game Commission would have full determination of setting hunting seasons. The bill would not directly institute Sunday hunting for any species.

As a result of other delegate votes, the PFSC will send letters to Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, supporting funding to implement State Wildlife Action Plans. Last year, every state submitted a Wildlife Action Plan, laying out its needs and actions for wildlife conservation. Pennsylvania submitted a model plan, prioritizing species of concern and ranking vulnerable habitats. Because the State Wildlife Action Plans are the most cost-effective strategy to conserve wildlife, $85 million is being asked of the federal government for fiscal year 2007.

The PFSC delegates made these decisions at the culmination of three days of meetings. In addition to Federation business and visits by political candidates or their representatives and other notables, the delegates heard a presentation on the pros, cons and caveats of wind power development in Pennsylvania. Concerns were aired about siting power-producing turbines on public lands, including impacts on wildlife and outdoor recreation.

Lynn Swann, Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, attended a “meet and greet” session with convention attendees prior to the Saturday evening banquet. Swann, well known as a former Pittsburgh Steeler, spoke with attendees individually on sporting and conservation concerns. Representatives of the re-election campaigns of Sen. Rick Santorum and his election challenger, current State Auditor General Robert P. Casey, Jr., addressed the dinner crowd in support of sportsmen’s issues.

Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), was the keynote speaker at the banquet. Schweiger, a native Pennsylvanian, has strong ties to the PFSC. Schweiger said that when he was asked to take the helm at the NWF, he told that board, “If I come back, the sportsmen are coming out of the closet and I will take on global warming.” Schweiger asserted that global warming is “the biggest threat the world will ever face.”

“If we don’t stand against global warming,” said Schweiger, “everything you care about will be in jeopardy.” He said the problem is “fixable” if action is taken soon, but cautioned that New Orleans was “the first American city to be destroyed by global warming, and don’t let legislators tell you otherwise.”

Noting that people are disconnecting from wild places, Schweiger commented, “How can they be stewards of the planet … if they don’t know the tree growing in their front yard?” He challenged his listeners to involve young people in conservation leadership.

Following his address, the PFSC honored such a young person by presenting the 2006 John F. Laudadio Conservation Leadership Award to Heidi Geiwitz of Greenville, Pa. Among other accomplishments, she helped establish the Mercer County Youth Conservation Foundation and is a counselor and administrator at the Mercer County Youth Conservation Camp. Geiwitz is avid raccoon hunter and enjoys working with coonhounds at field trial events. She teaches firearm safety and shooting and mentors other youth in the outdoors.

The directors of Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), and staff members, were on hand earlier during the convention to make presentations on their agencies’ activities.

Michael DiBerardinis, DCNR Secretary, told the PFSC board of directors on Friday that “I do know the power of the hunting and fishing tradition in the state … I know it links people to the outdoors and to one another in the process.” He said he was there “to communicate where DCNR is heading.”

On DCNR’s plans at the new Erie Bluffs State Park, DiBerardinis said that development of the proposed “small inn or lodge” overnight accommodation would be “more environmentally and ecologically sensitive than any construction we’ve done in any state park in Pennsylvania.” He said such lodging would “help attract new audiences” to the state park outdoor experience and that “resort-type” development was not being considered in state parks here. PFSC had voiced its opposition to and concerns with some of the components of the current Erie Bluffs State Park development plans.

DiBerardinis said DCNR is renewing its commitment to its public lands and moving to extend its conservation reach throughout the state. Also noting the need to reconnect people to the outdoors, he said that public land stewardship, a statewide land conservation program, and fostering livable and attractive communities were all among DCNR’s goals. DiBerardinis told sportsmen attendees that “we agree on a lot more than we disagree,” even on deer management. DiBerardinis said the science of deer management on its properties must be “opened up” and understandable.

Carl Roe, PGC Executive Director, addressed the PFSC for the first time since his appointment to that position. At a Saturday session, Roe complimented the PFSC as a PGC partner, but said that “we as hunters and trappers have lost the lead on conservation leadership; (the PGC) will work hard to bring that back, and with your help we’ll get there.” Roe said the PGC “has had a tendency historically to not be as attentive to the public as we should be.” He said that he will do more to make the commission more communicative with the public.

Speaking candidly about deer management, Roe said that when the current program was begun several years ago, “we didn’t have the measurements we needed, and frankly we weren’t ready; we now have a team looking at the measurements.” Roe said he told PGC wildlife biologists to “bring us the best science, then senior staff and the commissioners will deal with the social and political aspects” of what he called the “three-legged stool” of successful wildlife management. Roe also discussed the commission’s need for license increases; point-of-sale licensing; wild pheasant declines; Wildlife Management Unit structure; and legislation of interest to the PGC.

Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC Executive Director, brought attendees up to date on fishing and aquatic resource issues. “Access is a hot topic,” said Austen. He noted that the sale of Lake Erie permits has taken in about $750,000 so far for increasing access to the fishery in the Great Lake and its Pennsylvania tributaries, with $2.5 million possible during the five-year program. Other monies are currently available to communities and counties throughout the state for access development, he said.

Additionally, Austen and PFBC staff spoke about fish habitat work, including the removal of small dams to renew stream ecology; changes in regulations governing the taking of rattlesnakes and special trout-fishing areas; and the bacterial cause of last year’s die-off of smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River. The PFBC is also expanding its stocked trout movement study, after reviewing the results of a 2005 study on two northeastern Pennsylvania streams where poor angler-returns were noted from preseason-stocked fish. The anecdotal evidence was confirmed by the agency study, but the causes of the fish movement have not yet been determined.

Austen explained the PFBC’s proposed youth fishing license, for ages 12 – 15. At $5.00, the license would include the trout fishing and Lake Erie permits, would garner about $3 of federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration funds for each youth license sold, and law enforcement would be educational and encourage youth to purchase a license.

Speaking for the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation, Matt Smith, Adrienne Lombaerde and Jack Sloan said that group strongly supports the proposed youth fishing license. They also said their council is solidly behind Sunday hunting, noting the many pulls on young people for their time and the need for an extra weekend day for the outdoor recreation.

The next convention of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs will be September 15 – 17, in Bethlehem, hosted by the Southeast Division. For more information on the PFSC, call 717-232-3480 or e-mail info@pfsc.org.