PA Game Commission Resolution Comments

Resolution #6) AMERICAN HUNTING DOG CLUB – Bucks County – Either sex pheasant hunting in the 6 southeastern counties.

Our pheasant propagation program is designed to maximize statewide pheasant hunting opportunities, while seasons, bag limits, and hunting zones help safeguard naturally reproducing pheasant populations and provide hunting recreation in an equitable fashion.

Few areas of Pennsylvania support viable pheasant populations due to suburban sprawl, maturing forests, clean farming, and lack of idle agricultural land. Some areas in southeastern Pennsylvania have some potential to sustain wild pheasant populations; however, most areas do not. The southeastern counties contained in Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 5C and 5D may contain small isolated pockets of suitable habitat that support some natural reproduction, but these areas are too small and fragmented for any hope of sustaining wild or reintroduced pheasant populations. Studies suggest that a minimum of 25,000 acres of safe nesting and winter escape cover are needed to support a sustainable population. In our opinion these counties do not contain a sufficient amount of habitat and the trends in human population growth and conversion of existing habitat preclude any future successful restoration programs for pheasants in the area.

Either sex pheasant hunting currently occurs in areas of the Commonwealth where natural reproduction and survival are poor and habitat is insufficient to support sustainable populations. Either sex hunting allows for utilization of propagated hens and provides more opportunity for pheasant hunters to harvest a bird. Most stocking of pheasants occurs on state game lands and other public lands where harvest is maximized. Private land owners can always prohibit either sex hunting on their own lands if they feel it is desirable to protect hens.

Pheasant hunting is managed by wildlife management unit; therefore, any changes to hunting regulations must be implemented by WMU. Based on current and anticipated future conditions in land use, we concur with the resolution to allow either sex pheasant hunting in WMU 5C and 5D for the 2006-07 season. While as staff we agree with this resolution, the Board of Commissioners ultimately will decide whether this season will be permitted.