PFSC Resolutions

To Be Voted on at the Spring 2007 Convention

in Williamsport, PA March 23 – 25, 2007

#1) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 10/13/06

SUBMITTED BY: Southern Clinton Co. Sportsmen’s Assoc.

CLUB SECRETARY:

APPROVED BY CLINTON CO.

TITLE: Alleviating Littering & Loitering on State Game Lands

WHEREAS: State Game Lands are purchased and maintained with revenue generated from the sale of hunting licenses and are designated for the use of sportsmen.

WHEREAS: One of the largest complaints and most visible violations occurring on State Game Lands is littering and illegal dumping mostly in the parking areas.

WHEREAS: PA Game Commission WCOs need an additional tool to prohibit loiterers on State Game Lands parking lots after dark who are most often non-sportsmen and/or not actively participating in related activities and who leave behind their garbage.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the PFSC encourage the PA Game Commission to create a regulation that would prohibit the use of State Game Lands parking areas after dark to those not actively engaged in hunting, trapping, fishing or related activities in an attempt to alleviate littering.

Resolution Passed: 39 yeas, 1 nays, 5 abstentions

PGC Response: Resolution #1

Parks Township Sportsmen’s Club – Armstrong County – That the PFSC work with the PGC to implement a uniform 3-point antler restriction throughout the state.

The purpose of the four-point restriction in the specified WMU’s is to insure that 1 ½ year old bucks pass to the 2 ½ year old stage.

Based on fates of over 500 individually marked bucks and harvest records of tens of thousands of antlered deer, antler restrictions have achieved the protection of yearling bucks that they were designed to achieve. In addition, based on a statewide survey of hunters, a majority of hunters were in favor of antler restrictions prior to their implementation and there still appears to be support for them.

Consider the fact that before antler restrictions, we harvested about 80% of the bucks in Penn’s Woods. The current harvest strategy allows about 2.5 times more of them to survive to age 2. Hopefully, a higher population of bucks and more older bucks will encourage breeding to be done by the biggest, strongest, and fastest bucks. Our ongoing research with radio-marked bucks provides us with current data to support these comments.

#2) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 7/31/06

SUBMITTED BY: Parks Township Sportsmen’s Club

CLUB SECRETARY: William Krafick

APPROVED BY ARMSTRONG CO.

TITLE: Uniform 3-point Antler Restrictions State Wide

WHEREAS: Antler restriction has caused tremendous dissention in the commonwealth. It has pitted sportsmen against sportsmen and caused much friction with the Game Commission. This situation is detrimental to all concerned.

WHEREAS: Having a uniform 3-point restriction in all wildlife management units would do much to alleviate this situation. Currently the state is split between 5-point and 3-point wildlife management units. This split is a source of friction and unfairness.

WHEREAS: Having a uniform 3-point antler restriction throughout the state would also do much to retain older adult hunters in our ranks. There has been a serious decline in the number of adult hunter’s licenses sales. We need to address the issue of retaining older hunter, and the 3-point restriction would help.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the PFSC work with the PGC to implement a uniform 3-point antler restriction throughout the state.

Resolution Failed: 20 yeas, 22 nays, 3 abstentions

PGC Response: Resolution #2

Nanticoke Conservation Club – Luzerne County – To allow a light to be attached to firearms for night hunting

This restriction is by statute and not regulation. Title 34 Section 2310, b.1.

There would need to be proposed legislation to change the act.

#3) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 8/2/06

SUBMITTED BY: UPPER PERKIOMEN SPORTSMEN’S ASS., INC.

CLUB SECRETARY: SCOTTY MOYER

APPROVED BY MONTGOMERY CO.

TITLE: Paid permits to hunt State Game Lands

WHEREAS: The Pennsylvania State Game Commission is asking for paid permits to hunt State Game Lands is not a good thing.

WHEREAS: Game Lands were purchased with hunting licenses monies and therefore should not need a permit.

WHEREAS: Hunters will refuse to buy permits and will not use State Game Lands.

WHEREAS: This law will be difficult to enforce due to lack of manpower, hunters will enter State Game Lands by private property, State Parks, and State Forest.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs act on behalf of the Upper Perkiomen Sportsman’s Ass. Inc. and all hunters to prevent the Pennsylvania Legislature and the Game Commission from becoming law. (NO PAID PERMITS)

Resolution Passed: 39 yeas, 1 nays, 5 abstentions

PGC Response: Resolution #3

Upper Perkiomen Sportsman’s Club – Montgomery County – To prevent the passage of legislature that will require permits for hunting on state game lands.

There was a proposal by former Representative Bruce Smith to require a conservation stamp to use State Game Lands. The staff of the Game Commission did not support the requirement for hunters to have to purchase the stamp as they have already purchased that privilege with their license.

#4) PFSC CONSERVATION RESOLUTION

RECEIVED: 8/2/06

SUBMITTED BY: NANTICOKE CONSERVATION CLUB

CLUB SECRETARY: GERALD BAVITZ

APPROVED BY LUZERNE CO.

TITLE:

WHEREAS: The PA Game Commission has adopted a regulation stating it is illegal to attach a light to a firearm, and

WHEREAS: this restriction puts the sportsmen who hunts predators at night and alone, such as coyote and/or fox, under a distinct disadvantage, and,

WHEREAS: this regulation will in no manner, shape or form, restrict a determined poacher or outlaw form his nefarious intentions.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Luzerne County Federation of Sportsmen, at their regular monthly meeting, on July 10, 2006, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, request the PFSC and it’s members to unite and petition the PA Game Commission to negate, rescind and make null and void this restrictive regulation.

Resolution Failed: 22 yeas, 22 nays, 1 abstention

PGC Response: Resolution #4

Southern Clinton County Sportsmen’s Association – Southern Clinton County – To encourage the PA Game Commission to create a regulation that would prohibit the use of State Game Lands parking areas after dark to those not actively engaged in hunting, trapping, fishing or related activities, in an attempt to alleviate littering.

Regulations already prohibit littering on SGLs. They are enforced as we find them. With fewer deputies and WCOs due to an increasingly difficult financial situation, enforcement becomes more of a problem.

Again, thank you for giving us an opportunity to comment. I'm certain that your members will make the right decisions for the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, and our sporting tradition and heritage.