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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Groups Urge House Committee to Look Before Leaping to Make Fundamental Changes at the Game Commission and in Wildlife Management Programs Harrisburg, Pa. (May 8, 2007) – Hunting, agriculture, land management and environmental groups urged the House Game and Fisheries Committee to do an independent evaluation of Pennsylvania’s Deer Management Program before making wholesale changes in the structure of the Game Commission. The groups made their comments in a letter to Committee Majority Chairman Edward G. Staback (D-Lackawanna) and Minority Chair Sam Rohrer (R-Berks). The Committee is set to meet Wednesday on legislation that would cut the terms of commissioners serving on the Game Commission board in half. “We are asking the House Game and Fisheries Committee to resist the temptation to vote on bills that would change the fundamental structure of the Commission or the current deer management program without first doing an independent evaluation of Pennsylvania’s Deer Management Program,” said Melody Zullinger, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc., “At a March hearing, both the Majority and Minority Chairs of the Committee called for an independent evaluation of the methods and data used by the Game Commission to measure and make decisions that lead to setting hunting license limits. We think they should follow through on that recommendation before voting on any legislative changes.” The Game Commission uses three factors to determine the number of hunting licenses and bag limits each season—habitat condition, deer health and deer-human conflicts. “We agree the Game Commission is using the right factors, but good public policy requires the public have the opportunity to examine the methods and techniques which underlie their decisions,” said Timothy D. Schaeffer, PhD, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Audubon, a state office of the National Audubon Society. “Without an understanding of and faith in the process, skeptics will always be able to question the validity of certain decisions.” The groups expressed support for an initiative by the Game Commission to hold a series of public meetings across the state in September to explain its methods of producing harvest data, determining habitat and deer herd health and setting doe license allocations. “By examining the Game Commission information in public forums, along with following through on the suggestion for an independent review of the process and data used in the Deer Management Program by the General Assembly, we would all be in a much better position to suggest more effective solutions,” said Zullinger. In addition to the letter, Dr. Schaeffer applauded the Game Commission for adhering to the recommendations of its biologists by approving their seasons and bag limits at the April Commission meeting. “We also suggest the Game Commission and legislators go into the field to examine actual habitat conditions on Game Lands and other representative properties so both the public and House and Senate members have a first-hand view of habitat conditions,” said Dr. Schaeffer. “We also encourage the Committee to look at the recent study completed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which shows widespread lack of forest regeneration due to deer over-browsing.” The groups joining on the letter include: the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc., Pennsylvania Audubon, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Ecosystem Management, Consol Energy, PA Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, PA Rifle & Pistol Association, PA Sportsmen's Association, Allegheny County Sportsmen's League, Penn Future and United Bow Hunters of PA (See letter below for additional supporters) The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council have sent separate letters raising similar concerns. A complete copy of the letter sent to the chairmen of the House Game and Fisheries Committee is available at: www.pfsc.org. Contact: Melody Zullinger Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs 717-232-3480 info@pfsc.org or Dr. Timothy Schaeffer 717-213-6880 717-919-1826 (cell) Letter: Representative Ed Staback Room 225 Irvis Office Bldg. Representative Sam Rohrer Room 45 East Wing Dear Chairmen Staback and Rohrer, At this
critical time in the history of wildlife management in To that end, we are asking you and your colleagues on the House Game and Fisheries Committee to resist the temptation to vote on bills that would legislatively change the structure of the commission or the current deer management program, or legislate wildlife seasons and bag limits. Instead, we suggest that you call for a transparent examination of the methods and data used by the Game Commission to measure and make decisions on harvest reports and the three factors of habitat condition, deer health, and deer-human conflicts. According to PGC Executive Director Roe, the PGC plans to roll out an educational program by early September that will be presented at public meetings to explain their methods of producing harvest data, determining habitat & deer health, and setting doe allocations. By examining this information in public forums, along with an independent review provided by the legislature, you would be able to be more informed as you decide whether to propose any legislative solutions. We also suggest expanding this analysis to the field to examine actual habitat conditions on Game Lands and other representative properties within select Wildlife Management Units so that legislators and the public can better understand deer densities and habitat conditions. We strongly recommend that all members of the committee attend at least one habitat tour provided by the PGC or other habitat groups this summer to become better educated. Good public policy requires that the public have the opportunity to examine the methods and techniques which underlie decisions. Without an understanding of and faith in the process, skeptics will always be able to question the validity of certain decisions. The sportsmen and conservationists among our memberships would welcome the chance to join you in an open analysis of the science behind the Game Commission’s decision-making. Sincerely, Melody Zullinger, Executive Director Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Timothy D. Schaeffer, Executive Director Audubon PA Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Don Heckman, Exec. Officer
Dennis Fredericks, Manager, Conservation Properties & Activities United Bowhunters of PA Wes Waldron, President
Ecosystem Management Bryon Shissler PA Rifle & Pistol Assoc. Jack Lee, President
Matt Ehrhart PA Sportsmen’s Assoc Harry Schneider, Chairman
Citizens for John Hanger, President & CEO Allegheny Co. Sportsmen’s League Mike Maranche, President
PA Landscape & Nursery Products Sierra Club, PA Chapter Jeff Schmidt, Director
Pheasants Forever Shon Robbins, Wildlife Biologist
Ruffed Grouse Society Mark Banker, Senior Biologist
PA Chapters (7) of Safari Club International Craig Kauffman
Pennsylvania Grange Betsy Huber, Grange Master cc: All members of House & Senate Carl Roe, PGC Executive Director PGC Commissioners Outdoor Media |
