Pennsylvania Game News - March 2009 - 35

The public may offer comments on all proposed 2009-10 seasons and bag limits, as well as other Board proposals, up until the Board’s next meeting, April 21-22, at which time the Board will finalize seasons and bag limits for 2009-10. Also, the Board will take action on setting antlerless deer license allocations at its April meeting. game season in early February through July 31 each year. “Working with Pheasants Forever, the University of California and local landowners, we already have a jumpstart on creating WPRAs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “These groups have been working to create pheasant habitat in these areas.” Board proposes adjustments to extended bear seasons As proposed, bear seasons remain much like last year. Areas open to bear hunting concurrent with a portion of the regular firearms season (Dec. 2-5, Wednesday through Saturday) expanded to include WMUs 5B and 5C. Not included this year is WMU 3C, due to a declining bear population there. Bobcat season expanded to WMUs 4A and 4E The Board gave preliminary approval to open WMUs 4A and 4E to bobcat hunting and trapping, because of the increased number of incidental bobcat captures and bobcat sightings in these units. In other trapping-related action, the Board gave preliminary approval to a change in the cable restraint season to allow those eligible to use cable restraints for foxes and coyotes to keep non-target furbearers that are incidentally captured in a cable restraint during seasons in which those furbearers are legal for harvest. MARCH 2009 Board elects Isabella president During its annual reorganization, the Board elected Commissioner Gregory J. Isabella of Philadelphia, as president. First appointed to a full, 8-year term in 2003, Isabella was elected vice president in 2008, and served as board secretary in 2006 and ’07. Commissioner James “Jay” Delaney Jr. of Wilkes-Barre was elected vicepresident. Appointed to the Board in 2007, Delaney was secretary in 2008. Commissioner Ronald Weaner of Biglerville was elected secretary. Weaner was first appointed to the Board in 2008. Steps taken to protect wildlife To further deter poaching, the Board proposed to establish replacement costs as part of penalitites for those convicted of illegally killing wildlife here. Under the proposal, a judge would be able to assess a replacement cost against anyone convicted of illegally killing the following species: $5,000 for any endangered or threatened species; $1,500 for an elk or bear; $800 for a deer; $500 for a bobcat or river otter; $300 for a wild turkey or beaver; and $200 for any other wildlife. Additionally, if the following big game species are a “trophy class animal,” judges would be able to require a replacement cost of $5,000 for an elk with a minimum Boone & Crockett Club green score of 200 points; a deer with a minimum B & C green score of 115; or a bear with a field-dressed weight of more than 350 pounds. These replacement costs would be in addition to fines and penalties already specified in the Game and Wildlife Code, which may be changed only by the State Legislature. Board takes steps to prepare for electronic license sales To make the agency’s license sales 35

Pennsylvania Game News - March 2009

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