Pennsylvania Game News - September 2009 - 43

making recommendations to increase, decrease or keep the deer herd at its current level. Biologists in the agency’s Deer and Elk Section consider that input when proposing antlerless deer license allocations. Pennsylvania remains CWD free CHRONIC wasting disease (CWD) was not detected in the 4,224 samples taken from hunter-killed deer during the 2008 hunting seasons, according to Dr. Walt Cottrell, PGC wildlife veterinarian. This marked the seventh year for testing hunter-killed deer, over which more than 22,000 deer have been tested. (That 2008 hunterkilled elk tested negative was announced in Feb.) Heads from hunter-killed deer were obtained from deer processors by deer aging teams during the regular firearms deer season. Specific tissues were collected from these heads at Game Commission region offices by agency personnel and Pennsylvania and U.S. departments of agriculture animal health officials. “The test results are good news,” Cottrell said. “Although CWD has not been found in Pennsylvania, we must remain vigilant in our monitoring efforts. This surveillance is important for the early detection of CWD. Let’s not forget that CWD has been found in both New York and in West Virginia, 23 miles from our border. “We will, therefore, be increasing our surveillance by sampling roadkilled deer adjacent to West Virginia and investigating every suspect deer that our time and budget allows.” For more information on CWD, visit the Game Commission’s website, click on “Wildlife” in the left-hand column, then scroll down and choose “Chronic Wasting Disease” in the “Wildlife Disease” section. Additional information can be found at www.cwd-info.org. Dove and early Canada goose seasons to begin Sept. 1 THIS YEAR’S dove and early Canada goose seasons and bag limits, which open Sept. 1, are similar to past years. Dove hunters, once again, will have a triple-split season. During the first season, Sept. 1-26, hunting will start at noon and close at sunset. For the second and third splits, Oct. 24-Nov. 28, and Dec. 26-Jan. 2, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until sunset. In all seasons, the daily bag limit is 15, the possession limit is 30. The early statewide season for resident Canada geese runs from Sept. 1 through Sept. 25; bag limits depend on the area being hunted. In the Southern James Bay Population Zone, and on the Pymatuning SEPTEMBER 2009 State Park Reservoir and the area extending 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road), hunters will have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of six. Also, in western Pennsylvania, the GOOSE BLIND APPLICATION DATES Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area — must be accepted by Sept. 8, 2009 Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area — must be accepted by Sept. 12, 2009 See page 26 of the 2009-10 Digest for complete details. 43

http://www.cwd-info.org

Pennsylvania Game News - September 2009

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