Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010 - 39

The Shoe is on the Other Foot It doesn’t seem so long ago (1991) that I was a cadet at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation. I would regularly call my uncle, retired WCO Leo Yahner, and ask questions about game law and procedures. Now, after being retired for almost 10 years, my uncle calls me often with queries about new regulations and laws. It seems that the only thing constant in life is change. — LMO DAN YAHNER, EVERETT Caravan A whopping 1,049 people attended a tour of SGL 26 in Bedford County. In addition to cars, other modes of transportation included 11 bicycles, 5 horses and a tractor and hay wagon. Regardless of how folks covered the 7-mile tour, everyone seemed to enjoy seeing spectacular fall colors and learning what the agency is doing to improve wildlife habitat. — LMO JONATHAN S. ZUCK, EVERETT Bailed Out PIKE — Removing a bear from under a house was a new experience for fellow WCO Mark Kropa. I convinced Mark that the best shot on the bear with the tranquilizer gun was from under the house. Mark slithered under the home, while I followed with the flashlight. The situation got really interesting, though, once he pulled the trigger and the bear bolted for the entrance. I was able to get out from under the house and out of the bear’s way, but Mark somehow got left alone with the bear in the dark. After the bear bolted from under the house, Mark emerged, saying in an unappreciative tone, “Thanks a lot.” — WCO ROBERT JOHNSON, MATAMORAS Rare L ANCASTER — Among the many roadkills I picked up, I was surprised to find a doe with a 4-point rack. It was a first for me. — WCO JOHN W. VEYLUPEK, EAST PETERSBURG Worthwhile Project WASHINGTON — The Wildlife Habitat Alliance, the Game Commission and McGuffey School District Future Farmers of America completed a pheasant raising project on SGL 232. The Wildlife Habitat Alliance supplied two surrogators, feed and all other supplies to raise the pheasant chicks. The day-old chicks were donated by the Game Commission. The Washington County Food and Cover Corps crew provided the labor in setting up the surrogator sites. The day-to-day feeding and caring for the chicks fell to McGuffey FFA student Michael Joyce. Michael started with 101 birds and five weeks later released 69 survivors. Michael’s daily log revealed that he lost 19 birds to unknown causes, 8 to predation and had 4 escapees. — WCO RICHARD W. JOYCE, WASHINGTON JANUARY 2010 More Info Than Needed FOREST — I was at the local convenience store when a person I know pulled up in his truck. Turns out he had seen me drive by his house and he tracked me down to tell me that earlier that morning a bear had visited his house, broke his screen door and then destroyed his inflatable swimming pool. I followed him back to his house, and when he hopped out I noticed he was still in his pajamas. When I made a quick joke about him chasing me down in his PJs, his wife casually said I should have been there at 4 a.m., when he was chasing the bear in his birthday suit. — WCO DANIEL P. SCHMIDT, WEST HICKORY

Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2010