Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012 - 16

participants actively involved, while improving their skills and establishing a hunting/trapping social support network.

2010-11

Improve the public’s appreciation of wildlife, and their awareness and understanding of wildlife resource management.
In July 2010, a Human Dimensions (HD) Specialist started in the Bureau of Information and Education. This individual is responsible for supervising the Outreach and Education Specialists, in addition to conducting relevant and timely studies, surveys and focus groups. Two mail surveys were conducted and overseen by the HD Specialist: A survey of hunters to see how they obtain information about the PGC, and a survey of lapsed hunters in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the HD Specialist was responsible for a postcard mailing sent to hunters who had bought during the June to October 2009 time period, but had not yet purchased for the same time period in 2010. Through the use of a point-of-sale license system, of which FY 2009 was the first full year of using this system, a database of hunters and trappers is continually being developed. This database can then serve to determine the retention rate of hunters and trappers, although some modifications to the questions currently asked of an individual when purchasing a license may be needed to more accurately define a “new” versus a “lapsed” hunter, one who had bought a license before POS was in place. The HD Specialist was also frequently consulted by the Bureau of Wildlife Management on the question wording, methodology and analysis of mail surveys conducted by that bureau. The HD Specialist was also involved in the completion of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) process and attended CAC meetings in WMU 2G. After the completion of these CACs, the HD Specialist was responsible for initiating the process for a phone survey of the general population that will be conducted during FY 2011-12 by Responsive Management. Game News continues to be the primary voice of the Game Commission, and the hunting stories, natural history content and, as always, Field Notes, remain popular with many readers, not just in Pennsylvania, but throughout the country and to our servicemen and women throughout the world. Game News also features articles about Game Commission research and management projects, law enforcement accounts by our WCOs, and agency news. We’re in our fourth year of posting entire Game News issues online through Nxtbook. The online version allows users to conduct searches, go directly to particular features and, by using a zoom feature, make the type larger and easier to read. Accessing Game News in digital formats is a top priority to accommodate our younger readers. Four individuals won craft awards for their work in Game News. From the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Linda Steiner received the Best Magazine Column
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Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012