Pennsylvania Game News - April 2010 - 37

In the Cover I was patrolling SGL 39 in Venango County during the first day of deer season and encountered a lot of hunters in parking lots adjacent to areas with open woods. Many of the hunters commented on the lack of deer. The parking lots in areas that had been cut more recently and a stretch of Game Lands road through a dense clearcut held few vehicles. The irony is that the deer are in the thicker cover, while most of the hunters prefer to hunt where they have hunted in the past or where it is more open. — LMO JAMES J. DONATELLI, MERCER Missed the Point WAYNE — I was driving on a township road when I watched an individual exit his truck and fire several shots at a pheasant in a field. When I approached the individual, he told me he thought it was legal to alight from a vehicle as long as he didn’t shoot across the road. I explained that the law requires a hunter to be 25 yards off the traveled portion of the roadway after alighting from a vehicle before being allowed to shoot at game. He said he understood, but then asked, “Can I do it if you’re not around?” I guess he should go back for a refresher HTE course. — WCO FRANK DOOLEY, TYLER HILL Family Affairs PIKE — Between WCO Bob Johnson and me during the fall, in three separate incidents, two brothers, a husband and wife, and a father and son were charged with taking 8-point bucks illegally. All of the violations involved using a motor vehicle to locate game and safety zone infractions. — WCO MARK KROPA, GREENTOWN So Much for Keeping Quiet BEDFORD — Deputy Jeff Eisaman and I were investigating a baited area. No one was hunting in the area, though, and I told Jeff we needed to get back out unnoticed. As we were descending a hill, I slid on loose rocks but was able to keep my balance. I heard a thud behind me and turned to find Jeff on his rear. His only comment was, “Oh, man, I just washed this uniform.” — WCO CHRISTOPHER SKIPPER, EVERETT No Sense of Humor LYCOMING — During the late muzzleloader season a neighboring officer and I helped another officer with a deer decoy operation in an area where he was having trouble with roadhunting. The officer we were helping decided to sit near the decoy first. He stuck it out for a long time, considering the extreme cold. When he radioed to ask if anyone wanted to switch places, we responded that we would change seats in the vehicle. There was a long pause on the radio, and I wasn’t sure if the radio buttons were frozen or if Rick was not too happy with our answer. Remember, Rick, you asked for our help. We’ll be glad to help you out anytime. — WCO HAROLD COLE, WILLIAMSPORT Nice Names, Bad Behavior FRANKLIN — I received an email from WCO Kevin Mountz in Fulton County letting me know that some individuals who live in my area were cited for shooting from a vehicle at a deer decoy. One of these individuals was named Hunter. I let Kevin know that about three weeks earlier I cited Hunter’s brother, Trapper, for shooting deer at night with a light. — WCO JUSTIN T. KLUGH, ST THOMAS APRIL 2010

Pennsylvania Game News - April 2010

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