Pennsylvania Game News - April 2011 - 37

degree summary for fleeing an officer, for which he faces up to $1,500 in fines and three months in prison; one count of a fourth-degree summary for refusing to stop at an officer’s request, for which he faces up to $300 in fines;

one count of a fifth-degree summary for trespassing on posted property while hunting, for which he faces fines of up to $200; and one summary count for criminal trespass, for which he faces up to $300 in fines.

Commonwealth Court dismisses challenge to deer management
a Commonwealth Court ruling handed down Feb. 8 has dismissed the Unified Sportsmen of pennsylvania’s legal challenge to the Game Commission’s deer management program. this decision was the second ruling against Unified Sportsmen of pa since 2007, when Commonwealth Court dismissed the group’s lawsuit on procedural grounds. in its latest ruling, noted Game Commission executive Director Carl G. roe, Commonwealth Court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that Unified failed to present evidence to support its case. as part of the ruling, the Court also canceled the hearing that had been set for Feb. 28. “this ruling is a strong statement that the Game Commission’s deer management program is being conducted in a sound and scientific manner,” roe said. “in essence, Commonwealth Court’s latest ruling dismissed the challenge because it lacked merit. “our hope is that this second ruling will bring to an end our need to devote sportsmen’s dollars and tax dollars fighting what are nothing more but frivolous and baseless lawsuits.” roe noted that, since 2000, the Game Commission has worked to implement a deer management program that takes into account the concerns of all pennsylvanians, and the agency has been consistent and open in its approach. “the deer management plan, available on our website, was developed with public input to improve the health of the state’s deer herd; to encourage healthy habitat, which deer and all other wildlife depend on; and to reduce deer-human conflicts,” roe said. “we believe this deer management program will improve the health of our deer herd and the habitat that supports it and other wildlife. “From 2000 until 2005, we sought to reduce deer numbers in all wildlife management Units. Since 2006, except for our most urbanized wmUs – 2B, 5C and 5D – the goal for each of the other 19 wmUs has been to stabilize deer population trends or allow them to increase where habitat and deer reproductive data support such increases.”

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES who require special assistance at Game Commission public functions should contact the telephone number listed with the announcement, the appropriate region office or the Harrisburg headquarters. Phone numbers for each region are listed in Game News; the Harrisburg number is 717-787-4250.

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Pennsylvania Game News - April 2011

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