Pennsylvania Game News - April 2022 - 48

WATCH WILDLIFE LIVE
As spring unfolds, the Game Commission
again is offering wildlife-watchers a variety
of 24-7 livestreams.
The agency's Snow Goose Cam at Middle
Creek Wildlife Management Area, as well as
the Hanover, Pa. and Farm Country Eagle
Cams, all are back in 2022. Viewers can
access the livestreams through the agency's
website, www.pgc.pa.gov.
The livestreams are a collaborative effort
by the Game Commission, HDOnTap and
Comcast Business. HDOnTap provides the
streaming services and Comcast Business
provides the internet connectivity.
Bald eagles typically lay eggs in midFebruary
and, if the eggs are viable, they'll
hatch in mid- to late March, with young
fledging in June, but continuing to stop back
at the nest.
Snow goose migration typically peaks at
Middle Creek from mid-February to March.
Virginia-based survey research firm specializing
in natural resource and outdoor
recreation issues, to conduct a telephone
survey of Pennsylvania deer hunters to
better know their opinions about the opening
day of deer season.
As a condition of taking the survey,
hunters had to have hunted at least once
during the firearms deer season in 2017
or 2018, when the opening day was the
Monday after Thanksgiving, and at least
once during the 2019, 2020 or 2021 firearms
deer seasons, all of which opened
on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That
ensured those surveyed had the opportunity
to hunt both on Monday openers
and Saturday openers at some point in
the past five years, providing insight into
how the change in the opening day might
have impacted their hunting participation
and attitudes.
In all, 2,009 resident Pennsylvania deer
hunters 18 years old or older were surveyed,
resulting in a minimum 95 percent
48
level of confidence. The sampling error
is, at most, plus or minus 2.18 percentage
points. The full report is available to view
at www.pgc.pa.gov.
The survey allowed researchers to
learn more about the hunters who responded,
and what characteristics helped
shape their opinions about the opening
day of firearms deer season. For instance,
support for a Saturday opener is higher
among those 54 and younger. Support also
is higher among those who have a child
who hunts as opposed to those who don't.
The top reasons cited by hunters who
support a Saturday opener are that they
have work obligations on Monday, that
a Saturday opener provides increased
hunting opportunities for themselves and
others, and convenience with their child's
school schedule.
Conversely, opposition to the Saturday
opener is higher among hunters 55 and
older, and among those who hunted from
a hunting camp on opening day, compared
to those who did not.
The most common reasons stated by
those who oppose the Saturday opener
are that the Monday opener was consistent
with tradition, and their set up and enjoyment
of hunting camp was rushed with
the earlier start date.
" One fact that has never been in question
is that Pennsylvania hunters are
passionate about deer hunting. And over
the past three years we have heard from
numerous hunters expressing good points
on both side of this issue, therefore it was
necessary to conduct an independent, scientific
survey to allow the board to know
where hunters stand after three years of a
Saturday opener, " said Game Commission
Executive Director Bryan Burhans.
" Without hard data, it would be impossible
to know the degree to which hunters
might support or oppose the change. With
http://www.pgc.pa.gov http://www.pgc.pa.gov
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - April 2022
