Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024 - 49

SEPTEMBER COMMISSIONERS MEETING
More acreage to
be added to SGLS
At its September meeting, the Pennsylvania
Board of Game Commissioners approved acquisitions
totaling more than 1,000 acres.
These include roughly 280 acres in Indiana
Township, Allegheny County, near State Game
Lands 203; roughly 116 acres in Bethel Township,
Berks County, adjacent to State Game Lands 80;
roughly 4 acres in Haycock Township, Bucks
County, that's an indenture to State Game Lands
157; roughly 1.9 acres in East Rockhill Township,
Bucks County, that's an indenture to State Game
Lands 139; and roughly 264 acres in Jeff erson
Township, Washington County, that would nearly
double the size of State Game Lands 303.
Also included is a land exchange in which the
Game Commission would give up 187 limited-use
acres in Sandy Township, Clearfi eld County, part
of State Game Lands 77, to the City of DuBois and
DuBois Water Authority in exchange for 204 acres
in Union and Huston townships, Clearfi eld County,
adjoining State Game Lands 331. The board also
accepted a donation from the Lebanon County
Beagle Club, which would give its 203 acres to
the Game Commission if the club ever disbands.
None of these additions are yet fi nal. Board of
Commissioners' approval is but one step in the land
transfer process. When the properties are offi cially
game lands, the Game Commission will post signs.
tember presented the Board of Commissioners
with an overview of provisions under the law
and accompanying programs - some of which
might be underuti lized - to assist farmers in
addressing deer-damage issues.
After the presentation, Board President
Scott Foradora said the agricultural community
has made it clear they need help in addressing
NOVEMBER 2024
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
In other acti on taking place at
the September meeti ng:
* Pennsylvania's falconers
now can get their start at a
slightly younger age.
Commissioners gave final
approval to decreasing the minimum
age for a general class
falconry permit from 18 years
old to 16 years old, which is the
minimum age established by
federal regulati ons. The change
had been requested by the
Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk
Trust, and the Game Commission
did not identi fy any biological or
safety concerns with it.
The change will take eff ect
aft er it is published in the Pennsylvania
Bulleti n, which likely will
happen by mid-November.
* State regulati ons are being
amended in reference to the
American goshawk, the new
name for the species that exists
in North America.
The board gave fi nal approval
to amending Title 58 of the
Pennsylvania Code to refl ect the
recent name change. The species
of goshawk found in Europe
retained the name northern
goshawk.
This amendment does not affect
the protecti on of American
goshawks.
BOARD BRIEFED ON PROGRAMS TO ASSIST FARMERS
Pennsylvania Game Commission staff in Sepcrop
damage caused by deer, and that the board
takes those concerns seriously.
" We recognize the criti cal importance of
agriculture in our state, and we have a responsibility
to fi nd eff ecti ve soluti ons to the challenges
they are facing, " Foradora said. " As we prepare
for our next meeti ng, we will be reviewing ways
in which the board can take meaningful steps
to help address this issue. "
49
Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024

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