Northwest Region Field Report

Jefferson County WCO Roger A. Hartless said that the close of muzzleloader season marks the start of coyote hunts. “Coyote hunters need to remember that casting the rays of an artificial light from a vehicle in search of coyotes between 11 p.m. and sunrise the next day, casting the rays of a light from a vehicle while searching for coyotes at anytime while in possession of a firearm, and using a vehicle to hunt coyotes are all illegal acts,” he said.

Mercer County WCO Lawrence R. Hergenroeder reports that an irresponsible hunter dumped a deer carcass along a roadway. “The person responsible indicated that it was legal to do so in the state he was from,” he said. “I have no knowledge of any state that condones this illegal activity. The investigation also revealed an illegally taken five-point buck from WMU 2D.”


[color:#006600][color:#FFCC33]Warren County WCO Donald R. Daugherty said research turkey trapping time is here again. “All birds caught are banded and released on site,” he said. “WMU 2F is where most of the activity will take place. If you have birds coming in to an area on a regular basis, please call the Northwest Region Office at 814-432-3187.”[/color][/color]


Clarion/Jefferson Counties LMGS George J. Miller and Deputy WCO Corry Bish, while on patrol, observed a passenger in the front seat of a pick-up truck fumbling with his rifle. “When the vehicle pulled off to the side of the road, we approached the vehicle and asked if the passenger’s gun was loaded,” he said. “The driver replied that his gun wasn’t loaded. However, the passenger quickly rebutted that it was. It seems that when the passenger saw the officers, he got nervous and tried to unload his gun. Then it became hopelessly jammed. Deputy WCO Bish worked for five minutes before finally getting the jammed rounds out of the magazine. Moral of the story: unload your gun before getting into a motorized vehicle and it’ll save you time and money!”

Crawford County LMGS Jerry A. Bish said that many people think of summer as a good time to watch eagles, and that’s true. “However, winter and early spring also are very good times to see them,” he said. “With no foliage on the trees, many times they are easier to spot. Also, in winter they are often concentrated in feeding areas. Right now is an exciting time to look for eagles, as they are building their nests and can be seen carrying sticks. As always, please give them plenty of room. During nest initiation, incubation and early brooding, eagles are especially susceptible to disturbance. Flushing them off the nest even one time may result in abandonment and death of the eggs or eaglets.”


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Southwest Field Officer Report

Allegheny County WCO Dan Puhala said four deer carcasses were dumped along roads on SGL 203 recently. “Three of the deer had the choice cuts of meat removed and the rest dumped,” he said. “Besides the illegal dumping issue, some of the deer appear to possibly have been killed illegally. If that is the case, any person who provides information leading to a conviction may be eligible for a reward. This kind of behavior makes all hunters look bad. Any help on this case would be greatly appreciated by me and the sportsman. Please call the Southwest Region Office at 724-238-9523 with any information.”



Armstrong County WCO Gary Toward talked to several late season small game hunters and they are having a lot of fun chasing rabbits. “Even on days when the weather would have had most folks indoors, there were hunters out chasing cottontails on SGL 247 near Cadogan and having a great time,” he said.



Beaver County WCO Matt Kramer reports that Canada goose populations in the northern portion of Beaver County continue to increase. “Goose season runs through Feb. 19, and the daily limit is five geese,” he said. “Hunters willing to invest a little bit of time to ask permission to hunt on local properties here may have a successful day afield.”



Beaver County WCO Matt Kramer reports that during the concurrent whitetail deer season he found many hunters using the incorrect antlerless tag for the management unit that they were hunting. “Please take the time to check the hunting digest, as well as a Pennsylvania or county map, to verify in which WMU you are hunting,” he said. “Those simple steps can save you a lot of headaches and a good deal of money.”


All items posted from this section.


Northcentral Field Officer Report

Tioga County WCO Rodeny P. Mee investigated an illegal baited area in Brookfield Township, where 15 hunters were found to have salt/mineral bait out in dozens of locations mostly near their treestands. “Two deer were seized and charges filed for hunting in a baited area and unlawfully taken deer,” he said. “Unfortunately, there were several junior and mentored youth hunters put in the unlawful situation by their parents. However, I only cited the adults that were responsible for the unlawful situation.”



Centre County WCO Christopher J. Deal said that this past hunting season showed many changes to hunter’s behavior. “To begin with, many technical violations were by oversight or accident and a quick fix in the field helped everyone,” he said. “Most hunters were in compliance with hunting laws and regulations. My hat is off to all hunters that set a good example for all of us. On the down side though, most violations in this part of Centre County were safety related – not having the required orange, safety zone violation, loaded firearms in vehicles – and occurred all too frequently this year. Hunting is a time to enjoy the field and friends. Please always keep safety foremost in your mind.”


Elk County WCO Dick Bodenhorn reports that Deputy WCO Howard Kane caught a man who had been baiting deer from the archery season through the opening morning of rifle season. “The charges resulted in a successful prosecution,” he said.



Elk County WCO Dick Bodenhorn cited a number of individuals over the past season for having a loaded firearm in, on or leaning against their motor vehicle. “Please remember that this is a very unsafe situation,” he said.



Elk County WCO Dick Bodenhorn has several open and ongoing investigations from incidents that occurred during the past deer season.



Lycoming/Union Counties LMGS Thomas M. Smith said 128 bears were processed during the 2010 season at the Trout Run bear check station. “The largest bear had an estimated live weight of 430 pounds, and was harvested on the opening Saturday by a junior hunter during his first bear hunt,” he said.

Elk/McKean Counties LMGS John P. Dzemyan said many areas in his two counties had few or even no deer hunters during many perfect, snow-covered days in remote areas. “After Christmas, while out grouse and flintlock hunting, there were ample amounts of deer tracks in many locations,” he said. “Hunters who have trouble finding nice places to hunt deer should consider coming up north. There are large acreages of private timber lands open for public hunting and also large SGL acreages, Allegheny National Forest lands and state forest lands where some good deer hunting can be found. Take some time to visit this winter when the snow is still present you can see for yourself that there are some good places to find and hunt deer.”



Cameron County WCO Wayne A. Hunt, in an effort to curb the practice of road hunting, used deer decoys throughout the district. “Citations were issued in several successful operations,” he said.


Cameron County WCO Wayne A. Hunt received numerous complaints from camp owners in the Logue Run area of First Fork about game feeding prior to the opening of hunting season. “After speaking with the camp owners in question, the feeding stopped, and the area was cleaned up,” he said. “The practice of coming to your cabin and putting out food for wildlife prevents nearby property owners from enjoying hunting on their own adjacent property, as well a state forests and SGLs.”



Tioga County WCO Robert F. Minnich said this past hunting season has been a hard one on the Game Commission and “The Thin Green Line,” with the loss of WCO David Grove and the passing of Northcentral Region Land Management Supervisor Pete Aiken. These men left behind their families - both immediate and extended families - and the wildlife resources they were sworn to protect. Both men were champions for the encouraging future hunters, the resources and wildlife. They will both be greatly missed; good bye for now and Godspeed.”



Tioga County WCO Robert F. Minnich received more complaints about not seeing deer than in any other. “But, on the other side, I am receiving more complaints and reports of seeing bear than in any other year,” he said. “I am still receiving bear complaints and road-killed bears. I just took care of processing a bear that was shot by a pheasant hunter after the bear got into a struggle with his dog. Fortunately, the dog will recover and no one else was injured. Hopefully, hunters will start preparing for this next bear season and come up here.”



Potter County WCO William C. Ragosta has been serving as a field training officer this big game season. “I’m involved in two large-scale enforcement operations during the big game season, one involving a large baited area and the other involving three co-defendants with four unlawfully taken deer,” he said. “I also filed citations against two individuals that killed bear during the archery season in areas baited with corn.”



McKean County WCO Tom Sabolcik checked a number of people out trapping bobcats. “Warnings were issued for some trappers who had bait visible from the air, which is unlawful,” he said. “The importance of not having bait visible from the air is so that hawks, eagles and owls will not be inadvertently captured. To reinforce the point, I saw a golden eagle feeding on a road-killed raccoon in an area that was being trapped for bobcats.”



McKean County WCO Tom Sabolcik reports that muzzleloader hunters were few and far between despite good deer hunting opportunities. “With good snow cover and quiet stalking conditions, deer hunting would have been productive,” he said.

Potter County WCO Mark S. Fair said two antlerless deer were illegally shot at dusk on the last day of the rifle deer season. “The deer were shot from the road on Gardeau Road in the Austin area,” he said. “The incident still is under investigation."


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Southcentral Field Officer Report

Fulton County WCO Kevin L. Mountz said that, on the first morning of buck season, one of the first violations he and his Deputy WCOs encountered was a gentleman hunting in the Buchanan State Forest that had removed his orange. “He couldn’t believe he was receiving a citation because he stated he ‘had his orange with him,’” WCO Mountz said. “Fluorescent orange is like a seat belt. If you don’t use it, there’s no use having is ‘with’ you!”



Bedford/Fulton Counties LMGS Jonathan S. Zuck reports Food and Cover Corps crews have been burning a lot of chain saw gas pruning and releasing fruit trees and shrubs, and regenerating timber stands on SGLs. “So far, they have created early successional habitat on 21 acres, with more timber stand improvements planned for the winter,” he said.


[color:#009900]“I also am applying for money from the NWTF for habitat projects.[/color]

Juniata Gobblers, Tussey Mountain Strutters, Allegheny Mountain and Tuscarora Longbeards, all local NWTF chapters, are working alongside the Game Commission in Bedford and Fulton counties to make these projects a reality.”

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Northeast Field Officer Report


Wayne County WCO James P. McCarthy filed charges against two men, one in his 60s and the other in his 70s, for driving around Wayne County shooting deer along the roadway. “Luckily, two concerned citizens saw what the ‘dynamic duo’ was up to and called the Game Commission to report the activity before someone was seriously injured or killed by the lawbreakers,” he said.



Columbia/Montour/Northumberland Counties LMGS Keith Sanford reminded snowmobilers that not all SGLs are open to snowmobiling. “Those SGLs that are open to snowmobiling have designated trails that riders are required to travel on,” he said. “A comprehensive list of SGLs open to this activity is available on the Game Commission’s website.”



Columbia County WCO John A. Morack said two individual pled guilty to unlawfully killing an antlerless deer in Locust Township last month. Charges filed included: using a motor vehicle to locate game (road hunting); shooting on or across highways; and unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife. “Fines and costs were more than $1,700, and both individuals are also facing the possibility of losing their hunting/trapping privileges in 2011,” he said.

Lackawanna County WCO Mark Rutkowski said charges are pending on two individuals caught by a landowner trespassing after unlawfully killing a deer in the Waverly area. “While plowing his private driveway, a Waverly Township resident observed a wounded deer struggling to get up in his yard,” he said. “Seconds later, the homeowner saw a man dressed in camo clothing walk away from the deer and jump into a vehicle that was parked in his driveway. The homeowner blocked the suspects in and questioned them about the wounded deer. The occupants stated they were just unloading their flintlocks after hunting. While questioning the suspects, Abington Township Police came upon the stopped vehicles and inquired why they were partially blocking the roadway. The homeowner told the police he believed the two men had just shot a deer in his driveway. The police removed the two suspects from the vehicle, and found them in possession of two flintlocks and two bows. The men denied any involvement. Abington Police followed up on the wounded deer and found it suffering from a gunshot wound. They dispatched the animal and contacted the Game Commission.”



Lackawanna County WCO Mark Rutkowski, while conducting a field check on three goose hunters in Newton Township, found them to be in possession of over the limit of geese for a daily bag limit. “Only entitled to five geese each, with a daily total of 15, the group was found to have 22 geese,” he said. “They stated they should have kept better count, but the geese were coming in so fast, they got caught up in the moment.”

Luzerne County WCO David P. Allen received numerous complaints of alleged poaching at night in the Hazlebrook area. “It appears that the lack of snow cover is allowing individuals to drive into areas that normally would not be accessible,” he said. “Anyone with information on these activities is asked to contact the Northeast Region Office at 570-760-4480. All calls are confidential.”



Sullivan County WCO Rick Finnegan thanked those who assisted with the very many successful prosecutions for game law violations in Sullivan County over the last several months. “Without the help of my Deputy WCOs, Game Commission Land Management Supervisors, State Police Troopers, Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officers, DCNR Park and Forest rangers, and all of the concerned citizens from the area helping, most of these violators would not have been brought to justice. Thanks for stepping up and doing your part, and it’s nice to just know that you are out there ready and willing to assist at any given time. Keep up the great work and be safe.”



Luzerne County WCO Gerald Kapral is looking for a “few good men and women” to become certified HTE instructors in his district. “Anyone with interest in this program can contact the Northeast Region Office at 570-675-1143,” he said.



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Southeast Field Officer Report


Bucks County WCO John Papson reports the number of violations has risen this year, including hunting during a closed season, hunting with rifles, illegally taken deer and bait cases. “While a fatal hunting accident kept me tied up for most of the regular deer season, my Deputy WCOs Tom Kramme, Phil Layton and Andy Pangerc did an outstanding job responding to calls and patrolling the district,” he said. “Without these individuals it would be difficult if not impossible to respond to all the calls during the hunting season.”



Chester County WCO Scott Frederick recently assisted the West Vincent Township Police Department with the investigation of a fatal hunting accident. “Based on a preliminary site inspection and autopsy reports, it appears that a gentleman in his late 40s died as a result of injuries sustained from a fall from a treestand that failed,” he said. “It’s a very tragic situation when this sort on thing happens; one minute a person is enjoying the outdoors and the next minute an accident ensues that is life altering for more than the victim. I use this man’s untimely death as a reminder to all who head out on their own to take safety measures so that should the unexpected happen, you are well prepared to deal with it, and make sure to let a family member or friends know to where to come and find you.”

Montgomery County WCO Ray Madden reports that the first junior hunt at the Graterford State Prison property occurred earlier this week, with a total of 70 deer being harvested by hunters under the age of 17. “Many of these young hunters harvested there first ever deer,” he said. “The hunt went extremely well with no incidents occurring.”



Northampton County WCO Brad Kreider reports that the annual fur auction was held mid-January at Belfast-Edelman Sportsmen’s Association. “Trappers with furs for sale seemed a bit lighter than normal with fur prices comparable or perhaps slightly higher than last year,” he said. “Some of the average per pelt prices were $13 for red foxes; mid- to upper $20s for gray foxes; $6.50 for muskrats; and $14 for raccoons.”

Philadelphia/Delaware Counties WCO Jerry Czech recently found several tagging violations during his checks at processors. “Many antlerless deer were tagged with the hunter’s antlerless license and not the tag,” he said. “The harvest tag is the part you fill in the date and time of harvest, county, township and WMU information. This may seem an innocent enough mistake, but from a WCOs prospective the deer is untagged, which makes it an illegal deer. The hunter still has their antlerless tag and could use it for another antlerless deer. I also have come across a few deer antler and antlerless that are tagged with licenses issued for the 2009/10 season.”



Dauphin/Lebanon Counties LMGS Scott Bills reports that hunters in Dauphin County have taken some enormous bucks this past season. “During a visit to a local taxidermist shop, I was shown some of the most impressive racks I have ever seen taken in almost 30 years,” he said. “Several hunters I talked to mentioned seeing coyotes during their hunts indicating these wily predators are probably on the upswing locally.”

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