The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met today at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, hearing public comment and conducting official business. Highlights from today’s meeting follow.

MINIMUM AGE FOR FALCONERS DECREASED

Pennsylvania falconers will be able to get their start at a slightly younger age, thanks to a vote by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners.

The commissioners voted to decrease 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 regulations. The change will take effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which usually takes six to eight weeks.

This action had been requested by the Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust, and the Game Commission did not identify any biological or safety concerns that would result from lowering the minimum age.

AMENDMENT CONSIDERS RECENT NAME CHANGE

Formerly considered a single species, goshawks in Europe and North America were split into separate species last year by the American Ornithological Society, due to their differing genetics and behavior.

As a result, European goshawks retained the name Northern Goshawk, while those in North America were renamed American Goshawk.

That change soon will be reflected in state regulations.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to amending Title 58 of the Pennsylvania Code to incorporate the recent name change.

Adoption of the name change will not affect the protection or management of goshawks within the Commonwealth.

BOARD BRIEFED ON PROGRAMS TO ASSIST FARMERS

Pennsylvania Game Commission staff today presented the Board of Game Commissioners with an overview of provisions under the law and accompanying programs to assist farmers in addressing deer-damage issues.After the presentation, Board President Scott Foradora read the following statement. “This summer, several board members took part in meetings with the agricultural community to hear directly about how wildlife, particularly deer, are affecting their farms. The message was clear: they need help in addressing the damage that deer are causing to their crops and their livelihoods.

To the members of that community, I want to say – we heard you, and we take your concerns seriously.

“We recognize the critical importance of agriculture in our state, and we have a responsibility to find effective solutions to the challenges they are facing.

“As we prepare for our next meeting, we will be reviewing ways in which the Board can take meaningful steps to help address this issue.

“We request and value your input in this process, as we work to fulfill our mission of managing wildlife on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.”

BOARD APPROVES LAND DEALS, MINING AGREEMENT

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved seven acquisitions – one donation, five purchases and one exchange – that would add more than 1,000 acres to state game lands.The donation involves 203 acres in Lebanon County. The Lebanon County Beagle Club will give its property to the Game Commission if the club ever dissolves.

The acquisitions are:

• Roughly 280 acres in Indiana Township, Allegheny County, near State Game Lands 203. This property not only meets a strategic priority of being near a large city – in this case Pittsburgh – but runs along Deer Creek, a stocked trout tributary of the Allegheny River, contains several species of greatest conservation need and would provide a buffer for the Rachel Carson Trail.
• Roughly 116 acres in Bethel Township, Berks County, adjacent to State Game Lands 80. It provides access to the existing game lands and contains several species of greatest conservation need.
• Roughly 4 acres in Haycock Township, Bucks County. This is an indenture to State Game Lands 157.
• Roughly 1.9 acres in East Rockhill Township, Bucks County. This is an indenture to State Game Lands 139.
• Roughly 264 acres in Jefferson Township, Washington County.  It connects two parcels of existing game lands that have no current access and nearly 

The land exchange involves giving 187 acres in Sandy Township, Clearfield 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, Clearfield County, adjoining State Game Lands 331. The 187-acre parcel is landlocked and separated from the rest of State Game Lands 77 by Interstate 80, so the Game Commission determined the exchange is in the best interests of the agency and game lands users.

Hunters and other users of the game lands system should be aware that none of these additions are yet final. Some are contingent upon third parties receiving funding through grants or other means. What’s more, the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the agreements is but one step in the land transfer process.

When that process is completed, and the properties are officially game lands, the Game Commission will post signs to that effect, stating that they’re now available for public use.

In other action, Game Commissioners approved an agreement allowing RES Coal LLC, of Armagh, to impact roughly 117 acres of State Game Lands 198 in Cresson Township, Cambria County, and Juniata Township, Blair County in order to remove coal to which the Game Commission does not own the rights. The deal requires RES Coal LLC to pay the Game Commission $3.2 million to offset the surface impacts and also allows for use of a roughly 9-acre mining support area. Additionally, RES will help pay for construction of a road that will provide public access to a portion of the game lands where none exists now.The Game Commission also purchased at auction the coal rights under about 164 acres of State Game Lands 79 in Buffington Township, Indiana County. The Game Commission is allowed, under certain circumstances, to bid at auctions or tax sales so long as that is announced at a subsequent meeting. This purchase occurred on Aug. 28, so no board action was necessary