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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Hanna |
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Hanna applauds updates to Game Commission deer management plan
HARRISBURG, Jan. 29 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said today he applauds the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts this week to update the way it implements its deer management program.
The commission announced that it would implement broad changes to deer, bear, turkey and small game seasons based on input from the hunting public in Pennsylvania.
"The commission's actions this week are good news for all of us who have been hoping the board would seriously consider input provided by hunters throughout Pennsylvania," Hanna said. "It is important for the commission to restore hunter support in its deer management program."
Hanna said the commission gave preliminary approval to a slate of deer seasons for 2010-11 that includes adding Wildlife Management Units 2C, 2E, 4D and 4E to the split five-day antlered deer season, Nov. 29 through Dec. 3, and seven-day concurrent season, Dec. 4 - 11. Those WMUs now part of the split season structure are WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2G, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. He added that deer harvest data from 2009-10 is expected in mid-March and will be used to guide the commission's establishment of antlerless deer license allocations.
"This change should help reduce the doe kill in these areas, which has long been a problem," Hanna added.
The commission also gave preliminary approval to sweeping changes to black bear hunting seasons for 2010-11. Included in those changes are a statewide five-day archery bear season and a three-day statewide bear season. The board also eliminated all extended bear seasons that previously were held during all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season.
"I support the commission's decision to start bear season on Saturday, which will bring out far more younger hunters," Hanna said. "However, I also urge hunters to encourage the commission to keep Wednesday as a bear hunting day, as well."
Hanna added that the changes restricting DMAPS on public ground would be good for the state. He said he encourages hunters and other members of the general public to offer comments to the commission about this and all other proposed changes for 2010-11 between now and its next meeting in April.
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