2007 Press Release

The Pennsylvania Game Commission

LOCAL WILD TURKEY INFORMATION ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE

Each year, Pennsylvania Game Commission field officers and foresters develop game forecasts for the areas they work to share with interested hunters and trappers. Observations on local wild turkey populations are always a part of this annual offering. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s “Field Officer Game and Furbearer Forecasts” can be found centered on the homepage of the agency’s website – www.pgc.state.pa.us. Developed to share field officer perspectives and observations on game and furbearer trends in their respective districts and to help hunters and trappers get closer to the action afield, this information helped many sportsmen and sportswomen have more enjoyable days afield last year.

“Our field officers spend a tremendous amount of time afield, often in the areas hunters and trappers are most interested in learning more about,” said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “Their observations have value to hunters and trappers, so in 2006 we set up a cyber-clearinghouse where anyone who enjoys hunting and trapping in Pennsylvania – resident or nonresident – can access game and furbearer forecasts from every county of the state. It’s the detailed field reporting hunters and trappers seek out, and part of our longstanding commitment to be the first and best source of hunting and trapping information in the Commonwealth.”

DOGS ALLOWED IN FALL TURKEY SEASON

The Pennsylvania Game Commission reminds hunters that a new state law permits wild turkey hunters to use dogs in the upcoming fall season, which begins Oct. 27.

On June 30, Gov. Edward Rendell signed Senate Bill 580, which made it lawful to use a dog “to pursue, chase, scatter and track wild turkeys during the fall wild turkey season.” Before the Governor signed this legislation, hunters were prohibited from using dogs to hunt any big game animal, which includes wild turkeys.

This change of law does not appear in the 2007-2008 Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest because the agency has a deadline of mid-April for material to be included in the annual Digest so that it can be printed and ready for distribution to license issuing agents in mid-June. Consequently, the agency is attempting to reach hunters with information about this new law through news releases and its website, as well as updates provided by Wildlife Conservation Officers to local hunting and sportsmen’s organizations.

The change in law was contained in Senate Bill 580, sponsored by state Sen. Roger A. Madigan, which passed the Senate by a vote of 48-1 on May 1. On June 26, the bill was approved by a vote of 187-14 in the House of Representatives before being sent to the Governor’s desk.

TURKEY HUNTERS URGED TO BE ATTENTIVE, SAFE

Every fall, hunters head into Pennsylvania‘s forests and woodlots in pursuit of wild turkeys. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, it’s one of autumn’s greatest competitions as hunters try to call in their quarries. It’s also a time when hunters really need to be in tune with their surroundings.

“Staying alert and making sound shooting decisions will go a long way toward ensuring your safety and the safety of others in turkey season this fall,” said Keith Snyder, Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Division chief. “So, too, will always handling your sporting arm in a safe in responsible way.

“The Pennsylvania Game Commission has worked with the National Wild Turkey Federation and its cadre of volunteer hunter-trapper education instructors over the past decade to reverse what was a growing number of turkey hunting-related shooting incidents. Today, Pennsylvania‘s woods are safer for turkey hunters, based on statistics. But hunters must remain vigilant. Paying attention and hunting safely ensures that your trip afield remains an enjoyable one.”

Hunters are urged to follow the SMART rules for firearms safety that are reinforced in the agency’s Hunter-Trapper Education Program. Being SMART with firearms will ensure you hunt safely and responsibly.

The acronym SMART reinforces the following rules:

- Safe Direction: Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction;

- Make Sure: Positively identify your target;

- Always Check: Know what’s beyond your target before shooting;

- Respect Firearms: Treat all firearms as if they were loaded; and

- Trigger Caution: Don’t touch the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.

Turkey hunters should always hunt defensively, assuming every movement or sound they hear is another hunter until they can be absolutely certain that it isn’t. If you see another hunter approaching your calling location, don’t move or wave to get their attention, yell, “Stop!” to verbally identify your presence.

Protect your back by sitting at the base of a large tree or rock. Make sure you positively identify your target as a turkey before you disengage the safety of your sporting arm.

Don’t shoot at movement or sounds you think might be a turkey. Let the turkeys come to you and watch their approach carefully.

In addition, consider wearing fluorescent orange clothing while afield at all times. Even though there were only two hunting-related shooting incidents during last fall’s turkey season, one victim was shot in the line of fire, and the other was mistaken for game. Following the SMART rules will help prevent such incidents.

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