Game Commission Delivers Annual Report To House Game And Fisheries Committee

Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe this week presented his agency's annual report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

 

In testimony before the Committee, Roe outlined the highlights of the annual report including:

 

--Of the 24 wind energy developers competing in Pennsylvania, 20 of them have signed the PGC Wind Energy Voluntary Cooperative Agreement allowing preliminary wildlife resource information to be taken into account before project development;

 

-- Seedling for Schools Program providing seedlings from our Howard Nursery to schools for development of habitat on school grounds and at students’ homes;

 

-- Point of Sale License System will be fully automated as of June 15;

 

-- Turn-In A Poacher Program provided 451 tips, half through a new web-based initiative;

 

-- White nosed syndrome among bats is causing concern; and

 

-- Buck harvest was down in 2007-2008 due primarily to bad weather the first day of the 2007 firearms deer season. The rain and miserable weather across the state resulted in 50 percent lower buck harvest the first day.

 

A critical issue facing the Game Commission, Roe said, was the need for additional financial resources to sustain the agency's activities.

 

Roe said his agency was able to spend $8 million less than its planned budget in the last year, but the collapse of the timber industry and the significantly reduced revenues from oil and gas leasing as well as a $3 million decrease in interest income have reduced revenues dramatically.

 

"Unlike state agencies that have a line item budget and know what they are getting, the Game Commission is like any other business that relies on sales to generate revenue," said Roe.

 

"...the Game Commission’s team of employees is ready and willing to do what is necessary to protect and conserve our wildlife, to improve and enhance wildlife habitat and to strengthen our rich hunting and trapping heritage. Accomplishing these tasks it is not a matter of will; it is not a matter of trying to figure out where best to direct our resources, as the focus is based on our Strategic Plan. The issue boils down to a matter of having the necessary resources to empower our dedicated workforce to put those plans into action."

 

In response to question, Roe said an audit of the Game Commission's deer management program by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is being held up by a lawsuit filed by the Unitied Sportsman seeking to challenge the antlerless deer hunting program. The audit is required by House Resolution 642 (Levandsy-D-Allegheny) adopted last April.

 

Roe said he welcomed the audit, which will be conducted by the nationally-known Wildlife Management Institute for the Committee, because it will put a fresh set of eyes on the issue.

 

A complete copy of the report is available online.