Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough Tuesday presented the agency’s 2014 Annual Report to the General Assembly, and delivered testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

The reported updated legislators on key Game Commission issues and programs, including chronic wasting disease in deer, white-nose syndrome in bats, management of state game lands- which reached 1.5 million acres in 2014, hunter education and deer management.

Hough also reported the Commission undertook more than 1,500 environmental reviews for threats to endangered species, including 226 for energy development projects, noting most were completed in 10 days or less.

The Game Commission also requested an increase in its hunting license fees saying revenue from leasing Marcellus Shale drilling rights on Game Lands has made it possible to avoid an increase over the last few years.

A copy of the annual report is available online.

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