This week, Bryan Burhans, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, testified before the House Game and Fisheries Committee and provided the agency’s annual report.
To see the agency’s annual legislative report, go to pgc.pa.gov and click on the link under "About Us" on the homepage.
Some of Burhans’ testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee is as follows:
“Our mission involves overseeing the Commonwealth’s 480 wildlife species, across 46,000 square miles, and for over 13 million people, including both hunters and non-hunters.
“It’s a big challenge, but we embrace it, as shown by the achievements of our employees, volunteers, and board members.
“During fiscal year 2022-23, game wardens issued 5,567 warnings and launched 6,911 prosecutions. The success rate for those prosecutions was 98.2%, indicating the professionalism, training, and judgment used by wardens when bringing charges.
“Last month, 12 new wardens graduated from the Ross Leffler School of Conservation and were assigned to districts across the state, bringing our complement to 204 full-time wardens — 14 of those wardens are members of our Woodland Tracking Team and are specially trained in conducting search-and-rescue operations in remote locations and across difficult terrains.
“Due to the importance of deer to our hunters, and the potential for deer to impact forests and agricultural industries, we take seriously the importance of maintaining a science-based program that uses the best available data.
“That's why we invest a lot of resources in studying our deer harvest, which has recently averaged around 400,000 deer between the different seasons.
“Last year, 31 teams of Game Commission staff visited more than 400 processors and examined over 23,000 harvested deer. This work allows us to monitor the age and sex of harvested deer to understand their population structure and inform our deer management decisions.
“When it comes to bucks, over 60% of those taken are 2 ½ years old or older, mainly thanks to antler point restrictions, which a recent survey showed are supported by over 70% of our hunters.
“Our deer population faces many challenges, particularly with the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, which continues to appear in more harvested deer each year.
“But deer are just one of the species that we oversee.
“We concluded a three-year study of adult female bears in the Sproul State Forest last year, examining habitat use and survival rates. The results will be used to make future season recommendations.
“Similarly, we are researching wild turkey populations. Collaborating with Penn State and Penn Vet, we are attaching GPS transmitters to turkeys in different landscape types and tracking them to monitor their survival in various habitats, weather conditions, disease, predation, and more.
“We are also studying the genetic diversity of grouse to understand how fragmented habitat affects their survival rates.
“We're also working hard to make and protect the homes that wildlife needs to live.
“Controlled fires were used on nearly 9,000 acres last year. Logging improved habitat on almost 25,000 more acres. Some of those logging activities involved a business paying us for the wood. But for others, we cut down the trees only to improve the wildlife habitat.
“We increased the State Game Lands system by over 3,500 acres, and upgraded infrastructure on current game lands, constructing and upgrading 55 miles of roads, and building 28 bridges.
“We expanded the number of public shooting ranges that are available. Several existing shooting ranges are set to be improved as well.
“We certified over 29,000 new hunters through a mix of online and in-person Hunter-Trapper Education classes; over 50 of the classes were held in public schools.
“It can take time and resources to create a hunter, so we offered ‘Learn to Hunt’ programs on pheasant, squirrel, spring turkey, archery deer and firearms deer hunting to help recruit hunters. These programs initially consist of a live online seminar, and the videos are then made available on our YouTube page where they have reached thousands of new and potential hunters.
“We set records with Pennsylvania’s National Archery in the Schools Program, which saw over 300 schools and more than 100,000 students participating.
“We manage all wildlife for all Pennsylvanians and aim to provide them with opportunities to connect with wildlife and the work done by our employees.
“We published podcasts and videos, and expanded our presence on Facebook, Instagram, and X. And we had face-to-face conversations with Pennsylvanians at events like the Farm Show and Great American Outdoor Show.
“Nearly 2 million viewers enjoyed our livestreams featuring a bear den, elk, snow geese, and bald eagles’ nests.
“We offered guided tours on multiple game lands, giving people the chance to see some of our properties and interact with staff.
“Each month we distributed copies of Pennsylvania Game News to around 4,000 libraries and 70,000 individuals, including anyone who took a Hunter-Trapper Education class in the past year.
“Altogether, there is a lot to be proud of when it comes to Pennsylvania’s wildlife and hunting heritage. We remain second in the country for hunting licenses sold, behind only Texas.”
Appalachian Trail Museum Hall
of Fame induction event Sept. 21
The induction will start at 1 p.m. and will be held at Army Heritage Education Center, 950 Soldiers Dr., Carlisle.
The M.C. for the 2024 banquet will be Brook Lenker, Executive Director of Keystone Trails Association (KTA). Founded in 1956, KTA promotes, provides, preserves, and protects hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania.
Brook came to KTA in October 2021, bringing decades of service to the environment. He most recently served as the Executive Director of FracTracker Alliance, a national organization addressing the risks of fossil fuel development.
Larry Luxenberg, President of the AT Museum, announced that the 2024 Class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame will be revealed soon. He expressed excitement about the list of awardees and mentioned that Brook will host the ceremony.
The induction ceremony is a free event, but you need to register because space is limited. To sign up, send an email to [email protected].
Pennsylvania is seeking proposals for the PA Farm Bill
grants for high priority specialty crops
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has requested proposals for $460,000 in 2024 Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grants to stimulate market growth or enhance the competitive position for high-priority crops.
Hardwoods, honey, brewing grains, hemp, and flax are considered top priorities due to their potential to boost rapidly growing agricultural sectors, support Pennsylvania’s economy, and improve environmental sustainability.
Included in his 2023-24 budget with broad, bipartisan support, Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed funding for these and other PA Farm Bill grants in the 2024-25 budget, which aims to expand opportunities and drive innovation in Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
Shapiro’s proposal also includes a $10 million agriculture innovation fund that will assist farmers in modernizing their businesses, not only to adapt to changes in markets and climate, but also to expand and thrive.
“These grants are strategic investments in the future for Pennsylvania farmers,” Redding said. “Pennsylvania hardwoods supply the world with high-quality building materials. Fiber hemp restores soil and is a growing source of sustainable construction materials, fabric, and plastics. Hops and brewing grains are critical ingredients for our booming craft brewing industry.
“Investing in these products enhances prosperity and advancement in communities across Pennsylvania. Investing in our farm businesses and their capacity to grow, innovate, and feed a rapidly growing population is how communities across Pennsylvania will prosper tomorrow.”
Specialty crops eligible for Pennsylvania’s grant program and considered high-priority include hardwoods; honey; hemp and flax for fiber; and hops, barley, rye and wheat for brewing, distilling, and malting.
Also targeted for priority funding are crops not eligible for funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which the department administers for the federal government. The USDA program defines specialty crops as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”
A portion of the funds will be allocated to projects benefiting urban and rural communities with at least 20% of their population living below the federal poverty line.
Proposals must be submitted through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Electronic Single Application, and must be received by 5 p.m. on April 19.
This week, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans presented the agency’s annual report during his testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee.
