144 Church Road
Davidsville, PA 15928
June 21, 2007

Executive Director Carl Roe
Pennsylvania Game Commission
2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9797

Dear Director Roe:

Thank you for providing this chance to comment on programs affecting the wildlife resources of our Commonwealth and make suggestions regarding seasons and bag limits. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has always supported the work of the Game Commission in the areas of habitat enhancement, wildlife research and wildlife law enforcement. Our members believe that the Game Commission generally makes good regulatory decisions based on sound science. We do encourage the commissioners to continue to look to science and species management plans for guidance in the development of season proposals.

Our members are steadfast in their support of education as the most effective method of reducing turkey hunting related shooting incidents. Beginning last October, our chapter has requested that the commissioners review data on the impact of mandatory orange on spring turkey hunting related shooting incidents. Our review of this data indicates that the required wearing of an orange hat while moving has not had the desired affect of reducing incident rates. Once again we urge the commissioners to rescind the regulation requiring the wearing of orange in the spring gobbler season. This unpopular regulation has failed in its mission.

The members of the Pennsylvania Chapter appreciate the opening of spring gobbler season to mentored youth hunters. Every opportunity afforded young people to experience the thrill of the hunt will help to attract more youth to our hunting tradition. With that fact in mind, we request that the commissioners consider adding fall turkey hunting to the list of seasons available to mentored youth hunters beginning in 2008.

Our Board of Directors and members are delighted with the great progress being made in the Tri-state Gobbler Banding Program. This large scale research project will enhance the data available to Game Commission biologists and add to the accuracy of their population modeling capabilities. As we approach the third field season of this project, we recognize the investment in time, equipment and personnel made by this agency to the project. The Game Commission should capitalize on that momentum and plan an immediate follow-up designed to collect similar data on fall turkey hunting season harvest rates. Experienced trapping crews and good equipment will assure the success of an effort to evaluate fall season population impacts. Such a study is a high priority in the revised Management Plan for Wild Turkeys in Pennsylvania and the data is urgently needed.

Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on agency programs and for all the good things the Game Commission does for hunters.

Sincerely,

Gene Alwine
President, Pennsylvania Chapter-NWTF