Court allows deer lawsuit to proceed
HARRISBURG – A state court is allowing a sportsmen’s group to continue with its lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Game Commission over its deer management plan.
The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania contends the agency has mismanaged the state’s deer herd in recent years.
It wants doe hunting curtailed.
The game commission wanted the case dismissed, saying the group rehashed claims in two previous unsuccessful suits.
But a three-judge Commonwealth Court panel allowed the case to continue Monday. It said the game commission didn’t offer a specific administrative remedy for the group to challenge its plan.
Game commission Executive Director Carl Roe said the agency is ready to defend itself and recognizes not everyone agrees with its policies.
Hunters and trappers harvest 356 bobcats
The Pennsylvania Game Commission said hunters and trappers took 356 bobcats during the 2007-08 seasons.
The total includes 23 from wildlife management unit (WMU) 2C and 21 from WMU 2E. WMU 2G led the state with 127 bobcats taken.
WMU 3B was next with 72.
Game commission Executive Director Carl Roe said the agency will award 1,435 permits for next season during a drawing on Sept. 12.
Deadline approaches for DMAP applications
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission has issued a reminder that July 1 is the deadline for landowners to submit an application to be included in the deer management assistance program (DMAP) for the 2008-09 hunting seasons.
The program is designed to help landowners deal with deer damage through hunting. Eligible properties include public lands, private lands where no fee is charged for hunting and some hunting club lands.
Private hunting clubs are no longer required to own a minimum of 1,000 contiguous acres before being eligible.
The applications are to be completed and delivered to the appropriate regional office.
Woman found guilty of illegal feather sales
SHARON – A Mercer County woman has pleaded guilty to illegally selling feathers from protected birds on the Internet.
Candas Lynn Rohrdanz, 41, of Sharon pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawful sale and possession of wildlife parts.
Four counts were withdrawn.
She also pleaded guilty for possessing part of a timber rattlesnake without the proper permits. She was fined a total of $836 on June 10.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says it purchased feathers from a red-shouldered hawk, crow, blackbird, Canada goose, gull, blue jay, barred owl, turkey vulture and wild turkey.
Sale of land to Penn State passes House
HARRISBURG – A plan for the state government to sell more than 1,100 acres of land alongside Rockview State Prison to Penn State University cleared a major hurdle Wednesday when the state House of Representatives voted to authorize it.
The deal requires the university to pay a little more than $1 million and devote the property to agricultural education.
Hunters and anglers would be allowed to use the land, and it could never be sold to a third party.
A 2006 appraisal set the fair market value at $3.1 million, but supporters of the sale said Penn State’s acceptance of the deed limitations justified the lower price.
“This property will never be sold by Penn State University, will never be sold by Benner Township and will always be subject to ... conservation easements,” said Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton.
The bill also would divide nearly 500 acres of additional prison land among three other public entities.
