Public input sought on woodcock plan

Until Sept. 19, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public input on the draft of a woodcock management plan, which can be found on the agency’s Web site (pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “Draft Woodcock Management Plan” in the center of the home page.

Developed by game commission biologist Bill Palmer, the plan provides a summary of woodcock taxonomy, biology, population trends, habitat relationships and trends, hunter harvest, economic significance, partnerships and population restoration approaches.

The plan’s goal is returning woodcock populations to densities that provide improved hunting and viewing opportunities, and it outlines two objectives and 20 strategies to achieve the goal.

The first objective focuses on monitoring woodcock populations statewide and on demonstration areas, as well as population demographics, hunter numbers and harvests, and determining woodcock hunter preferences, knowledge and satisfaction.

The second objective calls for creating nearly 800,000 acres of early successional forest habitat on private and public lands.



Bobcat application deadline is near

HARRISBURG – Hunters and trappers have until Sept. 2 to submit an application via the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Web site (pgc.state.pa.us) to be included in the public drawing for one of the 1,435 permits to be awarded for this fall’s seasons.

The deadline for submitting paper applications was Aug. 15.

Online applications can be found by following The Outdoor Shop link on the home page. There is a $5 non-refundable application fee, which must be charged to a credit card.

On Sept. 12, a computerized, public drawing will be held at agency headquarters in Harrisburg to select those who will receive permits. The actual permits will be mailed to winners in early October. Bobcat hunting season will run from Oct. 25-Feb. 21, while trapping season will be from Oct. 26-Feb. 22. Seasons will be open only in wildlife management units 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4D.



Deadline for elk licenses approaching

Friday is the deadline for hunters to submit an application for an elk license.

The deadline for paper applications was Aug. 15, but online applications made through The Outdoor Shop on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Web site (pgc.state.pa.us) will be accepted until the end of the week. There is a $10 non-fundable application fee, which must be charged to a credit card.

On Sept. 20, 45 licenses will be awarded in a public, computerized drawing during the annual Elk Expo in Elk County.

The first 17 names drawn will receive an antlered license. The next 28 will get an antlerless license. Only one application is permitted per person. Those whose names are drawn will have to view an orientation video and purchase an elk license, which costs $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.



Unsold antlerless tags available on Monday

The Pennsylvania Game Commission will begin accepting applications on Monday, by mail only, for the first round of unsold antlerless licenses.

At the close of business on Friday, the game commission had 12,458 licenses remaining in wildlife management unit 2C, which covers most of Cambria and all of Somerset as well as parts of Indiana, Westmoreland and Bedford counties.

WMU 2E, which includes most of northern Cambria County, had 1,795 left while WMU 4D, which includes a small part of northeastern Cambria County, had 3,700 unsold tags.

There were 4,345 licenses remaining in WMU 4A and 15,697 left in WMU 2D.

The second round of unsold license sales begins Sept. 8.

Antlerless licenses are to be mailed to hunters by county treasurers no later than Oct. 1.