While doing a presentation at our local club last night and answering questions our local WCO brought up two "problems" he is finding this year with the new license and I thought I would share them with you..



#1.. He is finding guys that forgot how hard it is to write on the new license and folks had pencils/pens in their hunting jacket from past years that would not write on the new ear tags...  be sure the pen you are carrying in the field will write on the ear tag if successful..





#2....  He is seeing this "a lot this year" ... because the new license is so small guys are using those "fishing license holders" to carry their license in ...  the "pin" on them is not very strong and they are getting pulled off VERY easily... be careful if using that type holder...  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2009-10-22 06:40:41 --

He did mention that with the same number as fishing license and everything on computer..etc

that he can get info easier..



where it was bought, when it was bought, even what time it was bought..



he likes the fact that to some degree it is water prove..



He did WARN us NOT to let it (the license) sit in the direct sunlight...   it will turn BLACK !!!



He did mention he personally does not like the idea about not displaying the license at all (maybe next year if bill passes) He said what I said.. with not visible tag he will have to ask ever single person he sees to pull out that wallet and show him the license...  He stated that when he check folks if everything appears to be fine he does NOT always make them pull out the license etc.. he sees the license, doe tag etc and many time (if it is a group)will not ask all of them to pull out the license and ID...



He hopes that with harvest reporting being done by computer (on-line) he hopes the reporting rate increases but will hold judgement on that until he sees the results



We had a larger than usual crowd and many of the landowners had questions on trespassing and the PGC 's role in enforcing that and wanted to know their liability if they allowed someone to hunt and something happens.. can they be sued...

Not being a lawyer he could not answer the liability question to well and suggested that we may be able to get a judge or lawyer to address the club on that point.. LOTS of concern on the liability issue and a couple folks said well --if we are not completely free from a law suit if someone shoots someone they were joining the group and posting their land this year... WOW.. just what we need around here more posted land ..



He also mentioned that just because a piece of ground is not posted that does not mean you can hunt there without permission...



One thing that almost no one knew was on state game lands safety zones are not in effect...



He spent some time explaining some of the differences between Mentored youth hunters and junior hunters...



The group was very respectful and the meeting was a long one (almost 2 hours)... questions on spotlighting, baiting, one guy want to know if he could pick leeks on SGL (NO)...Flo orange questions... and many more..

I wonder where he got the impression that safety zones don’t apply on game lands? I have never heard of that. We have cited lots of people hunting within safety zones on the game lands as well as other public land.

I’ll have to check on this one but if I were you I wouldn’t take it to the bank that you couldn’t be cited for hunting in a safety zone if you are on the game lands, at least just yet.


Dick Bodenhorn

Maybe I wrote it wrong...  

Threre is no sign by the old bear check station on SGL #54.. and I asked could someone hunt within 150 yards and he said yes...  game lands do not have safety zones ????????????

I could agree that the old bear check station and even some of our Game Lands maintenance buildings probably wouldn’t be a safety zone because they aren’t occupied buildings. The key there is being an occupied building.

But, homes that are within the normal safety zone distances are still safety zones where it would be illegal to hunt, even on the game lands, without advance permission from the occupants of the house, camp, etc. At least that is the way I understand it.

Dick Bodenhorn

I am sure you are right on two points...

#!... where there are safety zone signs and #@2... occupied buildings...

I understand that camps that are not occupied  do not fall under the 150 yards safety zone... I find that odd ????

who wants bullet holes in there camp ????

which by the way all most all the neighboring ones along the SGL border have bullet holes form years past

I've always wondered about whether there should be a safety zone around that building.  It did not make sense to put the food plots right next to the building. I didn't realize that was the bear check station at one time.  dd

Quote :

rich wrote : I've always wondered about whether there should be a safety zone around that building.  It did not make sense to put the food plots right next to the building. I didn't realize that was the bear check station at one time.  dd

Actually the building still there was once the garage from when the Training School was there. When I went to school there the garage was used to store the Training School vehicles. Across the lane diagonally was where the old barn stood. That was where we had our empty hand defensive tactics-training through the winter when it was to cold to do it outside in the grass. The old barn was also where we had the weight room. Then further down the hill was the old incinerator where we burned all of the paper and other burnable types of trash. Across the field a short distance was the Training School Superintendent’s house where he and his wife lived.

Then of course up by the present parking lot was where the Old Training School sat. The Training School though was where the office, kitchen, dinning hall, day room and typing room where located in the down stairs. The upstairs had part of the barracks type sleeping quarters, shower, restrooms and a few cadre rooms.

Behind that building, generally referred to as the Training School sat another building which actually was the real Training School. The downstairs of that building was where the classroom was located and where we spend the highest percentage of our time. The upstairs was another large barracks style sleeping quarters with more restrooms and shows on the end.

Behind the builds was the old ball field. The volleyball court was just above the far end of the parking lot and the handgun range was just out past that about fifty yards.

All of those food plots were maintained and managed back then as part of the training process toward various wildlife management practices but they were never used for hunting. Since the Training School has been moved to Harrisburg those old Training School grounds are now all open for hunting.

Dick Bodenhorn

thanks for the imfo RSB  I've always been curious.
I have seen various pictures and have also found an old postcard of the main building.  Six years ago when we bought a camp down there the pistol range was still there.  I think the incinerator still stands.  I just assumed the food plots were put in when the school moved to Harrisburg.  dd