BOARD TAKES ACTION ON OTHER ITEMS:
In other action today, the Board of Game Commissioners:
* Gave unanimous approval to a resolution endorsing the Game Commission's new Cooperative Wind Energy Agreements, which were designed to ensure that wind energy companies work with the Game Commission and other state agencies to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts on bats and birds. The agreements were signed by Executive Director Carl G. Roe and wind energy company officials following the Board's meeting;
* Gave final approval to technical changes to reorganize the police powers of Wildlife Conservation Officers outlined in Title 58 (Game Commission regulations) to be consistent of provisions of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code);
* Gave final approval to technical changes to cable restraint devices and expanded the list of those individuals who may take the course;
* Gave final approval to allow flintlock hunters to use muzzleloading long guns that are .44 caliber or larger and muzzleloading handguns that are .50 caliber or larger;
* Gave final approval to allow the use of aperture or peep sights during the flintlock muzzleloader season;
* Gave final approval for elk hunters to use center-fire firearms .27 caliber or larger that propel a projectile with a minimum of 130 grains, muzzleloading firearms .50 caliber or larger that propel a single-projectile with a minimum of 210 grains, or shotguns that are 12-gauge or larger;
* Gave final approval for bowhunters to hunt with both a bow-and-arrow and a muzzleloading firearm during the early muzzleloader and late flintlock seasons, providing they have both an archery and muzzleloader license and meet the fluorescent orange clothing requirements of the muzzleloader season. Hunters still will be required to abide by the appropriate safety zones, which are 50 yards for bow and crossbows and 150 yards for all firearms;
* Gave final approval for hunters using a blind during any firearms season for deer, bear and elk to either wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on their head, chest and back, or display a minimum of 100 squares of fluorescent orange material within 15 feet of the blind that is visible in a 360 degree arc;
* Gave final approval to a regulation to increase Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer permits from $6 for residents and $26 for nonresidents to $10 for residents and $35 for nonresidents;
* Gave final approval to a regulation that makes it illegal to release any member of the suidae family into the wild;
* Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to provide additional deer control opportunities to crop farmers enrolled in the agency's Agricultural Deer Control Program, also known as "Red Tag," by setting a uniform closure period of May 16-June 30, which avoids the peak fawning season;
* Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to permit the use of muzzloading firearms that are discharged by using an electronic pulse. If approved in June, hunters would be permitted to use these electronic-pulse-fired muzzleloaders during the early October muzzleloader season and any other firearms deer season. They would not, however, be permitted in the late flintlock season, which requires hunters to use flintlock-ignition only muzzleloaders;
* Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to permit the use of illuminated nocks for arrows and bolts, which can be affixed at the aft end of an arrow or bolt and aid in tracking or locating the arrow or bolt after being launched; and
* Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to clarify what is considered a "loaded" sporting arm, which may not be in, on or leaning against any vehicle. This current prohibition is intended primarily to protect the safety of persons traveling in the vehicle or the immediate area, and the regulatory change would clarify how muzzleloaders and crossbows are to be stored in order to be considered unloaded; and
* Announced the next scheduled meeting of the Board will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 25-26, in the auditorium of the agency's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave. Other meetings set by the Board, all of which will be held in the agency's headquarters in Harrisburg, are: Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1-2; and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 20-22, 2008.  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2007-04-19 21:38:20 --

Pretty interesting meeting, all things considered. What impresses me, is that some things that we once griped about for years, like extended shooting hours and more sensible FO restrictions, have finally come to pass in the last year.

While I see some grumbling about the BOC not being responsive to the voices of hunters, events do not bear them out. Unless of course, one only focuses on the BOC's refusal to go back to deer management by mob rule.

Gave final approval to technical changes to reorganize the police powers of Wildlife Conservation Officers outlined in Title 58 (Game Commission regulations) to be consistent of provisions of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code);

Does this allow for ticketing like a police officer except for the vehical code? What does it allow them to do that they don't already do?

If you are in a deer blind on the ground up against brush or trees. And you are protected on all 4 sides, top, and bottom what good does wearing Flo Orange do while inside this blind????
What am I missing here??? The orange wrap on the outside makes sense!!