NEWSLETTER ON-LINE

Final Adoption and Antlerless Allocations will occur at the Commissioners Meeting Slated for April 17-18, 2006.

WATERFOWL HUNTERS CAUTIONED NOT TO USE ARTIFICAL GRASS

As hunters continue to explore for new ways to give themselves an edge in pursuing their quarry, it recently has come to the attention of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Law Enforcement that a new method has developed to hunt geese when snow covers the ground.

“Hunters have started using artificial grass, such as ‘Astro Turf’ or a similar product, on the ground around their hunting areas to entice geese to land near their decoys,” said John Shutter, Chief of the Bureau’s Enforcement Division. “Game Commission regulations specify that artificial bait is unlawful to use in Pennsylvania. Therefore, any product intended to represent grass, the primary food of geese, is unlawful to use because it is artificial bait.”

Shutter also reminded hunters that the use of electronic or electrically-powered decoys is illegal in Pennsylvania. These devices have names such as motion-wing decoys or robo ducks.

Under current Game Commission regulations, the use of any electronic contrivance or device that does not have specific approval by the Board of Game Commissioners is prohibited.

“Several waterfowl hunters expressed confusion about the legality of these devices since some are battery-operated,” Shutter said. “Since batteries provide electric-power, the use of battery-powered decoys is illegal in Pennsylvania.”

John Dunn, Game Commission waterfowl biologist, noted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is concerned about increased harvest rates by hunters using such devices. In addition, the states of Washington, Oregon and California adopted total or partial bans on waterfowl hunting with battery-powered or electronic decoys.

If you are planning to hunt in Canada, you are now required to obtain a temporary firearms license at the border. For additional information, click on the following link:

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO E-MAIL THEM TO ME ALONG WITH A DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION THE ADVENTURE, AND I'LL UPLOAD THEM ON OUR CJFOUTDOORS PHOTO PAGE!

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new
law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own
government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500
million dollars.

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent;
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up
300 percent.
(Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the
criminals did not.....and criminals still possess their guns!)

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in
armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in
the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their
prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and
assaults of the elderly.

you are also be able to purchase all of the products that both Commissions have to offer.

Elk	1.9g	.07g	146	30.2
Deer	3.2g	1.2g	158	30.2
Antelope	2.7g	1.0g	150	29.4
Salmon	5.8g	1.4g	163	24.5
Ham - lean	5.8g	1.9g	153	24.8
Lean Roast Beef	14.3g	5.7g	239	27.0
Chicken Breast	3.8g	1.1g	163	31.5