HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) Rodney P. Mee and Rob Minnich recently filed charges on two Tioga County residents for a weekend poaching spree in which a total of eight whitetail deer were found shot and left lay to rot.

Beginning on Friday morning, Feb. 24, through Monday morning, Feb. 27, Zachary Ryan Zimmers, 21, and Michael Wayne Hinman, 24, both of Morris Run, were out driving around, spotting and shooting deer and then leaving them lay.

“Fortunately, witnesses called in descriptions of events and vehicle used,” said WCO Mee. “Deer and evidence were found on scene which helped in locating the violators.  The last known deer shot was an eight-point buck.”

This was the break the WCOs needed, as a passer-by saw Zimmers and Hinman stopped on the road and thought something was suspicious.  The passer-by stopped, got good descriptions of the vehicle, license number and suspects, and saw the deer in the field with a fresh bullet hole in it.  The witness then called the Game Commission.

“The truck had an out-of-state license, so local law enforcement agencies were made aware that the vehicle was wanted by Game Commission WCOs as a suspect vehicle in the deer shootings,” said WCO Minnich. “Again, fate was on our side, as the suspects got the truck stuck the next morning in a local park.  The witness was called to identify the vehicle and, when he was there, the suspect walked up to us, thereby providing us with an opportunity to obtain a positive identification.”

WCOs Mee and Minnich noted that this case was a waste of the resource, but more unsettling was the total lack of concern for safety of others, as deer were shot in front of homes, next to homes, across roadways and from the roadways.

Zimmers and Hinman were charged with multiple charges of Title 34 (Game and Wildlife Code) and Title 18 (Crimes Code). At least 34 charges were filed on each individual, including; unlawful killing or taking of big game (deer); unlawful devices and methods (use of a vehicle); having a loaded firearm in a vehicle; unlawful use of lights while hunting; shooting on or across highways; shooting within a safety zone; and conspiracy.

If the maximum penalty is assessed on all charges, Zimmers and Hinman each face fines, court costs and restitutions in excess of $100,000, as well as 19 years in prison and 99 years of hunting license revocation.

“Thanks to all the concerned citizens who took the extra time and effort to observe, call and get involved, otherwise they may still be out doing this and getting away with it,” WCO Mee said.

YORK COUNTY RESIDENT SENTENCED TO UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Darren David announced that Brian Dale Waugh, 39, of Dover, York County, recently was sentenced to a three- to 10-year prison sentence after being charged with various crimes stemming from a night-time poaching incident off of Rife Road in Reading Township, Adams County, on Dec. 26.

Waugh, who is a convicted felon not allowed to possess any firearm, was involved in shooting a deer from a motor vehicle using a rifle and spotlight, with two juveniles (ages 11 and 15) in the vehicle at the time.  He also was in possession of marijuana.

On April 2, Waugh entered into a plea agreement with the Adams County District Attorney’s office, after being incarcerated, since Jan. 4, at the Adams County Prison following a felony arrest warrant served by Game Commission WCOs.

In the same incident, Todd Edgecomb, 38, of York, York County, was the driver of the vehicle that night, and has been charged jointly by the Game Commission and Reading Township Police Department with corruption of minors; driving under the influence of alcohol; possession of marijuana; unlawful use of lights while hunting; taking big game in closed season; hunting through the use of a motorized vehicle; loaded firearms in a vehicle; and spotlighting for wildlife after lawful hours.  Edgecomb’s preliminary hearing still is pending.

“I hope news of this will send a sobering message to other would-be poachers out there, especially those who would also involve alcohol, drugs, and worst of all – children,” WCO David said. “This type of activity not only represents a significant theft of our precious wildlife resources and corruption of youth, but is a serious danger to all involved as well as the public.”

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HARRISBURG – While this spring’s weather has been a little more variable than usual, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials say one thing for certain is the arrival of this year’s young wildlife, as well as the almost certainty that Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife from their backyards to the mountains.

“Whether enjoying your backyard or hiking in the woods, it is time for our annual message for Pennsylvanians to leave wildlife alone and in the wild, especially young of the year,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director.  “Being outdoors in the spring is an enjoyable way to spend time and learn more about nature.

“In the coming days and weeks, it will become common to find young deer, rabbits, birds, raccoons or other wildlife, some of which may appear to be abandoned.  Rest assured that in most cases, the young animal is not an orphan or abandoned and the best thing you can do is to leave it alone.”

DuBrock noted adult animals often leave their young while the adults forage for food.  Also, wildlife often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the “hider strategy,” where young animals will remain motionless and “hide” in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young.

“While it may appear as if the adults are abandoning their young, in reality, this is just the animal using its natural instincts to protect its young,” DuBrock said.  “Also, young animals often have camouflaging color patterns to avoid being detected by predators.

“Wild animals are not meant to be pets, and we must all resist our well-meaning and well-intentioned urge to want to care for wildlife. Taking wildlife from its natural settings and into your home may expose or transmit wildlife diseases to people or domestic animals.  Wildlife also may carry parasites – such as fleas, ticks or lice – that you wouldn’t want infesting you, your family, your home or your pets.”

DuBrock noted that, each year, people ignore this advice by taking wildlife into their homes and then are urged to undergo treatment for possible exposure to various wildlife-borne diseases, such as rabies.

In addition to protecting public health, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection Director Rich Palmer said that the agency also is concerned with wildlife implications from humans handling wildlife.

“Habituating wildlife to humans is a serious concern, because if wildlife loses its natural fear of humans it can pose a public safety risk,” Palmer said.  “For example, a few years ago, a yearling, six-point buck attacked and severely injured two people. Our investigation revealed that a neighboring family had illegally taken the deer into their home and fed it as a fawn. This family continued to feed the deer right up until the time of the attack.

“This particular incident was the subject of numerous news stories around the state, and serves as a fitting example of the possible consequences that can stem from feeding or simply getting too close to wildlife.”

In addition, Palmer noted that it is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild.  Under state law, the penalty for such a violation is a fine of up to $1,500 per animal.

“Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally takes wildlife into captivity be allowed to keep that animal,” Palmer said.  “While residents love to view wildlife and are very compassionate, they must enjoy wildlife from a distance and allow nature to run its course.”

Palmer also pointed out that, under a working agreement with state health officials, any “high risk” rabies vector species confiscated after human contact must be euthanized and tested; it cannot be returned to the wild.  Though any mammal may carry rabies, species identified in the agreement are: skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes and groundhogs.

“Except for some species of bats, populations of all other rabies vector species are thriving,” Palmer said.  “Therefore, to protect public health and safety, it only makes sense to put down an animal for testing, rather than risk relocating a potentially rabid animal, and to answer the question of whether any people were exposed to the rabies virus.”

DuBrock said it is always wise to avoid wild animals and even unfamiliar domestic pets because of the potential rabies risk.

“Animals infected with rabies may not show obvious symptoms, but still may be able to transmit the disease,” DuBrock.

People can get rabies from the saliva of a rabid animal if they are bitten or scratched, or if the saliva gets into the person’s eyes, mouth or a fresh wound.  The last human rabies fatality in Pennsylvania was a 12?year?old Lycoming County boy who died in 1984.

Wildlife rehabilitators, who are licensed by the Game Commission, are the only ones that are permitted to care for injured or orphaned wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild.  For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, a listing of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website (www.pawr.com).

If you are unable to identify a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission region office that serves the county in which the animal is found so that you can be referred to the appropriate licensed wildlife rehabilitator.  Region office contact information can be found on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by putting your cursor over “ABOUT US” in the menu bar in the banner at the top of the homepage, and then clicking on “Region Information” in the drop-down menu listing.

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HARRISBURG – For those spring gobbler hunters who may feel the hunt is already over because of the early spring, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials report that there is still plenty of time to harvest a gobbler.

“Our three years of radio-telemetry data show that hen turkeys did not begin incubating nests any earlier this year than the previous two years, even though we experienced a warm, dry early spring” said Mary Jo Casalena, Game Commission wild turkey biologist. “That’s because nesting is triggered more by photoperiod (amount of daylight) than weather. So, that warm spell we experienced in March was just a bit too early for most hens to begin laying eggs.”

Hen turkeys wait until they lay a complete clutch before they begin the 28 days of incubation. This ensures the entire clutch hatches within a 24-hour period. Also, hens readily abandon nests during egg-laying if they are disturbed, so it makes sense not to incubate until she’s sure of her nest location.

“We’ve been monitoring when radioed hens begin incubating their clutches, and comparing the dates to data collected back in the 1950s and 1960s across the state to determine if Pennsylvania hens are now nesting earlier, and they aren’t,” Casalena said. “The average date of nest incubation remains around the first week of May.

“This should be welcome news for most Pennsylvania turkey hunters because now that these hens have begun incubating, gobblers are becoming lonely and may come to a hunter’s call more readily. So, do not give up hope, there is still plenty of time to harvest a tom.”

The Game Commission radio-telemetry study continues for two additional springs, and agency biologists will continue to record nest incubation dates of each radioed hen.

“With more than 50 radioed hens each year thus far, we have a decent sample size,” Casalena said. “This year, we only recorded one early nester, an adult hen beginning incubation March 29. But, last year, with the cool, wet spring, our earliest incubation date was three days earlier, March 26. In 2010, we didn’t have a hen begin incubation until April 6.”

The early spring did, however, cause leaves to emerge early, which will make it more difficult for hunters to hear and see their target.

“With the early green-up, it will be even more important to consider using a fluorescent orange band to alert other hunters to your stationary location or to wear some orange while moving,” Casalena said.

Pennsylvania turkey hunters also are reminded that, beginning on Monday, May 14, they will be permitted to hunt from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The expanded hunting hours will continue through the last day of the season, which is Thursday, May 31.

“The 2011 spring gobbler season was the first year of all-day hunting during the second half of the season, and the overall harvest was a slight decrease from the 2010 harvest,” Casalena said. “Afternoon harvest comprised six percent of the total reported harvests and 22 percent of the harvest during the all-day portion of the season.  During the all-day season, 78 percent of the harvest occurred before noon.”

For the afternoon segment, Casalena said the majority of the harvest occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the last reported harvest at 8:35 p.m. (NOTE: Hunting hours closed between 8:39 p.m. in the eastern part of the state, and 9:11 p.m. in the western part of the state.)

“The Game Commission will continue to monitor the afternoon harvest in relation to population trends and age class of gobblers to gauge the impact of all-day hunting,” Casalena said. “Of the 49 states that conduct turkey seasons, 34 have all-day hunting for all or part of the season, including Maryland, Ohio and Virginia.”

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HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s 29th Class of Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Cadets recently took up residence at the agency’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation, which adjoins the headquarters building along Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg.

The class, comprising 31 men and five women, will undergo 50 weeks of exhaustive training, including field duty with veteran officers, before graduation in March of 2013. If all 36 Cadets reach graduation, it will represent the largest class in the agency’s history.

“For years, the Game Commission has been one of the top ranking agencies in terms of employee longevity,” said Carl G. Roe.  “This spoke volumes about the dedication and commitment of our employees to the agency’s wildlife management mission.  However, in recent years, we’ve had an increasing number of employees reach retirement, especially within the ranks of our WCOs, which has made it necessary for more frequent classes with even more Cadets.

“Those who pass will join a proud team of Wildlife Conservation Officers, and be entrusted by the public to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources and habitats and enforce the state’s hunting and trapping laws.”

Roe noted that the individuals who made it into the 29th Class were chosen from a field of nearly 750 applications, and were selected through a series of written tests, interview boards and physical examinations.

“These cadets now will be challenged to successfully complete the nearly year-long training program that will prepare them to become a valuable part of the state’s wildlife management agency,” Roe said.  “They will undergo an intensive and wide ranging curriculum that will test them physically and mentally.”

Training will include subjects such as: wildlife management; physical fitness; firearms proficiency; unarmed self-defense; law enforcement; legal procedures; conservation education; land management practices; computer skills; and public relations. Cadets will be evaluated throughout the weeks and required to meet stringent standards to continue.

Upon graduation, each cadet will be commissioned a Wildlife Conservation Officer and given an assignment within the Commonwealth.  Following a probationary period of at least one year, the WCO’s performance will be evaluated and, if acceptable, he/she will be granted permanent status.  Continued training will be required on a regular basis for certain skills, such as firearms proficiency and legal updates.  Other advanced skills training may be offered on a voluntary basis.

Of the 36 individuals enrolled in this class, 30 have college degrees or professional certifications; six have served as Deputy WCOs for the Game Commission; and five have been or were Game Commission employees in other capacities.  Nine are veterans, of which three are from the Army, one the Marine Corps, one the Coast Guard, two the Air Force, and two the Navy.

Other previous careers include police officer, corrections officer, deputy sheriff, clerk, dispatcher, attorney, wildlife nuisance control agent, land abstractor, city councilman, arborist and sales representative.

The minimum age of those enrolled is 21 years, the maximum is 49 years and the average age is 29.6 years.

Cadets and their hometowns are: Cory Ammerman, Harrisburg, Dauphin County; Jason Amory, Meadville, Crawford County; Eric Anderson, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County; Douglas Barrick, Newport, Perry County; Shawn Barron, Somerset, Somerset County; Douglas Bergman, Sutersville, Westmoreland County; Jesse Bish, Corsica, Jefferson County; William Brehun, Stahlstown, Westmoreland County; Richard Briggs III, Wapwallopen, Luzerne County; Shawna Burkett, Erie, Erie County; Stacy Carroll, Holbrook, Greene County; Patrick Cull, Sharpsville, Mercer County; Kathleen Edmiston, New Wilmington, Lawrence County; Susan Edmiston, Hermitage, Mercer County; Josh Fette, Farrell, Mercer County; Byron Gibbs, Mars, Butler County; Ryan Gildea, Ashley, Luzerne County; Michael Greiner, Beaver Falls, Beaver County; Mark Gritzer, Clearfield, Clearfield County; Philip Kasper, Hunlock Creek, Luzerne County; Francis Keilbach, New Stanton, Westmoreland County; Nathaniel Kimmel, Indiana, Indiana County; Steven Knickel, Red Lion, York County; James McCann IV, Cheltenham, Montgomery County; Kirk Miller, Williamsport, Lycoming County; Kevin Moran, Scranton, Lackawanna County; Aaron Morrow, Harrisburg, Dauphin County; Bryan Mowrer, Hanover, York County; Jeffrey Oleniacz, Montrose, Susquehanna County; Michael Papinchak, Murrysville, Westmoreland County; Anthony Parrott, New Castle, Lawrence County; Christopher Reidmiller, Homer City, Indiana County; Brian Sheetz, Lebanon, Lebanon County; Michael Yeck, Rochester, Beaver County; Salvadore Zaffuto Jr., Portage, Cambria County; and Cassie Zliceski, Quakertown, Bucks County.

The Game Commission has budgeted nearly $2 million to train these 36 individuals, who will fill vacant districts throughout the state.  The agency anticipates that all vacant districts will be filled when this class graduates in March.

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HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved a notational vote to make a technical change to the final package of 2012-13 hunting seasons and bag limits for expanded bear seasons in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.

The technical amendment, which will become part of the final adopted package, specifies there will be a three-day special firearms bear season from Oct. 18-20 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D for certain hunters.  Those hunters are limited to junior and senior license holders, disabled person permit (to use a vehicle) holders, and Pennsylvania residents only serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706.

This expanded bear opportunity runs concurrently with the special statewide three-day antlerless deer season for the same group of license holders, and was part of the original intent of the Board.  However, the specific listing of this extended bear season was mistakenly omitted from the regulatory package voted on April 24.

In addition to announcing the results of this notational vote today, the results of the vote will be announced at the Board’s next meeting on June 26. As this was determined to be a technical change and not a substantive change, the Game Commission has been advised that no further vote is necessary.

Following is a recap of all bear seasons approved for the 2012-13 license year:

BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 12-16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 17, and Nov. 19-21. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E): Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Designated Areas): Nov. 26-Dec. 1. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

-          WMUs 3A and 3C;

-          Portions of WMU 3B, East of Rt. 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Rt. 154 from Canton to Rt. 220 at Laporte and East of Rt. 42 from Laporte to Rt. 118 and that portion of 4E, East of Rt. 42; and

-          Portions of WMUs 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and 3B in Lycoming County that lie North of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 Bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Rt. 15 to Rt. 220, and North of Rt. 220 to the Mill Hall exit, North of SR 2015 to Rt. 150; East of Rt. 150 to Lusk Run Rd. and South of Lusk Run Rd. to Rt. 120, Rt. 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001; East of SR 1001 to Croak Hollow Rd., South of Croak Hollow Rd. to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), South of Rt. 664 to Little Plum Rd. (the intersection of SR 1003), South of SR 1003 to SR 1006, South of SR 1006 to Sulphur Run Rd., South of Sulphur Run Rd. to Rt. 44, East of Rt. 44 to Rt. 973, South of Rt. 973 to Rt. 87, West of Rt. 87 to Rt. 864, South of Rt. 864 to Rt. 220 and West of Rt. 220 to Rt. 405 and West of Rt. 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 15-Sept. 28. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 29-Nov. 10. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 13-20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Oct. 18-20.  Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents only serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 26-Dec. 8. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

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