09-29-2007, 02:10 AM
Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) and Land Management Group Supervisors (LMSGs) spend a considerable amount of time gathering information about wildlife population trends in their districts. With the hunting and trapping seasons just around the corner, the Game Commission now is sharing that information - through its website - with those who enjoy Penn's Woods.
To view these forecasts offered by Game Commission officers, go to the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the "Field Officer Game Forecasts," select the region of interest in the map, and then choose the WCO district of interest from the map. For LMGS reports, select the link to the LMGS Group of interest within that region.
"Our field officers provide wildlife forecasts for small game, furbearers, wild turkey, bear and deer within their respective districts," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "These forecasts are based on sightings field officers have had over the past months leading up to the 2007-08 seasons, and some offer comparisons to previous wildlife forecasts. Some WCOs and LMGSs include anecdotal information, as well as hunting and trapping leads in their districts.
"The Game Commission offers this information to hunters and trappers to help them in making plans for the upcoming seasons. Many WCO and LMGS reports offer information on where to hunt or trap within their districts, as well as guidance on where to get more information, particularly for trapping of certain furbearers, such as beaver and coyotes."
Roe noted that the Game Commission divides the state's 67 counties into six regions, and then each region is divided into WCO districts comprised of about 300 square miles each. There are 136 WCO districts statewide. Each of the 29 LMGS group is comprised of a number of counties or portions of counties within each region, and seeks to equally distribute the amount of State Game Lands and public access lands within the region.
Media Contact:
Jerry Feaser (717) 705-6541 or PGCNEWS@state.pa.us
To view these forecasts offered by Game Commission officers, go to the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the "Field Officer Game Forecasts," select the region of interest in the map, and then choose the WCO district of interest from the map. For LMGS reports, select the link to the LMGS Group of interest within that region.
"Our field officers provide wildlife forecasts for small game, furbearers, wild turkey, bear and deer within their respective districts," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "These forecasts are based on sightings field officers have had over the past months leading up to the 2007-08 seasons, and some offer comparisons to previous wildlife forecasts. Some WCOs and LMGSs include anecdotal information, as well as hunting and trapping leads in their districts.
"The Game Commission offers this information to hunters and trappers to help them in making plans for the upcoming seasons. Many WCO and LMGS reports offer information on where to hunt or trap within their districts, as well as guidance on where to get more information, particularly for trapping of certain furbearers, such as beaver and coyotes."
Roe noted that the Game Commission divides the state's 67 counties into six regions, and then each region is divided into WCO districts comprised of about 300 square miles each. There are 136 WCO districts statewide. Each of the 29 LMGS group is comprised of a number of counties or portions of counties within each region, and seeks to equally distribute the amount of State Game Lands and public access lands within the region.
Media Contact:
Jerry Feaser (717) 705-6541 or PGCNEWS@state.pa.us