HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public input on a draft pheasant management plan, which can be reviewed on the agency’s Web site by clicking on “Draft Pheasant Management Plan” in the center of the homepage.
“We are seeking public comment on the draft pheasant management plan to ensure the resulting final management plan considers the thoughts and concerns of Pennsylvanians about this species,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “As written, the plan is science-based, progressive and promotes responsible management. We’re interested in hearing from Pennsylvanians who would like to offer comments, and to see if we’ve missed something or if they share our management vision for the future.”
Developed by Scott Klinger, Game Commission biologist, the pheasant management plan provides a comprehensive and current summary of pheasant taxonomy, biology, population trends, habitat relationships and trends, pheasant propagation program and its role, hunter harvest, economic significance, partnerships and population restoration approaches in Pennsylvania.
The draft management plan focuses on providing quality pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania and outlines 14 objectives and 58 strategies to achieve six goals. Goal 1 calls for restoring self-sustaining and huntable ring-necked pheasant populations in suitable habitat by establishing Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs). Goal 2 seeks to provide pheasant hunting opportunities by annually producing at least 250,000 pheasants at the PGC game farms and maximizing their harvest by sportsmen. Informing and educating the public on the status of the pheasant management plan will be key to garnering support needed for habitat improvements (Goal 3). Goal 4 seeks to develop partnerships to restore wild pheasants populations in PA. Population monitoring and research to insure the best management of the pheasant resource are stated in Goal 5. Lastly, Goal 6 seeks to provide sustainable funding and the resources necessary to implement the pheasant management plan.
Public comments on the agency’s pheasant management plan will be accepted until July 12, via the website or by mail to: Pheasant Management Plan, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.
For more information, visit the Game Commission’s “Pheasant” section on the agency’s Web site which can be viewed by selecting “Hunting” in the left-hand column of the homepage then click on the pheasant photo.
