mhogan

If you have been watching, non-hunting groups are asking the state's lawmakers to take control of the SGL's away from the PGC. Some of these state lawmakers are agreeing that they should be able to manage these traditional hunting lands. Many are also putting forward legislation that would take the setting of hunting seasons out of the hands of the PGC.
It is time for hunters that love their sport to climb off the fence and join this battle.

Be very respectfully, but write and call the legislators on the Fish and Game Departments, your local representatives and the PGC commissioners that you want the PGC to remain in full control of the SGL and the setting of seasons as presently established bylaw, without and outside oversight or interference!

Here is the latest from one non-hunting group. They plan to beat the April 8th PGC meetings. We had better be their too.

If you can't make it personally, make sure you join a club or group that will represent you there.


Subject: Lies, distortions, half truths, etc.
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 19:29:54 -0500
From: "johnsonp" <[email protected]>
To
CC:

Greeting from Central Pa., As you all know by now there is a tremendous
propaganda campaign being waged by the PGC. They have used
misinformation to cloud issues, legislation, and regulations. The
legislators are confused, the hunters have no idea what's going on, the
general public isn't quite sure what's going on. Here"s what's
happening:1.) House Bill 2181 is stuck in committee in the House
Tourism and Recreational Development Committee. At this time there are
not enough votes to release from committee. YOU need to contact ALL
members of this Committee - NOW!!! You can get list on line under pa
government. Robert Godshall is Chairman.COMMENTS - HB 2181 may not be
our answer in it's current form. There maybe amendments. There maybe
new legislation. When the written transcripts of the House of Reps
hearing on the HB2181 becomes available it will enlighten many people to
PGC'S propaganda.{Listmaster note: HB2181 requires the Pennsylvania Game
Commission to submit only non-hunting regulations to the same review as
other Pennsylvania agencies. HB 2181 does not remove any power from the
PGC.}2.) Petition - We are starting a petition that YOU must get
involved with. Get it off the P.E.C. web page. 3.) Stick to the
message of our cause. "PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC PROPERTY" This fight is
for all citizens of the Commonwealth. 4.) DO NOT give up. Ask
questions and demand answers. I'm sending 11 questions you should ask
everyone you talk to. I can tell you honestly that you have more
information than most legislators.5.) Talking to the Game Commission is
a waste of time and energy. But April 8thand 9th they have a public
meeting. WE WILL SHOW UP! You have a right to comment. Rally in
Harrisburg.6.) There is a lot going on behind the scenes in Harrisburg.
If it is known that the "Problem" is not going away, then we may get
somewhere with the Legislators.Think Spring, Pete Johnson, State Trail
Director

The recent request to change regulations on the Pennsylvania game lands by Executive Director Vern Ross would create an exclusive 1.5 million acre hunting preserve for less than 1% of Pennsylvania citizens. It would be subsidized by all property tax payers to the amount of over $400,000,000.00!


1) Are the Pennsylvania Game lands public property of the Commonwealth?
2) Why are the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission EXEMPT from the public review process of the Independent Regulator Review Commission?
3) Where and when can the public find and review a copy of the 1999 Federal audit of the PGC that will show equestrians and mountain bike riders as legal user groups on the game lands?
4) Where does all the money go that the Game Commission receives from the sale of the publics’ natural resources (timber, gas, coal, etc.), and what is it being used for?
5) If only 40% of annual revenues by the PGC are from hunting licenses, then how can the claim be made that the game lands belong to the hunters?
6) Where are the public records which prove that the PGC did a scientific environmental impact study to substantiate claims of extensive damage to wildlife habitat by horsemen and mountain bike riders?
7) Where can the public review land trades, conservation easements, property acquisitions by the Game Commission, and what is the purpose of more private land being taken off the tax rolls?
8) Why has the PGC stated that they will lose Pitman-Robinson funding, if they do not eliminate outdoor recreation for the game lands? Most other states do not have a Game Commission. In these states, a significant portion of the funds support a very broad out door conservation program, while hunting is a secondary usage.
9) What process is currently in place to protect and defend the general public against miss-information spread by a state Agency purposely for their agenda?
10) Why are the Game Commissioners a political appointment rather than elected, and what decisive factors have to be met to be a Commissioner?
11) What is wrong with the Pennsylvania Legislature that denial of the public to public land is not being scrutinized and dealt with in accordance the Constitution of Pennsylvania?
As a tax paying, voting citizen, I would greatly appreciate answers to my questions and your thoughts.
Sincerely,

BBHPete

Thanks for the heads up. I will be in touch with my representative.

God Bless & Good Hunting
LM/NAHC
Member NRA
Member P&Y CLUB
Member QDMA
Member Ducks Unlimited

BTBowhunter

This is a statement to all hunters who care!Bury em with calls and letters!
Don't say I gotta get to it. Pick up the phone, pick up a pen, do it now!

Mark, thanks once again for the heads up.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle> I called on this one before and thought it was dead. I guess not.<img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>