PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 529

ILLER

Representative

District

Spring Sportsmen Newsletter

2010 Trout Season

Opening Day:

Saturday, April 17

Time:

8 a.m.

Minimum Size:

Seven (7) inches

Fishing Hours:

24 hours a day, afterthe 8 a.m. opener

Creel limits

Regular season (opening day thru Labor Day) – 5 (combined species)Extended season (Jan. 1-Feb. 28) & (day after Labor Day-Dec. 31) – 3(combined species)

Regional Opening Day:

Saturday, April 3

Regional Opening Day counties:

All waters in Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin,Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery,Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties.

Streams on county borders that are part of Regional Opening Day:

Mahantango Creek, between Northumber-land and Dauphin counties. This is the ONLY stream inNorthumberland County opening on the earlierdate.• West Branch Mahantango Creek, betweenSnyder and Juniata counties. This is theONLY stream in Snyder County opening onthe earlier date.• Two streams in Carbon County – LizardCreek and Mahoning Creek. May 1 Opening Day - Walleye & Sauger May 22 Fish for Free Day May 22-28 National Safe Boating Week June 5-13 National Fishing and Boating Week June 6 Fish for Free Day June 12 Opening Day – Bass

April 17April 3

A Message fromRep. Ron Miller

As the recently-appointed HouseRepublican Game andFisheries Committeechairman, I wantedto take some timeto offer you some of the latest news fromHarrisburg with regardto game laws. Huntingand fishing are bigbusiness in our state,and Pennsylvania’soutdoorsmen andoutdoorswomen are aspassionate about theirsports as any of theircounterparts in otherregions. I’m looking forward to working withmy colleagues on thecommittee to put forthmeaningful legislationthat makes theseoutdoor activities evenmore enjoyable for thosewho participate in them.

I recently met with Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe to discuss sportsmen’s issues.

Rep. Miller’s Ofﬁces

HARRISBURG OFFICE:

111 Ryan Office Building PO Box 202093Harrisburg, PA 17120-2093Phone: (717) 783-8389FAX: (717) 705-2095

DISTRICT OFFICE:

6872 Susquehanna Trail SouthPO Box 277 Jacobus, PA 17407-0277Phone: (717) 428-9889FAX: (717) 771-1035

E-mail: rmiller@pahousegop.comWebsite: www.repmiller.com

SPORTSMEN’S WEB LINKS

Pennsylvania Game Commission --

www.pgc.state.pa.us

Fish and Boat Commission --

www.ﬁsh.state.pa.us

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service --

www.fws.gov

National Riﬂe Association --

www.nra.org

www.RepMiller.com

2010 Creel Limits Drop to Three for American Shad in the DelawareRiver and Estuary

Due to decreased numbers of shad over the past 20 yearsin the Delaware River basin watershed, the Pennsylvania Fishand Boat Commission (PFBC) has reduced the creel limit for American shad from six to three in the Delaware River andRiver Estuary and the entire Delaware River mainstem from theconfluence of the East and West Branches downstream to theCommodore Barry Bridge.This regulation was effective Jan. 9, when published in thePennsylvania Bulletin. This change is called temporary modifica-tion, but will remain in effect until the commission takes actionto lift it.This regulation did not cover large tributaries upriver of thetidal influence, such as the Lackawaxen River in Pike County, butthe PFBC is seeking to make the two sections consistent, with acreel limit of three, so it has filed a proposed regulation that, asof publication of this newsletter, has not been finalized.It appears, however, that the limit for American shad onthose Delaware River tributaries will drop to three from six in2010, but the proposed regulation to reduce the creel limit inthese tributaries is still pending.The proposed regulation was published in the PennsylvaniaBulletin on Jan. 16, and the public comment period ended 30days from that date.It is expected this extension of the creel limit to three intributaries including the Lackawaxen River in Pike County couldbe in effect by April.The commission has a verbal agreement with New York, New Jersey and Delaware to ensure the recreational fishing opportuni-ties continue by reducing creel limits along with Pennsylvania.New Jersey’s freshwater and marine divisions are expected toreduce the creel limit to three on the Delaware River. New York ismoving toward this same standard. Delaware’s only recreationalshad area is the Brandywine Creek, which is very limited. They do not make a distinction between American shad and riverherring, but they are moving to reduce the creel limit from 10combined/day to six combined/day, but that is not expectedduring the 2010 season.This change in the daily creel limit will reduce the amount of adult shad taken by recreational fishing from April through early June, when shad move into the river to spawn. According to The Shad Times, a newsletter from theDelaware River Shad Fisherman’s Association (DRSFA), thisaction to decrease the recreational harvest is supported by thePennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, which endorsesthe DRSFA’s 2009 Delaware River Basin Shad RestorationPlan (DRBSRP).The DRBSRP recommends increases in Delaware River andother river egg harvests and reduction in recreational harvests tothree a day for all states in the watershed, and recommends thatNew Jersey and Delaware also stop commercial harvests.It recommends a “continuation of the ocean interceptmoratorium until self-sustaining shad population goals (DelawareRiver – 2,000,000, Lehigh River - 750,000, Schuylkill River– 750,000) are met or exceeded.”

Fish and Boat Commission AnnualReport

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)recently presented its annual report to the House Game andFisheries Committee. The report indicated a 4 percent increasein license sales in the past year. Commission Acting ExecutiveDirector Brian Barner said the recent recession appears tohave returned many people to this affordable, family orientedactivity.Boaters and anglers contribute about $3.4 billion annually to the Pennsylvania economy.The Commission is continuing to work with the New YorkState Department of Environmental Conservation to protect theDelaware River, and is also working with the U.S. GeologicalSurvey, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-tion, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigatelarge numbers of dead smallmouth bass in the SusquehannaRiver Watershed.Several hatcheries and dams have received state grantfunding for upgrades and repairs. Fourteen high-hazard dams will be repaired with more than $60 million in state funding. Wildlife Conservation Officers periodically inspect abandoneddams in the Commonwealth and place signs to warn the publicof dangers. The PFBC also attempts to discover who owns theright to the dam.Barner acknowledged the need to develop the MarcellusShale natural gas region, but wanted assurances that drilling,the handling of wastewater, and drilling infrastructure would notaffect stream quality. He felt some of the revenue should fundnatural resource conservation.Barner explained that the trout in the classroom program isan aquatic resource programs where eggs are delivered to theclassroom and raised by the class with the support of the teacher.Trout Unlimited has awarded a grant to the PFBC to keep thisprogram running. This is a good biology lesson for the studentsbecause some of the fish don’t survive.Committee members questioned the health of the stripedbass in the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and whether the shadpopulation is self sustaining. Some Schuylkill River impound-ments hinder the shad from returning from the ocean to spawn.There are also predatory issues that shad encounter in the ocean,including fishing by commercial fishermen. However, studies haveshown enough shad are returning to sustain their population. Another question was what types of invasive species arebeing spread because of the Marcellus Shale. Two examples aregolem algae and zebra mussels. The Susquehanna Water Basin Authority is requiring disinfection of drilling equipment to helpfight the spread of invasive species. Also noted was the survival struggle that small mouth bassin the Susquehanna River are encountering. The low survivalrate could be caused by a parasite that is weakening the immunesystems of the fish and adding stress factors to the fish that don’tallow them to fight off infection. The problem is not as evidentduring periods of high water and cooler temperatures, but thecause is still uncertain.

PROPOSED 2010-11 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 9-15 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 16-Nov. 27; Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 27-Feb. 5 (6 daily,12 possession).RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 16–Nov. 27, Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 22 (2 daily, 4 possession).RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 9-16 (4daily, 8 possession).RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 23-Nov. 27, Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 27-Feb. 26 (4 daily, 8 possession).PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 9-16 (2 daily,4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasantsmay be taken in all other WMUs. There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 23-Nov. 27. Male and female may betaken in all other WMUs – Oct. 23-Nov. 27, Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 27-Feb. 5 (2 daily, 4 in possession). There isno open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.BOBWHITE QUAIL: No open season, except captive raised or propagated bobwhite quail may be taken onregulated hunting grounds, and public and private lands by permit.HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 27–Jan. 1 (1 daily, 2 possession).WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except: Sundays; during the antlered and antlerlessdeer seasons; and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season.CROWS: July 2-April 10, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deerseasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season. No limit.WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 30-Nov. 13; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 30- Nov. 19; WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D – Oct. 30-Nov. 13; WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 30-Nov. 19; WMU 5A – Nov. 2-4; WMUs 5B,5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, andmentored youth – April 23, 2011. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 30-May 31, 2011. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second springgobbler may only be taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.)BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Bow and Arrow only: Nov. 15-19. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 20, 22-23. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 1-6. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. The Board willdecide later on an allocation of elk licenses for the 2010 season.ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 8-13. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 6, in designated areas.Elk, Special Conservation Tag (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 1-Nov. 6. One elk tag for one antlered orantlerless elk will be auctioned at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation annual banquet.DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 18-Oct. 1 and Nov. 15-27. One antlerlessdeer with each required antlerless license.DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Oct. 2-Nov. 13 and Dec. 27-Jan. 29. Oneantlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 2-Nov. 13 and Dec. 27-Jan. 15. One antlered deerper hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Nov. 29-Dec. 11. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerlesslicense.DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2G, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Nov. 29-Dec. 3. One antlered deer perhunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAPproperties during this period.)