PA Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs

Don't whisper SHOUT

As a sportsman alone, your voice could get lost. Other voices are calling for an end to hunting, trapping and even fishing; others are speaking against wise management of wildlife and conservation of our natural resources. But together, sportsmen can speak loudly and be listened to by policymakers, to truly protect the future of Pennsylvania's great outdoors and out traditional outdoor sports.

As a PFCS member your voice counts

The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs is a grassroots organization that gets its direction on issues affecting the sportsmen and the outdoors from its members….every single one of them including those from Lower Providence Rod & Gun Club. How does the PFSC do this? By listening to you, the member. Through its system of decision-making and voting that starts at the county level, to the division and state levels, the PFSC is responsive to the needs and wishes of the sportsmen. Which is why the PFSC has a big say with the state's legislature and its lawmakers and state agencies like the Game Commission and the Fish Commission and the DNR. We need your help to keep us strong for all sportsmen of Pennsylvania.

Why PFSC?

The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs has had over 65 years experience as an aggressive advocate for the sportsmen and natural resource conservation. Since 1932 the PFSC has been the dominate voice of the sportsmen on Capitol Hill. Headquartered in Harrisburg, the PFSC is the only statewide sportsmen's organization with a full time staff working for its members. These professionals carry on the day-to-day efforts of standing up for sportsmen's interests, transforming PFSC voices into action. We are affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, the NRA and a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writer's Association.

Our mission is to provide a statewide, united voice for the concerns of all sportsmen and conservationists; to ensure their rights and interests are protected, and to protect and enhance the environment of our natural resources of Pennsylvania.

We can brag

PFSC's proud tradition of legislative victories can be traced back to 1937, when the PFSC was the driving force behind the passage of Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Act. We have also played a major role in:

• Repealing the Philadelphia Firearms Act
  
• Establishing fish ladders for migratory species on the Susquehanna River
  
• Protecting existing club shooting ranges from closure due to noise complaints, through enactment of recent legislation.
  
• Preventing local governments from prohibiting hunting in their jurisdiction, through a successful case in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  
• Guaranteeing conservation education is taught in the public school system and all state parks within the commonwealth
  
• Diverting attempts to use game lands as sites for waste storage and disposal
  
• Protecting wetlands, waterways, public lands, and your right to use them
  

And lots more

Game/Trapping Committee Members, Delegates and Other Interested Members

Our Spring PFSC convention will be held in Somerset on March 26-28. As usual, we need to hear input from our grassroots members on several issues in order for me to voice the concerns and positions of our members.

Following are several changes that received preliminary approval at the January PGC meeting and will be presented at the April PGC meeting for final approval.

• Expand the use of crossbows for hunting. The proposal would allow the use of crossbows statewide for hunting bear and elk and during any of the firearms deer seasons, including the regular two week concurrent season, the early muzzleloader season and the late flintlock season. In addition, for hunters in WMU's 2B, 5C and 5D, the most urbanized areas in the state, crossbows would be legal during any established deer season. Disabled hunters would still need to obtain a disabled hunter permit to use a crossbow during the early statewide archery season outside of WMU's 2B, 5C and 5D.
  
• Expand the Deer Management Assistance Program. Under the proposal, eligible lands for DMAP are : publicly-owned lands; private land owners or lessees where no fee is charged for hunting; and private land hunting clubs established prior to Jan. 1, 2000, that own 1,000 or more contiguous acres. ( This could be used to direct more hunter pressure onto lands where deer are over populated, and relieve some of the pressure on other areas.)
  
• Expand the area where bear hunting will run concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season in order to address the growing problem of human-bear conflicts. The expanded area would include WMU's 3D, 4C and that portion of WMU 4E, east of Rt. 487; that portion of WMU 3B east of Rt. 487 and south of Rt. 87, and that portion of WMU 3C, east of Interstate I-81. Also included are a portion of WMU's 2G and 3B that lie north of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 bridge, west to the Rt. 220 bridge, east of Rt. 220 to Rt. 44 and 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.
  
• Expand the elk season. Hold an early elk season Sept.20-25 and the second season Nov. 8-13. Farmers are suffering severe crop damage and the early season would allow hunters to harvest these animals, rather than have the farmers shoot them for crop damage. The farmers must sign agreements before this hunt can take place and a very small number of licenses will be issued for this early season.
  
• The Board also gave preliminary approval to allow hunters to apply for an elk license in each season.
  
• Expand the bobcat hunting and trapping opportunities by adding two Wildlife Management Units in the Southwestern part of the state, WMU's 2C and 2E.

Another issue that is expected to come up for major discussion this year is Sunday hunting. We have visited this issue several times during the past years. However, we are requesting your position again at the March convention because we expect strong efforts this year to expand Sunday hunting. Delegates, please come to the general session prepared to vote according to the desires of the members you represent.
Please solicit input from our members and be prepared to voice their recommendations at the Game/Trapping Committee meeting and the General Session.

The local Montgomery County Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's meeting will be held at Lower Providence Rod & Gun Club on March 15 at 7:30 PM. President Joe Kleiner will preside at the meeting. The meeting will be adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM. Following the meeting refreshments will be available. This is where you can voice your concerns and ideas. Make plans to attend now.
Thank you. Hope to see you at the Convention in Somerset, Pa on March 26-28.