Game Commission Officials to Appear on PCN 'Call-In' Program; Deadline Approaching for Next SWG Project Applications

Game Commission Officials to Appear on PCN 'Call-In' Program; Deadline Approaching for Next SWG Project Applications

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission officials -- Carl G. Roe, executive director, and Calvin W. DuBrock, Bureau of Wildlife Management director -- will appear on Pennsylvania Cable Network's "PCN Call-In" program on Thursday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Viewers of the hour-long program can call in questions about hunting, trapping and wildlife management to PCN toll-free at 1-877-PA65001 (726-5001). (Please check local listings for the PCN channel in your area, or PCN's website at http://www.pcntv.com/.)

The call-in program, which is facilitated by PCN staff, will be aired just two weeks after the Board of Game Commissioners' April meeting, at which time it gave final approval to the 2007-08 seasons and bag limits.

Available on nearly 150 cable systems throughout the state, PCN is a nonprofit, nonpartisan cable television network that airs unedited live and same-day coverage of Pennsylvania House and Senate sessions, press conferences, speeches and other public forums where the business of the state is debated, discussed and decided.

PCN's live interactive "Call-In" program allows viewers to speak directly with government officials, newsmakers, and other knowledgeable parties on current Commonwealth issues. For more information, visit PCN's website (http://www.pcntv.com/).

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR NEXT SWG PROJECT APPLICATIONS

The Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are reminding potential applicants that the May 4 deadline for projects to be considered for funding through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program is rapidly approaching.

U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne recently announced the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will allocate more than $60 million through the SWG program nationwide to help prevent imperiled wildlife from suffering further decline. Pennsylvania will receive $1.9 million to help address high- priority conservation projects for endangered, threatened and at-risk species across Pennsylvania.

"States know the most about conservation issues within their borders," said Kempthorne. "Taken together, all 56 state and territorial wildlife action plans represent the most comprehensive national assessment of the health of fish and wildlife resources, and steps needed to ensure healthy populations. The State Wildlife Grant programs demonstrate our support of conservation partnerships with state, tribal and territorial wildlife agencies as well as private partners."

Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Doug Austen noted the significance of programs to address nongame species.

"These grants provide us with a great opportunity to further protect these animals, which are important indicators of environmental health. We look forward to working with our conservation partners across the state to develop the best projects for long-term conservation benefits to the Commonwealth," Austen said.

"Based on the limited resources of our agencies, nongame species are greatly underfunded," Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe said. "SWG funding, as well as the former Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program, has provided a much-needed infusion of federal funds for wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania."

For more information and an application packet, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/), click on "Wildlife" and choose "State Wildlife Grants Program" in the "Wildlife" box in the right-hand column or visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website (http://www.fishandboat.com/), select "Grants" from the left-hand column and then "State Wildlife Grants Program."

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: PGCNews@state.pa.us

For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541
PGCNEWS@state.pa.us

Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission

CONTACT: Jerry Feaser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission,
+1-717-705-6541, PGCNEWS@state.pa.us

Web site:

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/
http://www.pcntv.com/
http://www.fishandboat.com/

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