ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE, INC.
MARCH 9, 2006 MINUTES
President Maranche called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance and Conservation Pledge were recited in unison.
CLUBS AND AGENCIES ATTENDING:
Bakerstown Beagle-Bucek Homestead – Caldwell PSLC - Brown
Bethel Park S. – Walters LFSC – Barnett P/M - Hoffman
Braddock – Mazik McDonald – Stolfer Police - Felice
Bull Creek – Wilczynski McKeesport – Christeson Renton - Girdich
Clairton – Maranche MSCI – Sparrow Richland - Zang
Collier – Ragaller Mt. Nebo – Fischer SAFE - Fedorka
Dormont-Mt.Leb – Yanchak NWTF – Shick TCWA - Connors
Forest Grove - Cersosimo PHR&G – Pritchard WDeer - Bagaley
WPA Taxid. – Fundy
PFBC –WCO Bob Wheeler PGC – WCO Gary Fujak
The February meeting minutes were approved as mailed.
Treasurer’s Report was given by Joe Connors, Treasurer. Motion made and seconded to approve (Hoffman/Pritchard). MOTION CARRIED.
Communications – GOA newsletter, Keystone Wild Notes, notification of Marc Gergely sportsmen’s day on March 25, at the Duquesne Masonic Lodge
Richland Sportsmen’s Association Delegate Dave Zang was introduced and welcomed.
President Maranche at this time announced the appointment of Lee Brown, delegate of the Pittsburgh Sportsmen’s Luncheon Club to the ACSL Game Committee.
Report of District Game Protector – WCO Gary Fujak announced – 30 doe captured in Perry County and 40 in North Central PA – doe are banded with radio and ear collars then released. This study will show the percentage of female deer surviving one hunting season to the next; how female deer respond to hunter movements etc.
The PGC is in dire financial straights. Alternative funding is necessary; a license increase is needed by July 2007. There are no funds for a WCO class. Politics is playing a major part.
Page 2
PGC continued – Turkeys trapped and sent to South Dakota, 49, with more planned. Pheasants will be traded for turkeys. The second gobbler tag deadline is April 1.
See your Digest for the application.
Biggest bear taken in PA according to skull size 23 and 3/16ths. Fifteen years of age.
URBAN DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN is being drafted; hunters need to be the tool to reduce deer population. Urban areas need controlled hunts with firearms of choice being archery equipment or crossbow. Organized hunters are needed; venison can be donated to food kitchens or hunters sharing the harvest. Whitetail Management is stretched thin.
Report of District Waterways Protector - WCO Bob Wheeler gave info on license sales;
818 thousand licenses sold in 2005 (down 10%)
907 thousand licenses sold in 2004
License increase (to $21.00 in 2005) from ($16.25 in 2001)
Trout stamp sales suffered 15% from 2004/2005 yet revenue increased 34%.
The PFBC is losing fishermen. 91,000 Erie stamps were sold - $720,000 (these monies are used to purchase access and properties) A lot of Erie property is being posted so purchasing is good. The Erie waters are the best in the state so let the PFBC know to continue to dedicate the monies for the five year period, not to the general fund.
Early season trout stocking is complete. See the preseason stocking schedule on the website. Opening day of trout is April 15th, Walleye May 6th, Bass June 17th.
Fish for free days: Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, June 4th
Musky proposals - changing creel limit to one-fish daily, 36-inch minimum with a year-round season; also musky enhancement program designating certain waters having a year-round season, one-fish daily creel limit and 45-inch minimum. Public comment is being taken www.fish.state.pa.us
State Wildlife Grants Program – applications due April 7th
Conservation Leadership School, ages 15-18, Club sponsored, June 25-July 1, 2006 or July 9-15. www.conferences.cas.psu.edu.
Rivers Conservation Camp, ages 14-17, Boiling Springs, PA June 18-23, 2006. www.riverscamp.com or Mike Klimkos (717-243-3056)
Youth License proposal – allow clubs to take control educating youth into fishing opportunities. Clubs can request information from PFBC.
Page 3
C O M M I T T E E S
Legislative – Chairman Kim Stolfer reporting GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt and Professor John Lott will be addressing the March 14 conference in Harrisburg. Prof. Lott states that the legislators just can’t understand the stupidity of the gun registration; in Canada’s entire time of registering firearms, their $2 million program went to $2 billion dollars and they have not one single crime solved or assisted by this vast database of information. The PSP lawsuit has tried to stop the ACSL ability to find out how terrible and useless this information is; how it affects interaction between law enforcement and citizens and how it fails to live up to its ability to solve and stop crimes.
Mike Stollenwerk won his lawsuit in Federal Court. In 1995 and 1998 the ACSL told state legislators that it is unlawful to collect social security numbers for the sale of firearms. It took Mike’s lawsuit in Federal court to order the state to cease and desist the use of social numbers on the sale of firearms and concealed carry license approvals and applications.
On the issue of carrying a concealed firearm while hunting, request was made of Kim to pursue this; Rep. Staback will introduce and request co-sponsorship of a bill to permit hunters to carry a concealed weapon for protection, not to use on game but to possess it. This is a step forward in the rights of hunters.
HB2483 was introduced by State Rep. Dwight Evans to provide local control of firearms.
Areas of Pennsylvania who see alarming statistics want to be proactive in protecting themselves, their families and their neighborhoods. Last year, the City of Pittsburgh
arrested 679 people for carrying a firearm without a license; see how many prosecutions in Zappala’s office. This constitutes a 5-7 year sentence. Years ago, it was determined 150 people were responsible for 70% of the violent crimes in Allegheny County.
Liability of going into county parks with a firearm – language is being drafted in that Section 6109 of the Concealed Carry section of the Uniform Firearms Act will have primacy and supercede any county ordinance, and you will have the right to carry in county parks. This is being worked on.
Thirteen studies done on use of a firearm to protect your family and property. Almost all officers in these incidences have judged a person so as not to be taken into court.
In twenty years, there has not been as much pro-gun legislation packaged up and ready to go as will be presented in Harrisburg Tuesday, March 14, 2006.
Page 4
Conservation – Chairman Jack Walters stated that Governor Rendell ordered the re-inspection of each of the commonwealth’s 77 active underground mines to heed the call for a voluntary “timeout” to discuss safety with workers.
The DEP Greensburg District Mining Office has issued two re-mining permits that will result in the reclammation of 50 acres of abandoned mine lands and restore the health of several streams in the Allegheny River Watershed. DEP also issued a re-mining permit to an Armstrong County based company to reclaim 6.2 acres of abandoned mine lands in Armstrong County.
One of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world will soon be developed at the Orlando Utilities Commission’s Stanton Energy Center. This is in partnership with Southern Company who has received $235 million for the project.
Forest Ecology Camp – Member Clubs – the ACSL will pay for half of the cost to Penn State Conservation Leadership School, McKeever Forest Ecology Camp or Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp. Your club pays for the course. Your youth must complete the course satisfactorily and you must send a copy of the student’s graduation certificate to the ACSL or have your club delegate bring it to a league meeting. The ACSL will in turn reimburse your club one half of the tuition. Please contact Jack Walters at 412-884-2148.
Game – Chairman Mike Maranche reported HB213 (Godshall amended Title 18) providing penalties for acts committed by animal rights activists, as eco-terrorism, thereby increasing penalties to strengthen already existing hunter harassment law. Passed HR 3/16/05, passed Senate Appropriations Committee 2/13/06, awaits Senate floor vote.
HB2435 Tigue Amends Title 34- legislatively sets the date of deer hunting season. It is the job of the Game Commission to set “seasons and bag limits” under its mandate to manage wildlife. It is bad precedent for the legislature to do so.
HB2133 Fairchild, Amends Title 75 (vehicles) providing for special registration plates, for identification card - this compliments HB2134 social security numbers on local and state government forms. Passed the House 3/06/06, referred to Senate. This needs to be fixed in the Federal Government.
State Rep. Mike Hanna to introduce legislation requiring the PGC pay its own legal fees;
stating the PGC seems to be unwisely aggressive in initiating legal action because of its access to General Fund money to pay for those costs.
Page 5
Game continued – The PGC is set against releasing wolves into PA Forests. Quoting Wildlife Management director Calvin W.DuBrock, “We do not believe that there are any areas remote enough in our state where large predators could be reintroduced without setting up a conflict situation for people or other wildlife valued by people.”
EXPANDED AERIAL SURVEY EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO BETTER GAUGE DEER POPULATIONS.
Fish and Clean Streams –The Cold Water Heritage Conference was attended by Mike Christeson and Frank Sparrow. Very few streams in PA are navigable; 75% of land is private property. Foundations are getting property owners to donate their land for conservation. Many seminars were offered and overall were thought to be very interesting. Conference is held every two years.
The Deer Creek Crossing Project is still alive. A lawsuit is in progress against the Woodmont Corporation. McCrady is trying to sell his property.
Public Relations – Dave Bagaley stated the safety poster project is still being pursued.
S P E C I A L C O M M I T T E E S
ASTOS 2/15-19 Henry Hoffman stated the league received their $13,000 for the ASTOS.
Two boys, aged 9 and 10, received the $100.00 gift certificates from Sportsmen’s Warehouse. Jack Walters and Joe Cersosimo are assuming the ASTOS coordinator job.
Attendance is similar to the 2005 show.
Banquet – March 11, 4 p.m. Harmar House, Rt. 28 – Chairman Cersosimo stated it would be good if clubs would show more interest. Attendance is approximately 190.
Several lawmakers will attend in respect of the ACSL.
Youth Day – July 22 –a new liability waver will be used. Be sure to make copies of the Youthday brochure and pass them out to your club members.
By-Law Committee – Jack Walters provided Article VI through Article IX for delegates and officers to digest. Some complicated language has postponed the reading until further clarification is available.
New Business – Collier Sportsmen/NRA will sponsor a Young American Shooting Club – call Al Streshenkoff at 412-276-5052.
Page 6
New Business – Bob Shick, NWTF, requested youth information from Youthday for use with the Jakes Membership. The ACSL will sponsor the mailing for this project.
Lee Brown requested information on Allegheny County IHEA, NRA Instructors who belong to clubs in the ACSL. A free educational packet is available from the USP Bore Paste, Division of United States Products Co. Clubs need to get information to L.C. Brown at 412-621-2130.
Drawing was won by Vic Wilczynski, Bull Creek Sportsmen
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sara Barnett, Secretary
F Y I
OFFICER/DIRECTOR MEETING
6:30 p.m. prior to
ACSL MEETING APRIL 13, 7:30 P.M.
GOLD ROOM, COURTHOUSE
CLUB NEWS
PITCAIRN/MONROEVILLE CRAFT SHOW
MARCH 25 – 10 A.M. – 3 P.M.
Free admission – handmade crafts
Chinese auction 50/50 DRAWING & FOOD
1st Sunday of each month all you can eat breakfast - $3.00 8 a.m.
MT. NEBO SPORTSMEN
MARCH 25 DANCE
BUFFALO INN, SOUTH PARK
$30.00 PER COUPLE
CALL 412-969-3128
COLLIER SPORTSMEN
APRIL 8 & 9, SAT. & SUN
HUNTERS SAFETY CLASS PGC CERTIFIED
Call Jim at 412-279-4179 for enrollment
8 a.m. to ?