ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE, INC.

APRIL 14, 2005

MINUTES

President Mike Maranche called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The following clubs and agencies were present:

Bakerstown                              Dormont-Mt. Lebanon              Mt. Nebo

Bethel Park Sportsmen              Forest Grove                            North Boros

Braddock District                     Logans Ferry Sportsmen           NWTF

Carrick Sportsmen                    McKeesport                             Penn Hills R & G

Clairton Sportsmen                   Millvale                                     Renton Rod & Gun

                                                PFBC – Bob Wheeler               TCWA                                                                           PGC – Beth Fife                       W PA Taxidermists                                     

The March minutes were approved as mailed.                  

Treasurer’s Report – Joe Connors presented his April report. Motion made and seconded (Cersosimo/Walters) to accept the treasurer’s report. MOTION CARRIED. It was noted that the league finances are lower than normal and should be considered when future spending is discussed.

Communications – announcement was made of the death of Dr. Charles Provan, past president of the ACSL (1983,84); motion was made and seconded (Baker/Slavonic) to send a monetary gift in his memory, Motion carried.  Letter from the PSFTD solicitating a donation for their June 25, 2005 Special Day for Special Kids.

PGC – WCO Gary Fujak offered information on the SGL#44 Tour near Portland Mills, Elk County. Gary is organizing this bus tour to provide first hand knowledge to the sportsmen of Allegheny County in relationship and effect of deer with their habitat. The enclosed brochure details the time, day etc. Delegates are to encourage their club members to participate. Please note the reservations should be turned in by May 15. Motion was made and seconded (Fischer/Liberto) to match the balance of the cost of the bus with Gary.

WCO Beth Fife stated spring gobbler youth hunting begins April 23. Youth must be accompanied by an adult; it is not necessary that the adult have a license but the youth must have attended a hunter safety course and have a license. Regular gobbler season April 30-May 28.

PGC meeting April 25, 26 in Harrisburg, 8:30 a.m. Public comments will be taken on the 25^th on bag limits, furtaking/hunting. Agenda is on the website; meeting results posted in

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approximately 3 weeks. Dr. Christopher Rosenberry will take Dr. Ault’s place. Seedlings of white, mugo, Norway spruce pines are available from Beth.

PFBC – WCO Bob Wheeler reminded those present of fish commission meeting the same dates, April 25, 26 at Fish Commission headquarters. Personal watercraft discussion is an item on the agenda; raising the minimum age for operating a jet ski to 16.  

A study is being conducted by the PFBC in partnership with Penn State University, counting anglers and conducting interviews to collect information on how many people are fishing, what they catch and keep as well as information about how  much they spent to fish for trout on stocked streams. If you are approached and asked these questions, please cooperate.

SAIC/Legislation  - Mike Slavonic reporting HB1212, a reintroduction of HB1973, was introduced by Rep. Hutchinson, this reciprocity bill contains ACSL language, has 65 co-sponsors. Hopefully something will happen.

PFA Law amended; hopeful inequalities are corrected. John Hohenwater, NRA Liason, will be working with Mike to affect some changes.

PSP lawsuit language in definition of what a “registry system” is; Marc Gergely being contacted about this.

Rendell’s new commission on gun violence; looks like it will not go in league’s favor.

HB’s 1198, 1264, 1275, 1025, 954 are bills to watch.

CONSERVATION – Jack Walters reported the DEP has proposed $5.2 million in grants to help Pennsylvania counties finance their West Nile Virus Control Programs in 2005.

EPA Secretary Kathleen McGinty announced that a federal court has sided with Pennsylvania in striking down an EPA regulation that failed to control the discharge of ballast waters from oceangoing vessels.

 Zebra mussels can be controlled by cleaning boats and equipment before and after use. EPA has set no limits on ballast water discharges. These mussels can be found in PA waters, portions of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers; Edinboro and Sandy lakes as well as upper French Creek in Crawford County as well. 

Conservation –Gov. Edward Rendell’s efforts to reclaim thousands of abandoned mine sites throughout the Commonwealth come under the Growing Greener II iniative. PA has at least 2,000 abandoned and flooding mine pools that discharge polluted water from about 5,000 known points, threatening the health of our rivers and streams. 

GAME - Mike Maranche reporting an article written by Bob Frye, Tribune Review, announcing Henry Hoffman and a number of sportsmen’s interest in amending PA’s constitution to guarantee sportsmen the right to “hunt, fish and harvest game.” State Rep. Matt Baker, a Bradford County Republican, is sponsoring HB532 to do just that. Without a constitutional right to hunt and fish, some organizations are challenging those rights in one way or another. The ACSL supports this amendment.

House Game and Fisheries Committee bills:

HR61 (to conduct study on use of rifles versus shotguns in Commonwealth and expansion of special regulation areas) Game and Fisheries Chairman Smith claims this is not an anti-hunting bill; a recent shooting in Lehigh County where a pregnant woman was shot while getting into a car has brought about the discussion. Joe Neville remarked the PGC has kept data on hunting accidents since the late 1990’s, first glance the data indicates that shotguns are more dangerous than rifles. Joe claims that the PGC does not have the expertise to analyze the data, so the commission supports the study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.

HB1076, HB1077 by Staback gives PA National Guard Members $1.00 hunting/fishing licenses. HB603 reported to the House, gives game commission officers the same status as law enforcement officers. HB720 using a flashlight or spotlight held in the hand or on the head to take coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossum or foxes, reported to committee.

HB887 former POW’s a special military personnel hunting license at $1 a fee.

HB742 states decoys for trapping or hunting of furbearers are excluded from the

“unlawful devices and methods” law.

PGC Reduction in services and Programs – a few services to be cut are:

(1) reduced  hours Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center to 3 days per week

(2) cut 50 percent reduction in pheasant production

(3) discontinue toll-free numbers

(4) canceling complimentary subscriptions to PGNews

(5) put on hold Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

PGC news release #20 suggests the answer is hunting and trappers license increases.

Fish and Clean Streams – Frank Sparrow reporting that bids to repair Deer Creek have gone out since the destruction caused by the hurricanes last year. 

BANQUET – chairman Joe Cersosimo gave a full account of the banquet. The committee is open for suggestion for next year’s event.

YouthDay – Frank Sparrow reported donations of $1985.00 has been received from the LaSpada family, organizations and personal donations. $1,000 has been received from the 1^st Friends of the NRA. Applicants received so far is 76.  A volunteer sign-up book was present – there will be a committee meeting soon.Your help would be appreciated – call Frank at 724-444-6569 e-mail birdhse@connectime.net. mark your calendars for July 23 – 8 a.m.

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BY-LAW COMMITTEE – Doug Baker reported proposed changes to the charter: 

By-Law Committee – Dave Bagaley, Chairman, Mike Slavonic, Doug Baker, Jack Walters.

Unfinished Business –.

A TREASURER AND SECRETARY ARE NEEDED FOR THE ACSL.

New Business –.Motion was made and seconded (Baker/Fischer) to donate $200.00 to the PA Sportsmen for the Disabled. Motion carried.

FOAC meeting, May 8, 8 a.m. Whitehall Borough Building.

The April door prize was won by Tressel Fundy, delegate of WPA Taxidermists.

Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Sara M. Barnett, Secretary

SEE YOU AT THE ACSL MAY MEETING

MAY 12, 2005

GOLD ROOM – COURTHOUSE

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STATE GAME LANDS TOUR

SGL #44, NEAR PORTLAND MILLS

OFF STATE ROUTE 949, ELK COUNTY

DATE             SATURDAY JUNE 11, OR SUNDAY, JUNE 12

TIME              DEPART PITTSBURGH APPX 8:30 a.m. (Mt. Nebo

                        Road Exit of I-79)

LUNCH          The bus will make a lunch stop on our way to Elk CO

DINNER        A light evening meal will be provided after the tour.

COST              $10.00 per person (to help offset the cost of the bus.)

NOTE:

The purpose of the tour is to provide a first hand knowledge to the sportsmen of Allegheny County of the relationship and effect of deer with their habitat. Game Lands Group Supervisor John P. Dzemyan will conduct the tour of SGL #44. He manages state game lands in Elk and McKean Counties. This area is typical of the big woods portion of the state.

We will visit three sites in the Portland Mills area, where deer exclosures were constructed after previous clear-cut operations. There will be some walking on open and forested tracts of land, rain or shine!

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a rain jacket just in case.