ALLEGHENY COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S LEAGUE INC.
JULY MEETING MINUTES
President Mike Maranche called the monthly meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on JULY 12, 2007 in the Gold Room of the Courthouse. The Pledge of Allegiance and Conservation Pledge were given in unison.
Attending clubs and agencies:
Bakerstown Beagle LFSC Pitcairn Mnroeville
Bethel Park Sportsmen McDonald PMSC Youth
Braddock McKeesport TCWA
Clairton Sportsmen Mr. Nebo West Deer
Collier Sportsmen Millvale W PA Taxidermy
Dormont Mt. Lebanon PHR&G
PFBC – WCO Bob Wheeler PGC – WCO Gary Fujak
The June meeting minutes were approved as mailed.
Treasurer’s Report – Joe Connors presented his report. Motion made and seconded (Hoffman/Stolfer) approved unanimously.
Correspondence – letter of thanks for donation from PSFD Special Day for Special Kids. CCRKBA report asking citizen/s to urge President Bush to veto every anti-gun bill that Congress passes to limit our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms against crime, terrorism and anarchy.
PGC – WCO Gary Fujak reporting the PA Legislature passed unanimously HB13 (Recreational Use Act) giving landowners more protection when opening property to sportsmen.
WM2B gives 8 additional weeks to antlerless hunting, 6 w archery and crossbow only, last 2 weeks extension of late season to 1/26. Total 9/15 – 1/26 5 months.
Xtra step when filling out yellow antlerless tag, write the words “early archery”
in red ink in lower left-hand corner of front of the yellow envelope.
Mentored Youth program includes antlered deer; youth 11 or younger can hunt groundhog, squirrel, spring gobbler. A report card on pg. 33 of hunters digest and directions to make a deer tag are included.
Elk applicants can get an 85 minute elk video for $10 additional.
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PGC continued
Muzzleloaders can use an electronic pulse system, not in late flintlock season.
Illuminated knots are legal for archery hunters.
Surveys look good for hunters. 78% support hunting as outdoor activity; 80% of Americans support hunting as a legitimate place in our society; disapproval of hunting down from 22% to16%.
PFBC WCO Bob Wheeler Allegheny River Dam 2-3 designated as big bass water where regulations apply. Considering this designation be terminated.
Reorganize Fish Commission from 5 bureaus down to 4. Housecleaning effort.
Legislative Committee – Kim Stolfer and Mike Christeson reporting Philadelphia does not want to take responsibility for crimes, they are de-manding more gun control.
Pro-gun Bill 1235 passed the PA House unanimously; Thanks to the hard work of Rep. Jesse White in the legislative committee of the Allegheny County sportsmen’s league, anyone denied after the date of enactment of this legislation will have the opportunity to avail themselves of all the information the PA State Police uses to make a determination regarding the purchase of a firearm.
Reciprocity agreement with WV is soon to happen.
Look for the sign in gun dealer’s shops saying social security number not necessary.
OSHA regulations could shut down ammunition and firearms industry. This government agency is proposing new regulations that will effect the manufacturing
transportation and storage of small arms ammunition, primers and smokeless propellants by forcing the cost of small arms ammunition to skyrocket beyond what the free market will bear. Gun owners are urged to e-mail, or fax your concerns at (202.693.1648) today. E-mail the letter by visiting www.Regulations.Gov and follow the submission instructions. Read the full proposed regulations here. Letters must include Docket No.OSHA-2007-0032 (formerly Docket No. OSHA-S031-2006-0665 and OSHA Docket No. S-031)
Conservation – Jack Walters stated the DCNR warns against transporting firewood in wake of the Emerald Ash Borer discovery. All wood should be purchased locally and burned entirely. Adult beetles were found in Cranberry.
To report possible infested trees in PA, call 1.866.253.7189.
Global Warming Myths and Fact – read the conservation report at www.acslpa.org
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Game – Mike Maranche stated PGC is seeking Citizen Advisory Committee Volunteers willing to participate to help gather input related to the deer management goal of minimizing deer-human conflicts in five WMU’s.WMU 2A consisting of Greene County and parts of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland. Nominations will be forwarded to the state Office of Admin. Bureau of Mgmt.Consul., which will interview candidates and make selections The PGC does not participate in the selection process; nominees and volunteers should be fair and open-minded, willing to collect input from the stakeholder group represented. Call the PGC at 717.787.5529 for nomination form-all nominations must be in 9.15.07
HB13 Readshaw: Limiting landowner liability for hunting accidents, passed House and Senate, signed by Governor.
HB881 Haluska: allows usage of flashlight or spotlight to take furbearers-passed House and Senate, signed by Governor.
HB1667 Mahoney: to increase the deer population on state game lands-referred to Game & Fisheries Committee.
HB1676 Levdansky: providing Game and Fish & Boat commissions additional funding. Soon to be referred to the House Finance Committee.
Fish & Clean Streams – Frank Sparrow reporting on “girlie fish” in Pittsburgh area rivers. Fish containing chemicals including pharmaceutical estrogen such as contained in birth control and hormone-replacement pills. People have to realize that the modern chemicals we use everyday – detergents, glue, cosmetics, hair products, have estrogenic properties. They don’t all get destroyed by waste water treatment, so we ingest the same chemicals again in our drinking water.
Zebra mussels in Tioga County threaten aquatic ecosystems because of their ability to filter about a quart of water per day. The zebra mussels disrupt the food chain by removing plankton, which supports the existence of native mussels and fish. Anglers and boaters should exercise great care when moving from one waterway to another, that they don’t inadvertently move an aquatic nuisance species with them.
and are advised to carry some household bleach to clean waders etc. There is already an algae problem because of the plankton shortage.
Youthday July 21-155 are registered An archery event instructor is needed as well as more volunteers. Promotion of hunting and fishing sports will be targeted for next years’ event.
ByLaws – Jack Walters gave the second reading of Article IX, Section 4, Line 17
To strike “The Treasurer shall also serve as Membership Secretary” and under Article VII – Standing Committees to add “Membership Committee”
Public Relations – Dave Bagaley reporting California sportsmen derailed legislation to stop breeding; PA moves to outlaw hunting with dogs.
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New Business – a committee of four people, Ron Bachy, Dan Ragaller(Chair), Mike Christeson and Kim Stolfer, will create a structure for “Memberships at Large”. Interested sportsmen and ladies will be offered an individual membership in the ACSL. At the count of 25 people, a delegate and alternate delegate can represent the Members at Large, having no voting rights, who do not want membership in a club. A motion was made and seconded (Sparrow/Christeson) to expedite this idea. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
July’sDoor Prize was won by Ron Bachy, Alternate Delegate,Pitcairn/Monroeville.
Motion to adjourn at 10 p.m.
MEMBER CLUBS – The League has established a “Youth Delegate” program whereas junior club members are invited to join the league. We would like to hear your issues involving youth hunting/fishing etc.
We ask the delegates of each club to encourage their juniors to join us.
“It’s the talk of the Town” 505 Mosside Blvd. Route 48
TIME: 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. THURSDAY SEPT. 20
“What’s new in the Outdoor Sportsmen’s World?”
PFBC – PGC – ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
REFRESHMENTS/FIREARMS DEMONSTRATION
SPONSORED BY STATE REP. JOE MARKOSEK
ACSL - AUGUST MEETING
THURSDAY, 9, 2007
6:30 P.M. Officers and Directors
7:30 p.m. open meeting
Delegates and Agencies
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION
Dr. Douglas Austen
Will be our guest at the August 9 Meeting
Mark you calendar! Please invite friends!