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PA Game Commission Posts Field Forecasts On Website

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(AmmoLand.com)-Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs), Land Management Group Supervisors (LMGSs) and foresters regularly observe wildlife in their districts. With the hunting and trapping seasons just around the corner, the Game Commission now is sharing those observations – through its website – with those who enjoy Penn’s Woods.

To view these field forecasts offered by Game Commission officers, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the “Field Officer Forecasts,” select the region of interest in the map, and then choose the WCO district of interest from the map. For LMGS or forester reports, select the link to the LMGS Group or forester link of interest within that region.

“Our field officers and foresters provide wildlife forecasts for small game, furbearers, wild turkey, bear and deer within their respective districts,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “These forecasts are based on sightings field officers have had in the months leading up to the 2009-10 seasons, and some offer comparisons to previous wildlife forecasts. Some WCOs and LMGSs include anecdotal information, as well as hunting and trapping leads in their districts.

“The Game Commission offers this information to hunters and trappers to help them in making plans for the upcoming seasons. Many WCO, LMGS and forester reports offer information on where to hunt or trap within their districts, as well as guidance on where to get more information, particularly for trapping certain furbearers, such as beaver and coyotes.”

Roe noted the Game Commission divides the state’s 67 counties into six regions, and then each region is divided into WCO districts comprised of about 300 square miles each. There are 136 WCO districts statewide. Each of the 29 LMGS groups is comprised of a number of counties or portions of counties within each region, and seeks to equally distribute the amount of State Game Lands and public access lands within the region. The number of foresters ranges per region, from four to nine.

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Ohio’s Red Oak Acorn Production Shows an Increase
Mast crop abundance can affect hunting plans.

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH –-(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio’s fall crop of acorns is a vital food source for more than 90 forest wildlife species.

White oak acorn production declined by 15 percent over 2008 figures, while red oak acorn production increased by 11 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

“White oak acorn production declined across much of the state, but this will be at least partially offset by increased red oak acorn production.” said Suzie Prange, ODNR forest wildlife biologist. “In general, acorn production for both white and red oaks was better in the northern than southern portion of the state.”

The ODNR Division of Wildlife is currently participating in a multi-state research project to estimate regional acorn production throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Wildlife biologists hope to use the acorn production information gathered in the study to forecast wildlife harvest and reproductive success rates on a local and regional basis.

Acorn production is cyclical, with some trees producing acorns nearly every year, while others rarely ever produce. Division of Wildlife employees scanned the canopies of selected oak trees on 38 wildlife areas in the state to determine the percentage of trees that produced acorns and the relative size of the acorn crop. Results varied regionally, but an average of 26 percent of white oak trees and 41 percent of red oak trees bore fruit this year. Wildlife prefer white oak acorns, because red oak acorns contain a high amount of tannin and are bitter in taste.

Mast crop abundance can affect hunting plans as well. Hunters can expect to find deer, wild turkeys and squirrels concentrated near areas with heavy crops of white and chestnut oak acorns this fall. In areas with poor acorn production, these animals are more likely to feed around agricultural areas and forest edges.

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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