The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is the state agency responsible for wildlifeconservation and management in Pennsylvania in the United States. It was originally founded 129 years ago and currently utilizes more than 700 full-time employees and thousands of part-time and volunteers in its official mission to "manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations."[2]
In the late 1800s as a result of deforestation, pollution and unregulated hunting/trapping, wildlife decreased in population and diversity. The wildlife, then-commonly referred to as "game," was to be protected by establishing the Game Commission in 1895 by the state Legislature. It was—and still is—funded primarily through the sale of licenses, State Game Land natural resource revenue, and a federal excise tax on guns and ammunition.[3]
Game Wardensedit
The main workforce of the Pennsylvania Game Commission are Game Wardens, formerly known as Wildlife Conservation Officers (and originally Game Protectors).[4]
Game Wardens serve as sworn law enforcement officers for wildlife crimes, enforcing the hunting/trapping and conservation laws. They patrol the Pennsylvania State Game Lands and teach hunter-trapper education courses as well as providing many other educational opportunities for the Pennsylvania public, including wildlife programs for schools and community organizations.[5]
Initial training for Game Wardens occurs at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg. New recruiting classes are formed when positions open up, which is normally every 2nd or 3rd year. Classes are usually kept below 30 students. Training is an 11-month program in Law Enforcement, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management, and other subjects.
Deputy Game Wardens are part-time, whereas State Game Wardens are full-time, career-oriented positions. Serving as a Deputy does not lead to promotion into a State Game Warden position. Deputies do not receive regular salary or wages, however, they may receive limited compensation for certain duties. function in all phases of activity Game Commission activities and assume the powers as authorized by the Game and Wildlife Code, subject to limitations established by Commission regulations and operating procedures.[6]
Deputies are commonly involved in: law enforcement patrols and investigations, answering complaints and calls for service, nuisance wildlife control, hunter-trapper education classes, educational programs, and assisting other agencies.[7]
Fallen wardensedit
Since the establishment of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, eleven Game Wardens have died while on duty.
Rank
Name
End of Watch
Cause of death
Ref
Game Protector
L. Seeley Houk
March 2, 1906
Shot by leader of a organized crime ring in Hillsville while issuing a game citation.
Pennsylvania Game News is the PGC's monthly publication, dealing with wildlife conservation and the financial and legislative functions of the Game Commission.
Monthly Field Notes is written by Game Wardens and their Deputies, which are comedic stories about happenings in the fields. They are a well received feature of the publication.[19]
Hunting & Trapping Digest is a complimentary publication received by those who purchase hunting or trapping licenses for the respective year.[20]
^"Game Officer L. Seeley Houk". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Deputy Game Protector Charles Beecham". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Game Protector Joseph McHugh". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Field Superintendent Elias W. "Woody" Kelly". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Chief Game Protector Joseph H. Kalbfus". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Deputy Game Protector Darrell S. Solida". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Game Protector Walter M. Middleton". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Game Protector John B. Ross". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Game Protector Robert Earl Zimmerman". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Land Management Officer Woodrow E. Portzline". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Wildlife Conservation Officer David Lynn Grove". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2021-06-18.
^"Pennsylvania Game News". Pennsylvania Game Commission. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
^"Hunting & Trapping Digest". Pennsylvania Game Commission. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
External linksedit
Pennsylvania Game Commission Official Website
May 02, 2024
pennsylvania, game, commission, state, agency, responsible, wildlife, conservation, management, pennsylvania, united, states, originally, founded, years, currently, utilizes, more, than, full, time, employees, thousands, part, time, volunteers, official, missi. The Pennsylvania Game Commission PGC is the state agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Pennsylvania in the United States It was originally founded 129 years ago and currently utilizes more than 700 full time employees and thousands of part time and volunteers in its official mission to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations 2 Pennsylvania Game CommissionAgency overviewFormed1895 129 years ago 1895 JurisdictionCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaHeadquartersHarrisburg PennsylvaniaEmployees714 Full time 2015 2016 1 000 part time amp volunteerAnnual budget 266 532 308 Fiscal Year 2022 a Agency executivesBryan J Burhans Executive DirectorDavid Mitchell Deputy Executive DirectorThomas Grohol Deputy Executive DirectorWebsitewww wbr pgc wbr pa wbr govFootnotes 1 Contents 1 History 2 Game Wardens 2 1 Fallen wardens 3 Official game publications 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory editIn the late 1800s as a result of deforestation pollution and unregulated hunting trapping wildlife decreased in population and diversity The wildlife then commonly referred to as game was to be protected by establishing the Game Commission in 1895 by the state Legislature It was and still is funded primarily through the sale of licenses State Game Land natural resource revenue and a federal excise tax on guns and ammunition 3 Game Wardens edit nbsp Game Warden vehicle in Harrisburg PA The main workforce of the Pennsylvania Game Commission are Game Wardens formerly known as Wildlife Conservation Officers and originally Game Protectors 4 Game Wardens serve as sworn law enforcement officers for wildlife crimes enforcing the hunting trapping and conservation laws They patrol the Pennsylvania State Game Lands and teach hunter trapper education courses as well as providing many other educational opportunities for the Pennsylvania public including wildlife programs for schools and community organizations 5 Initial training for Game Wardens occurs at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg New recruiting classes are formed when positions open up which is normally every 2nd or 3rd year Classes are usually kept below 30 students Training is an 11 month program in Law Enforcement Natural Resource Management Wildlife Management and other subjects Deputy Game Wardens are part time whereas State Game Wardens are full time career oriented positions Serving as a Deputy does not lead to promotion into a State Game Warden position Deputies do not receive regular salary or wages however they may receive limited compensation for certain duties function in all phases of activity Game Commission activities and assume the powers as authorized by the Game and Wildlife Code subject to limitations established by Commission regulations and operating procedures 6 Deputies are commonly involved in law enforcement patrols and investigations answering complaints and calls for service nuisance wildlife control hunter trapper education classes educational programs and assisting other agencies 7 Fallen wardens edit nbsp Pennsylvania Game Commission patch nbsp Previous Pennsylvania Game Commission patch Since the establishment of the Pennsylvania Game Commission eleven Game Wardens have died while on duty Rank Name End of Watch Cause of death Ref Game Protector L Seeley Houk March 2 1906 Shot by leader of a organized crime ring in Hillsville while issuing a game citation 8 Deputy Game Protector Charles Beecham November 4 1906 Shot attempting to arrest a man near Scranton for hunting on a Sunday 9 Game Protector Joseph McHugh November 7 1915 Shot while searching for poachers in Carbon County 10 Field Superintendent Elias W Woody Kelly August 10 1919 Struck by train in Warren County while inspecting state game preserves 11 Chief Game Protector Joseph H Kalbfus August 10 1919 Struck by train in Warren County while inspecting state game preserves 12 Deputy Game Protector Darrell S Solida December 6 1931 Shot while investigating an illegal deer kill near Troutville 13 Game Protector Walter M Middleton December 1 1935 Vehicle accident while en route to assist other officers during deer hunting season 14 Game Protector John B Ross July 18 1942 Boat capsized while rescuing citizens of Port Allegany during flood 15 Game Protector Robert E Zimmerman May 13 1957 Vehicle accident en route to a Divisional Office 16 Land Management Officer Woodrow E Portzline October 24 1973 Heart attack while investigating reports of trespassing and poaching at a farm 17 Wildlife Conservation Officer David L Grove November 11 2010 Shot in Freedom Township Adams County while investigating reports of ongoing nighttime shooting and poaching 18 Official game publications editPennsylvania Game News is the PGC s monthly publication dealing with wildlife conservation and the financial and legislative functions of the Game Commission Monthly Field Notes is written by Game Wardens and their Deputies which are comedic stories about happenings in the fields They are a well received feature of the publication 19 Hunting amp Trapping Digest is a complimentary publication received by those who purchase hunting or trapping licenses for the respective year 20 See also editList of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission List of State Fish and Wildlife Management Agencies in the U S Notes edit The PGC does not receive General Fund appropriations from the state legislator References edit Pennsylvania Game Commission 2022 2022 PGC Annual Legislative Report PDF www pgc pa gov p 36 Retrieved 10 October 2023 About Us Pennsylvania Game Commission Retrieved 2021 05 05 About Us Pennsylvania Game Commission Retrieved 2021 05 05 Leader Times 2018 01 08 New name same job for PGC game wardens Times Leader Retrieved 2020 07 21 About the Pennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania Game Commission Retrieved 2008 07 30 Game Laws Deputy Game Warden Retrieved 2 November 2020 Game Officer L Seeley Houk The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Deputy Game Protector Charles Beecham The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Game Protector Joseph McHugh The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Field Superintendent Elias W Woody Kelly The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Chief Game Protector Joseph H Kalbfus The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Deputy Game Protector Darrell S Solida The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Game Protector Walter M Middleton The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Game Protector John B Ross The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Game Protector Robert Earl Zimmerman The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Land Management Officer Woodrow E Portzline The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Wildlife Conservation Officer David Lynn Grove The Officer Down Memorial Page ODMP Retrieved 2021 06 18 Pennsylvania Game News Pennsylvania Game Commission Retrieved 2008 07 30 Hunting amp Trapping Digest Pennsylvania Game Commission Retrieved 2021 06 18 External links editPennsylvania Game Commission Official Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania Game Commission amp oldid 1193531373 Official game publications, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,