This year's symposium to be held at Game Commission's Northwest Region Office.

Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, March 10, co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Northwest Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed federal frameworks for the 2017-18 waterfowl hunting seasons.

The briefing will begin at 1 p.m., at the Game Commission's Northwest Region Office, 1509 Pittsburgh Road, Franklin.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.

Public comments will be accepted at the meeting; or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or via e-mail through WaterfowlComments@pa.gov.

Based on public comments, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval.

All migratory bird-hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.

This is the second year under the new USFWS schedule for selecting seasons. There no longer are separately timed selections and announcements for "early" and "late" seasons. All selections will be made and announced at the same time, and likely announced in early April.

The final selections will appear in the 2017-18 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest.


Contact:
Travis Lau
717-705-6541
trlau@pa.gov