Plans on schedule for Hegins-Gratz Valley WPRA

SUMMIT STATION - According to Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pheasants Forever pheasant biologist Colleen DeLong, the wild-bird stocking schedule for the Hegins-Gratz Valley Wild Pheasant Recovery Area in western Schuylkill County is on target.

DeLong spoke at the recent meeting of the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association and told the club delegates the initial stocking of wild birds from South Dakota is expected to be done in February. She said stocking releases will be conducted by PGC personnel and will be announced in advance so volunteers may assist.

"Basically, the majority of the plan for the Hegins-Gratz WPRA was adapted from the proposal that was prepared for the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of Pheasants Forever and established the guidelines for the Columbia-Montour Wild Pheasant Recovery Area project," DeLong said. "In that respect, it is similar to the plans that were used for the Pike Run and Somerset County projects in western Pennsylvania.

"This year's flushing surveys at the Montour County project show the birds are reproducing, and, based on surveys and crowing call counts, expanding their population. We believe that wild pheasants will be able to establish a similar, reproducing population in the Hegins Valley, which contains some of Schuylkill County finest pheasant range, which is comprised of more than 150,000 acres."

According to the most recent statistics, Schuylkill County contains 110,946 acres of farmland, of which 71 percent is cropland, 20 percent is woodland and 9 percent is used for other uses. With the implementation of the Conservation Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the amount of suitable land has increased within the county in the form of extensive acres of riparian buffers, stream bank fencing and the planting of warm and cool season grasses.

For nearly 40 years, a reproducing population of wild pheasants has decreased and/or disappeared in many states - including Pennsylvania. Farming practices, predators and disappearing habitat have all contributed to the problem, resulting in put-and-take pheasant hunting of birds stocked by the PGC, sportsmen's groups and private individuals.

Now, with CRP and CREP playing a major role, some areas have habitat that has allowed for even pen-raised pheasants that have survey hunting season to survive the winter and reproduce. Those results that has led to the WPRA project, which uses wild birds from the Midwest to establish the initial population.

"This is a classic example of teamwork between Pheasants Forever, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and our agency," PGC Southeast Region commissioner Greg Isabella said. "What's encouraging is the number of people who want to become involved in CRP and CREP, but we can only expand as funds become available.

"Ever since I got on the board, I've told everyone that I have a special place in my heart for Schuylkill County. Even when I can't hunt, it's great to get away from my business in Philadelphia and spend a few days at my camp in Schuylkill County."

PGC land management group supervisor Matt Belding said signs marking the boundaries of the Hegins-Gratz Valley WPRA are currently being posted.