PGC posts new plan on web site

Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director Carl Roe announced that the agency has posted its new Strategic Plan on its Web site.

"This strategic plan will be used to guide the agency and its operations for the next five years," Roe said. "We developed this plan to clearly define the agency's priorities, how that work will be carried out and how we intend to monitor our progress.

"This plan also will enable us to develop our annual budgets to reflect the priorities established to manage Pennsylvania's wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations."

Roe said that this strategic plan will replace the one developed to cover 2003-08. To view the document, access the Web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on "Resources," then select "Reports and Minutes" and choose "2009-2014 Strategic Plan."

"In past Legislative Budget and Finance Committee reviews focused on the agency's compliance with its strategic plan, it was made clear to the General Assembly that the agency's ability to fully implement the goals and objectives of the strategic plan is severely limited by its current funding structure," Roe said. "It is not a matter of will, but rather a matter of funding that limits the agency from achieving many of the important objectives that enhance wildlife, wildlife habitats and provide more opportunity for our hunters and trappers.

"We are committed to being the best wildlife management agency that we can be for the people of Pennsylvania, and for the wildlife resources that we are entrusted to manage for current and future generations. This strategic plan will guide us in that effort and provide the public with a clear understanding of what we are striving to do to protect, conserve and promote hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and the State Game Lands system."

The strategic plan is divided into seven goals that are further expanded through strategic and operational objectives and a set of strategic outcome and output measurements. The seven goals are:

GOAL 1: Conserve, protect and restore wildlife populations for their many public values.

GOAL 2: Improve the public's appreciation of wildlife, and their awareness and understanding of wildlife resource management.

GOAL 3: Promote and perpetuate our hunting and trapping heritage.

GOAL 4: Manage and protect a network of public and private lands and waters to provide habitat for wildlife.

GOAL 5: Enhance the public's understanding of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's mission and its responsibilities.

GOAL 6: Develop sustainable funding sources that support the agency's mission and identity.

GOAL 7: Promote a diverse, professional and efficient organization.

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Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director Carl Roe is today's guest on "Experience the Outdoors" with Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on Oldies 1410-AM, from 7:30-8 a.m., and Sunday, on Magic, WMGH, 105.5-FM, from 9:30-10 a.m. Rebroadcasts are on the Web at www.wmgh.com by clicking on the "Experience The Outdoors" link.

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Wild pheasant-flushing surveys in the Susquehanna Valley will be conducted by Pheasants Forever and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Sunday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 31, and volunteers, with or without dogs, are needed for the project.

A survey will be conducted in the Greenwood Valley area of Columbia County, Jan. 17, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will be at Deihl's Vault and Pre-cast Company, located along Route 254 between Millville and Rohrsburg, at 1 p.m.

A survey will be conducted in Montour County, Jan. 31, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Great Value Food Store, Route 54, Turbotville, at 1 p.m.

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This year's first quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners will be Sunday-Tuesday, Jan. 24-26, at agency headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81, Harrisburg.

Sunday, Jan. 24, beginning at 1 p.m., the board will hear public recommendations for the 2010-11 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits. Doors will open at noon, and individuals interested in offering public testimony, which is limited to five minutes, may begin to register at noon on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.

Monday, Jan. 25, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear PGC staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m., and registration for those interested in offering public testimony also will begin at that time.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the board will take up its prepared agenda, including giving approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2010-11. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

Antlerless deer license allocations for the 2010-11 seasons will be presented for the board to consider at its meeting in April. Harvest results from the 2009-10 deer seasons will be announced in mid-March.

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Here is the schedule of upcoming sports and outdoors shows:

Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen's Show: Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 14-17, New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Raritan Center, Edison, N.J. For information, call 732-417-1400 or access the website at www.gsoss.com.

Early Bird Sports Expo: Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 28-31, Bloomsburg Fair Ground, Bloomsburg. Show hours: Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call the show office at 570-594-0250 or access the Web site at www.earlybirdexpo.com.

Wild Sheep Foundation Eastern Chapter Hunting and Fishing Show: Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 28-30, Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, Lancaster. Show hours: Thursday, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call the chapter office at 717-336-3743 or access the website at www.ecfnaws.org.

Leesport Sportsman's Show and Flea Market: Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Leesport Farmers Market. For information, call Ralph Reber at 610-944-9376.

Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: Saturday, Feb. 6-Sunday, Feb. 14, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg. Show hours: Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, Feb. 8-13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, access the show Web site at www.easternsportshow.com

Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sport Show: Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 25-28, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks. Show hours: Thursday and Friday, 12:30-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 610-431-4315 or access on the Web at www.sportshows.com.

"Wildlife Art Expo," Saturday, March 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Environmental Education Center, Montour Preserve, Washingtonville. For information, call Jon Beam at 570-437-3131.