Pennsylvania Game Commission
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{{Infobox government agency
| name = Pennsylvania Game Commission
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| logo = Pennsylvania Game Commission Logo.svg
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| formed = {{Start date and age|1895}}
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| jurisdiction = Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
| headquarters = Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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| employees = * <900 - 2023
- 1,000+ part time & volunteer
| budget = $266,532,308 Fiscal Year 2022{{efn|The PGC does not receive General Fund appropriations from the state legislator.}}
| chief1_name = Steven Smith
| chief1_position = Executive Director
| chief2_name = David J. Gustafson
| chief2_position = Deputy Executive Director
| chief3_name = David Mitchell
| chief3_position = Deputy Director of Field Operations
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| website = {{URL|https://www.pgc.pa.gov}}
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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 {{age|1895|range=no}} 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."{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.pgc.pa.gov:443/InformationResources/AboutUs/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Pennsylvania Game Commission|language=en-US}}
History
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.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.pgc.pa.gov:443/InformationResources/AboutUs/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Pennsylvania Game Commission|language=en-US}}
Game wardens
File:PA_Game_Warden_vehicle.png.]]
The main workforce of the Pennsylvania Game Commission are game wardens, formerly known as wildlife conservation officers (and originally game protectors).{{Cite web|last=Leader|first=Times|date=2018-01-08|title=New name, same job for PGC game wardens|url=https://www.timesleader.com/sports/688195/new-name-same-job-for-pgc-game-wardens|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Times Leader|language=en-US}}
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.
"about">{{cite web | url = https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/AboutUs/Pages/default.aspx| title = About the Pennsylvania Game Commission | access-date = 2008-07-30 | publisher = Pennsylvania Game Commission}}
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 function in all phases of 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.{{Cite web|title=Game Laws|url=https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Law/Pages/default.aspx}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Deputy Game Warden|url=https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/CareersandVolunteers/Pages/DeputyGameWardens.aspx|access-date=2 November 2020}}
= Fallen wardens =
Since the establishment of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, eleven Game Wardens have died while on duty.
| class="wikitable"
|+ !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. |
| Deputy Game Protector
|Charles Beecham |November 4, 1906 |Shot attempting to arrest a man near Scranton for hunting on a Sunday. |
| Game Protector
|Joseph McHugh |November 7, 1915 |Shot while searching for poachers in Carbon County. |
| Field Superintendent
|Elias W. "Woody" Kelly |August 10, 1919 |Struck by train in Warren County while inspecting state game preserves. |
| Chief Game Protector
|Joseph H. Kalbfus |August 10, 1919 |Struck by train in Warren County while inspecting state game preserves. |
| Deputy Game Protector
|Darrell S. Solida |December 6, 1931 |Shot while investigating an illegal deer kill near Troutville. |
| Game Protector
|Walter M. Middleton |December 1, 1935 |Vehicle accident while en route to assist other officers during deer hunting season. |
| Game Protector
|John B. Ross |July 18, 1942 |Boat capsized while rescuing citizens of Port Allegany during flood. |
| Game Protector
|Robert E. Zimmerman |May 13, 1957 |Vehicle accident en route to a Divisional Office |
| Land Management Officer
|Woodrow E. Portzline |October 24, 1973 |Heart attack while investigating reports of trespassing and poaching at a farm. |
| Wildlife Conservation Officer
|David L. Grove |November 11, 2010 |Shot in Freedom Township, Adams County while investigating reports of ongoing nighttime shooting and poaching. |
Official game publications
- 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=482&q=151301 | title = Pennsylvania Game News | access-date = 2008-07-30 | publisher = Pennsylvania Game Commission}}
- Hunting & Trapping Digest is a complimentary publication received by those who purchase hunting or trapping licenses for the respective year.{{Cite web|title=Hunting & Trapping Digest|url=https://www.pgc.pa.gov:443/HuntTrap/Law/Pages/HuntingandTrappingDigest.aspx|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Pennsylvania Game Commission|language=en-US}}
See also
Notes
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References
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External links
- [https://www.pgc.pa.gov/ Pennsylvania Game Commission Official Website]
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Category:Government of Pennsylvania
Category:State law enforcement agencies of Pennsylvania
Category:State agencies of Pennsylvania
Category:State wildlife and natural resource agencies of the United States