HARRISBURG While the attention of hunters is on the upcoming 2014-15 license year, which begins Tuesday, July 1, the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners is working on several initiatives that are expected to gain momentum in the coming months.

One of the most interesting is a suggestion by Southeast Region commission Brian Hoover at the recent quarterly meeting of the board for a study of the viability and potential value of creating a permit that would be required for those who use State Game Lands who are not in passion of a valid hunting of furtaker license. Many states have created similar permits, and the PGC a few years ago created a permit to use the shooting ranges on State Game Lands.While the idea of a permit for the use of SGLs is only being discussed at this point, the permit would not be needed for anyone with a valid hunting or furtaker license. Those who purchase a hunting or furtaker license would continue to be able to use SGLs as permitted now."I believe the agency and sportsmen would benefit if we apply a permit to the use of State Game Lands by those who don't possess licenses," Hoover said. "At present, non-hunting and non-trapping uses of State Game Lands are permitted, but are restricted during hunting seasons, and if the use permit is created and required for those who don't hunt or trap, those restrictions would continue."There are currently more than 1.4 million acres statewide in the SGLs system, and most of the land was purchased through the sale of hunting and furtaker licenses, and from revenue generated from things like timber sales and energy leases on SGLs. By creating a usage permit, all those who enjoy these lands would help with their maintenance and help provide funds for the purchase of future land.Hoover also said he wants to get started on a possible realignment of Southeastern wildlife management units 5C and 5D. His reason for this is creating a new program that might help to better manage deer in urban areas, suggesting hunters obtaining a permit as part of the program receive tags to take two antlerless deer and a buck of any size within this urban area.Northeast Region commissioner Jay Delaney of Wilkes-Barre requested updates on the PGC's pheasant propagation, as well as the Franklin County Wild Pheasant Recovery Area, be provided at the August working group meeting. He also requested proposals for measures that might improve the reporting rates of successful deer hunters.In the 2013-14 seasons it is estimated that only 30 percent of successful hunters reported their deer to the PGC. Delaney proposed a requirement to report taking a deer within 24 hours among possibilities that could be discussed, and BOC president Bob Schlemmer suggested that those who report being eligible for rewards.Northcentral Region commissioner Dave Putnam gave a brief update on a proposed study of predator impacts on deer that was presented to the commissioners at their May working group meeting. He said that PGC representatives will be meeting with wildlife- management specialists from other states to discuss the five-year study that has a projected cost of $3.9 million.