144 Church Road
Davidsville, PA 15928
September 27, 2007

Executive Director Carl Roe Commission President Thomas Boop Pennsylvania Game Commission 2001 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9797

Dear Director Roe and President Boop:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on programs affecting our wildlife resources and make suggestions regarding seasons, bag limits and hunting regulations. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has long supported habitat enhancement, wildlife research and wildlife law enforcement. We appreciate the work of the Game Commission and its many dedicated employees.

Last October, our chapter asked that the commissioners review the impact of mandatory orange on spring turkey hunting related shooting incidents. Our chapter review of spring turkey hunting related shooting incident data indicated that the required wearing of an orange hat while moving did not have the desired affect of reducing the incident rate. Based on a thorough review of spring incident rates our conclusion was that there has been no discernable change in those rates since 1993 when spring hunters were first required to wear an orange hat while moving. Average annual incident rates prior to the orange regulation are virtually the same as average rates in the fifteen spring seasons since the orange requirement. In short, orange has not changed the situation at all. The conclusions drawn by our chapter were supported by an internal Game Commission review of the data.

Our members are pleased to note that this issue is on the agenda for the October commission meeting and agree with the staff recommendation concerning the orange requirement. We trust that you all have reviewed spring incident information and have reached the same conclusion. Our members overwhelmingly support dropping the mandatory requirement of orange for spring hunters. Hunters are free to wear orange voluntarily if it is not mandated by regulation. Mandatory use of orange diminishes the quality of the hunt and has not proven effective. This unpopular regulation has failed in its mission. It is time to lay it to rest.

We urge the commissioners to take action to change the regulation requiring orange in the spring gobbler season at this meeting. Action on this regulation change at the October meeting will allow ample time for public comment on the issue prior to the January commission meeting.

The Pennsylvania Chapter and its members remain committed to safe turkey hunting. Our chapter has been actively involved in getting the safe hunting message out to turkey hunters through the use of safety articles, billboards and other methods. This commitment will continue through public service announcements, provision of safety information and dvds to Hunter Education instructors and through our many members who serve as Hunter Education instructors.

Thank you again for the chance to comment on agency regulations and for all the good things the Game Commission does for hunters in Pennsylvania. We appreciate the working relationship we have with the Game Commission and its very professional staff.

Sincerely,

Gene Alwine
President, Pennsylvania Chapter-NWTF