1. 35 counties and 5 NPO’s were represented at the delegate session on Sunday Am.  Pheasants Forever was the latest NOP to join our Federation.
2. The PFSC is offering to help Divisions purchase PFSC display boards by a 50% grant. This may also be extended to Counties in the near future. (NW Division will be getting one but we may also want to purchase one locally for our shows and programs)
3. The PWF is encouraging each county to get the Game News back into the schools.
4. The NWF addressed the delegate session on some of the history of the PFSC and the NWF relationship. The resolution was voted on about dropping affiliation with the NWF. This resolution failed by a vote of 13 yea, 23 nay and 4 Abstentions – Mercer voted yea as directed by the club delegates.
5. The PFBC gave a presentation about VHS and its up coming effects on the fisheries in Pa. Currently it is limited to Lake Erie but transport of infected fish and water from the lake may spread the virus much like Zebra Mussels.
6. A Straw Poll of delegates was taken by voice vote as to support for the Jr. Fishing license concept and the dedicated funding aspect of that. The vote was strongly in favor of the concept to both ideas.
7. The Game and Trapping Committee reminded us to keep the pressure on as regards the proposed Dept. of Ag. kennel regulations.
8. The resolution about allowing the harvest of all pheasants in all WMU’s failed by 6 yeas, 30 nays and 1 abstention – Mercer Co voted nay.
9. The resolution to prohibit spotlighting the week before traditional deer season passed after several recounts by 18 yeas, 17 nay and 2 abstentions – Mercer Co. voted nay.
10. Environmental Committee asks us to voice our support for the US House version of the Farm Bill and to direct this towards our US Senators especially Bob Casey.
11. Firearms committee had a lot to review but the main thrust is for us all to remain vigilant on all these bills coming out of Philadelphia.
12. The poster contest info is out and was included with the August Minutes. More info is available for those wishing to help us promote it to Mercer Co. Schools
13. The Membership Committee is asking for each club and county to discuss and possibly take action on several items. First is discussion about changing the name of this organization to more closely align with our Mission Statement. The thought to be discussed is to change it to The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen. Second is to look at your dues structure and see if we all can move away from the per member type dues to a set fee per club type set up. It’s also directing the Divisions to take the steps necessary to move to per club or per county type dues structure. Third is sending All Dues and Credential sheets Only to the County Delegate and it is Their Responsibility to see that ALL clubs in their county both affiliated and non affiliated get the information and paperwork before the end of January and that all dues are collected and paid prior to the Spring Convention. It’s asking that if the County Delegate is unable or unwilling to complete their responsibility and duty then please elect or replace them with someone who is willing to step up and be responsible to represent you and the PFSC to all clubs in your county. This committee is seeking a new chairman if you are able to help please let Melody know ASAP.
14. Election of Officers was held and the present officers were reelected to office for the upcoming year.

For a more detailed summary of the various committees please go to the PFSC Website to read and down load these.

Resource Agency Reports:

US Army Corps of Engineers - Shenango Lake: No report

PA Fish & Boat Commission: No report

DCNR - Forestry: No report

DCNR - State Parks - Goddard: No report

PA Game Commission: Don Chaybin reported the big news now is the EHD which has been found in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Beaver Counties. There will be a meeting held in Waynesburg this weekend regarding this disease which will kill a deer within a week. The weather patterns have a lot to do with this and hopefully we will get a frost soon which will kill the gnat or midge which causes the following:

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is the most common infectious disease of white-tailed deer in the Eastern United States. It is not transferable to humans.

EHD is caused by a virus. Only rarely does it cause illness in other animals. The virus is spread from animal to animal by biting midges that live in or near water and wet, muddy areas. These midges transmit the virus as they feed.

Outbreaks of EHD typically strike in late summer or early fall. An EHD outbreak is more likely if the weather has been unusually warm and dry leading to concentrations of deer at whatever water is available, which is where the virus-carrying midges live. Fortunately, drought alone does not mean a possible EHD outbreak in Pennsylvania. Similarly, practices like supplemental feeding and placement of mineral blocks can concentrate deer leading to increased exposure to infected midges.

Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic, disoriented, lame, or unresponsive to humans and other stimulus. As the disease progresses the deer may drool, have bloody discharge from the nose, sores on the mouth, and swollen, blue tongues. They may become thin because they stop eating. Sometimes they stop drinking, although many die close to or in water likely because they are attracted to it as a result having a high fever.

Even though EHD is not transmissible to humans, secondary infections may take advantage of the weakened condition of the animal making it unfit for human consumption. The Game Commission always recommends hunters avoid shooting or consuming deer that appear ill.

The outbreak is usually cut short by the first hard frost, which will kill the disease-carrying midges. Since the incubation period for the disease is five to seven days, affected deer may be observed for a couple of weeks after frost. Wetter weather may also help to reduce the effect of the outbreak by spreading the deer out and away from midge-infested areas.

In recent times, outbreaks among white-tailed deer have occurred in Pennsylvania in 1996 (not actually confirmed), 2002, and now in 2007. The more frequently a deer is exposed to the virus the more likely it is to develop immunity allowing it to recover. For this reason, EHD outbreaks in southern states, which occur more frequently than in more northern states like Pennsylvania, typically have lower mortality rates than are seen when the disease comes to the Commonwealth.

Rapid decomposition, lush summer vegetation, and other factors make actual counts of affected deer impractical. However, even after the most severe outbreaks deer numbers rebound quickly.

Other hoofed wildlife, such as elk, could be infected with the disease, but are usually not stricken in large numbers like white-tailed deer. However, farmed deer are every bit as susceptible as wild cervids; deer imported from areas where the virus is present can potentially serve as viral reservoirs, thus putting nearby wild deer at risk.

EHD has a very close relative known as the Bluetongue virus. Bluetongue is not thought to cause illness in wild deer, but does affect traditional domestic animals, like cattle, sheep and goats. While it is quite rare for EHD to cause illness in livestock, it has been reported in areas where there are outbreaks of EHD in wild deer.

**There was a dead black bear reported 1 mile south of Cochranton Sportsmen’s Club and after investigating he found three wounds which could have occurred 4-5 days prior. The animal had definitely been dumped at that location just recently.

**There are 23 students in the new WCO Class being held now who will graduate in March.

**We have 1 more HTE class next Saturday at Hempfield Station One. There are 75 students signed up.

**As part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts to highlight its ongoing habitat improvement initiatives, the public is invited to take part in upcoming tours of several State Game Lands between Sept. 22 and Oct. 21.  All tours are free. Information on the various tours is as follows: Local Tours are:

Butler/Lawrence Counties: Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.  This tour of SGL 151 will start across from the lake on Mason Road, between Brent Road and Plain Grove/North Liberty Road.  A bus will be available to take tour participants to the different areas.  Also, a light lunch will be provided by the Lawrence/Beaver Chapter of Waterfowl USA.  Tour highlights will include viewing habitat management practices, land acquisitions, food and cover plantings and wetlands.

Elk County: Sunday, Sept. 30, from 1-5 p.m., State Game Land 44.  The tour will start at the Game Commission State Game Lands Headquarters on Game Commission Road, which is six-tenths of a mile south of Route 949 at the Toby Creek Bridge. Take Route 949 South from the Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway for about 8 miles and then turn left (south) onto Game Commission Road.  During the tour visitors will travel to various locations on SGL 44 with Game Commission personnel to view habitat improvement projects and to see deer and wildlife habitat demonstration areas. Anyone who plans to attend should wear hiking boots and hiking clothes as the group will be walking over rocks and fields and through the woods.  Persons attending will use their own vehicles to travel from site to site and only high clearance vehicles can be used on the dirt backwoods roads, although four-wheel-drive is not necessary.