HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith today testified before the House Game and Fisheries Committee and presented the agency’s annual report to the General Assembly.
To view a copy of the agency’s annual legislative report, please visit www.pa.gov/pgc and click “About Us,” then, “Reports and Surveys.”
Smith’s testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee follows:
“Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to present highlights from the Game Commission's 2023-24 Annual Report. This past year has brought both significant change and significant progress, as we have worked toward fulfilling our mission of protecting wildlife and their habitats, while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations.
“The accomplishments outlined in this report are the direct result of the dedication of our staff, the leadership of the Board of Commissioners, and the support of hunters, trappers, and conservationists across the Commonwealth.
“These achievements are also the product of a strong foundation built on sound science. Maintaining accurate, up-to-date information on the health of wildlife populations is at the core of our management programs.
“A prime example of this is our elk monitoring efforts, which saw significant advancements, including the collaring of additional yearling elk to study survival rates and habitat use. This is an important step toward understanding elk behavior, movements, and the challenges they face. The use of aerial surveys with thermal imaging has enhanced our ability to estimate elk populations, which is critical to managing this iconic species.
“Applications for elk hunting licenses reached a record high of 111,597 in 2023, reflecting the strong interest in elk hunting and the importance of managing their population effectively.
“Similarly, the bear population remains resilient, with 2,920 bears harvested during the 2023 season. We continue to refine our population models and management practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of bear populations, while providing abundant hunting opportunities. Research on bear genetics is helping us understand bear movements and population structure in greater detail, enabling us to develop strategies that can address bear-human conflicts while supporting healthy populations across the state.
“Our ongoing turkey study—the largest of its kind—has provided invaluable insights into survival, reproduction, movement, and habitat use. More than 400 hens have been equipped with radio transmitters, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of turkey populations across the state.
“These findings will be instrumental in guiding future management decisions, ensuring that we can continue to support this species, which remains one of Pennsylvania’s most popular game birds.
“Meanwhile, our efforts to restore ruffed grouse populations, which have been severely impacted by West Nile virus over the past decade, are showing promising signs of success. Flush rates reached their highest levels since the 2013-14 season, signaling that our intensive habitat restoration projects are beginning to yield results. These projects, which involve a combination of forest management and controlled burns, are transforming mature forests into young, vibrant habitats that provide critical cover and food sources for grouse and other species. Through proper management and habitat restoration, we are on the right track to ensuring that grouse populations once again thrive in Pennsylvania.
“We are also making strides in our multi-year research initiative to study Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer populations in Bedford and Fulton counties, where the disease is most prevalent. In 2024, nearly half of the hunter-harvested adult deer in this region tested positive for CWD, underscoring the urgency of our efforts. The ongoing study, which includes GPS collaring and extensive testing, is providing valuable insights into CWD and its impact on deer health.
“Given the significance of the threat posed by CWD, the Board of Commissioners instituted an extended firearms season in three Wildlife Management Units to increase the antlerless deer harvest, which remains the most effective known method for slowing the spread of CWD.
“While much of our work focuses on game species, our responsibilities extend to all 480 wildlife species across the Commonwealth. A remarkable example of this commitment came last year, when the state-endangered common tern successfully nested in Pennsylvania for the first time in decades. After having vanished completely from the state in 1985, two tern chicks taking flight over Lake Erie was a moment that marked the culmination of decades of efforts to restore critical habitat and reduce threats.
“But monitoring and restoring wildlife are only part of the equation. Equally important is ensuring that wildlife populations have the abundant and diverse habitats they need to survive. Top of Form
“Prescribed fire remains a critical tool for creating and maintaining healthy wildlife habitats. Many species, such as grouse, turkeys and deer, are dependent upon the young forests and open spaces formed by fire. Burning also stimulates the growth of native plants, improves the quality of forage, and provides the cover and nesting conditions that many species require.
“In the past fiscal year alone, our crews treated over 11,000 acres of game lands with prescribed fire, bringing our five-year total to just under 60,000 acres.
“Timber harvests also played a critical role in improving habitat on nearly 25,000 acres. By transforming mature, closed-canopy forests into younger, regenerating forests, we created environments that offer the dense cover and rich food sources that many wildlife species need to survive.
“In addition to our habitat work, improving the infrastructure on our game lands — which cover over 1.5 million acres across 66 of the state’s 67 counties — remains a top priority. Over the past fiscal year, we enhanced access by improving 79 miles of roads and constructing 21 bridges, making it easier for visitors to explore and enjoy these public lands.
“Through strategic land acquisitions, we expanded game lands by more than 10,000 acres, creating new recreational opportunities and preserving vital habitats where wildlife can continue to thrive.
“As we work to monitor wildlife populations and create the habitat they need to survive, we never lose sight of our responsibility to serve the residents of the Commonwealth.
“Our Centralized Dispatch Center is built to provide round-the-clock support to the public. Staffed by dedicated employees, the center ensures rapid responses to emergencies and public inquiries. In the 2023-24 fiscal year alone, it handled over 205,000 calls, achieving a call-answer-rate of over 99 percent.
“While our responsibilities extend to the public as a whole, we recognize the essential role that hunters and trappers play in our ability to manage wildlife. Our commitment to preserving Pennsylvania’s hunting and trapping heritage, while training and supporting the next generation, is a central part of our mission.
“In 2024, our Hunter-Trapper Education program certified over 20,000 students through in-person and online courses, ensuring that the next generation of hunters receives the comprehensive training that has led to hunting being one of the safest forms of outdoor recreation. 2024 marked the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents since 1915, a record that reflects the dedication of our staff, our volunteer Instructors, and Pennsylvania’s hunters who have maintained high standards of safety and responsibility.
“One other way we preserve Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage is through our pheasant propagation program, which supports the longstanding hunting traditions that hold deep significance for thousands of hunters across the Commonwealth. Last fiscal year, we stocked over 224,000 pheasants across 233 properties in 62 counties, providing abundant opportunities for hunters to enjoy this exhilarating pastime.
“In addition, we created over 60 managed dove fields on game lands. These fields are carefully maintained through strategic planting of crops and wildflowers. Using practices like prescribed fire and seasonal mowing, we enhanced the habitat quality of these areas, creating exceptional hunting opportunities.
“We are also committed to expanding opportunities for hunters to practice and improve their proficiency with a firearm or bow, having completed five new archery ranges and three shotgun ranges on state game lands last fiscal year. With these new ranges, we now have a total of 66 public shooting ranges across 40 game lands, including 30 rifle, 19 pistol, 12 archery, and five shotgun ranges.
“Looking ahead, we plan to open up to a dozen new shooting ranges in the upcoming year.
“We also launched a private shooting range grant program to support private organizations with funding for infrastructure improvements. This program is enhancing shooting facilities by providing financial assistance for projects such as constructing or upgrading backstops, safety berms, target systems, shooting stations, and lead remediation. These improvements are crucial for promoting safe and enjoyable shooting experiences while strengthening the shooting sports and hunting community.
“2024 marked the first year for this program. We awarded a total of 12 grants to clubs across the Commonwealth, recognizing and thanking them for their work in supporting generations of hunters and making an investment in the future of these organizations.
“We also continue to provide support to Hunters Sharing the Harvest, which has helped donate over 2.8 million pounds of venison to food-insecure families. Pennsylvania leads the nation in venison donations, a testament to the generosity of our hunters.
“In order to fulfil our goal of properly serving the public, we remain committed to recruiting and retaining highly skilled professionals across all areas of our agency. Our staff often make sacrifices to work for the Game Commission. They do so because they believe in our mission and want the opportunity to make a difference for wildlife.
“This dedication is found throughout the agency, and extends to our state game wardens, who frequently serve as the face of the Game Commission. In 2024, wardens managed nearly 90,000 incidents. Among those involving law enforcement contacts, wardens issued 5,435 warnings and 4,415 citations. When cases proceeded to prosecution, wardens achieved an impressive success rate of over 96%.
“We recently revamped our recruitment process for state game wardens, resulting in a 142% increase in applicants to the Ross Leffler School of Conservation. We graduated 12 new officers in 2024, and 18 new wardens last month. And in just a few days we will welcome a new class of 35 cadets.
“Every day, our state game wardens stand on the front lines, dedicated to not only protecting Pennsylvania’s wildlife, but also serving our communities, as demonstrated during a recent incident involving an active shooter at a York County hospital. Sergeant Ritter, State Game Warden McVaney, and State Game Warden Murphy were among the first to arrive on the scene, working to secure the building and assist the injured. Their immediate, courageous response exemplifies the bravery and selflessness that define our wardens. I’m sure you will join me in extending our deepest gratitude to these officers for their heroic actions that day.
“We are committed to providing our wardens with the resources they need to be effective. And we will continue to advocate for equitable compensation that reflects the critical role they play and the risks that they take in the performance of their duties.
“Taken together, these efforts reflect our commitment to Pennsylvania’s wildlife, habitats, and hunting and trapping traditions.
“But our work is far from done. There is more that we must do, particularly now, as we stand on the precipice of such a critical time in the agency’s history.
“Looking ahead, we are committed to making meaningful investments and shaping the future of conservation for generations to come.
“This starts with managing the Game Fund, which we will do responsibly and strategically, honoring the trust placed in us by the hunters and trappers whose contributions are the foundation of our work.
“We are committed to making every financial decision with long-term sustainability in mind, ensuring that we can continue delivering exceptional service to the people and wildlife of Pennsylvania, while keeping hunting and trapping licenses among the most affordable in the nation.
“We will also modernize and enhance our services to better support Pennsylvania’s hunters, making it easier to purchase a license, report a harvest, or locate properties open to hunting.
“By partnering with deer processors, we can expand their capacity, strengthening the final link in the chain of events that starts with an interest in hunting and ends with a healthy, locally sourced meal.
“Addressing the challenges posed by growing deer populations, especially in agricultural and suburban areas, will remain a priority. We will develop and implement a program to connect private and public landowners facing deer-related damage with skilled hunters who can manage those populations safely and effectively.
“At the same time, we recognize that our mission extends to all Pennsylvanians — including those who may never flush a grouse or call in a turkey, but still value wildlife and the preservation of natural resources. We are committed to being an agency that serves everyone, ensuring every voice is heard and every stakeholder valued.
“We recognize that our success depends on a strong partnership with the General Assembly, especially the members of this Committee. Your insights and participation are important to us as we work to serve our shared constituencies.
“We also invite you to experience the impact of our work firsthand: tour a game land to see timber stand improvements or a forest floor revitalized by prescribed fire; help stock pheasants; participate in a research project; or join us in celebrating key milestones like awarding a grant, dedicating new game lands, or opening a shooting range.
“Together, we can create a future where wildlife thrives, hunting and trapping endures, and game lands remain abundant and accessible.”