Pennsylvania Game Commission Pheasant Propagation

1. Pennsylvania Game Commission Pheasant Propagation Bob Boyd Wildlife Services Division Chief Bureau of Wildlife Management March 2011

2. Presentation Overview • Pheasant propagation goals and objectives • Brief history • Recent updates in game farm infrastructure and equipment • The future PGC - Propagation Program

3. Program Goals & Objectives • PGC Strategic Plan & Pheasant Management Plan • Goal: Protect & perpetuate our hunting and trapping heritage • 3 strategies: • Annually release up to 250,000 birds • Including at least 15,000 for junior hunters • Improve & modernize GF infrastructure PGC - Propagation Program

4. History • PGC first purchased and stocked pheasants in 1915 • Propagation began in 1929 with the establishment of 2 game farms • By the early 1980s, 5 farms produced 425,000 birds/year. PGC - Propagation Program

5. History (continued) • Due to budget constraints: • In 1983, and a desire to produce a higher quality bird, annual production goal reduced to 220,000 • In 1995, Eastern GF was closed, production goal reduced to 200,000 • In 2005, production goal decreased to 100,000 PGC - Propagation Program

6. In 2005 • Northcentral GF idled • Permanent staff reassigned to Loyalsock GF • All temporary employees terminated • Cost savings in feed and utilities • However, cost savings were modest, compared to the significant reduction in the number of birds produced, resulting in a higher cost/bird released PGC - Propagation Program

7. In 2010 • Northcentral GF back online • Today 4 game farms: • Western GF in Crawford Co. • Southwest GF in Armstrong Co. • Loyalsock & Northcentral GFs in Lycoming Co. PGC - Propagation Program

8. Recent Infrastructure Improvements • New incubators and hatchers • Replaced 30-60 yr-old equipment – couldn’t find parts • Improved hatching rates, energy efficiency PGC - Propagation Program

9. Recent Infrastructure Improvements • New brooder houses at Northcentral and Western GFs • Still in progress at Western GF, but plan to use 3 of the 4 new ones this spring • Rebuilt 1 brooder house lost to fire at Loyalsock GF • Improved efficiency in manpower and utilities PGC - Propagation Program

10. Other Improvements • Tractors • Utility vehicles • Pick up trucks • Lawn mowers • Feed grain tanks • Grow out fields • Roofs, windows, generators PGC - Propagation Program

11. Future • We are returning to a hunting season release level of 200,000 birds in 2012 • We’ll be revising the number of release days per week, the number of releases per season, and where we release birds • We need to expand the Pheasant Mentored Youth Hunting Program • We continue to fill position vacancies as they occur

12. Conclusions • The PGC has a long and proud tradition of propagating pheasants • We provide: • a service that is in demand, • diversity to the PA hunting experience, • a tangible product, and • youth hunting opportunities PGC - Propagation Program

13. Conclusions (cont.) • It behooves us to maximize the value of this service, by providing quality birds and quality experiences PGC - Propagation Program

14. PGC - Propagation Program