Big Game Scoring Session Reminder; Pennsylvania Game Commission Launches Online Business Center; Wildlife Media Resource Center Has Something for Everyone

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Have you scheduled an appointment to have your trophy whitetail buck, black bear or bull elk scored in the Pennsylvania Game Commission's upcoming measuring sessions for the agency's Big Game Records Program? Time is running out and it may be several years before this specialized service is offered again.

In June, the Game Commission will be conducting big game scoring sessions at various locations across the state, where hunters may bring in their deer antlers, elk antlers or bear skulls to have them officially scored for the Big Game Records Program. Current listings and rankings for the program are maintained on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). To ensure appropriate staffing to fulfill requests, hunters must contact region offices at least 30 days prior to the scoring session in each of the six regions to make a reservation. That means most hunters have one to three weeks to make their reservations.

Following are the dates and locations, as well as phone numbers for each of the region offices.

Southwest Region: June 21 and, if necessary, June 22, at the Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711 inBolivar,Westmoreland County. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (724-238-9523) from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday-Friday, until May 21.

Southeast Region: June 21 and 22; Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, just off Hopeland Road, two miles south ofKleinfeltersville,Lebanon County. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (610-926-3136) from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, until May 21.

Southcentral Region: June 28 and, if necessary, June 29; McConnellsburg American Legion building,McConnellsburg,Fulton County. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (814-643-1831), Monday-Friday, until May 28.

Northwest Region: June 14 and, if necessary, June 15, Rocky Grove Fire Hall, 29 Wood St.,Franklin,Venango County. Take Route 417 North fromFranklin, and make right at blinking light. The fire hall is on the left. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (814-432-3187) until May 16.

Northcentral Region: June 21 at the Northcentral Region Office, 1566 South Route 44 Highway,Jersey Shore,Lycoming County; and June 22, at the Red Fern Inn, along Route 255, across from the Country Fair Convenience Store and next to Wal-Mart,St. Marys,Elk County. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (570-398-4744) from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, until May 21.

Northeast Region: June 21 and 22, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route 118,Dallas. Calls for reservations will be accepted through the Region Office (570-675-1143) from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday-Saturday, until May 21.

Blank score sheets may be downloaded from the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on "Hunting" in the left-hand column of the homepage, selecting "Pennsylvania Big Game Records" in the list of categories and then scrolling down and choosing the appropriate score sheet.

Score sheets also may be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Big Game Score Sheets, Dept. MS, 2001 Elmerton Avenue,Harrisburg, PA 17110- 9797. Be sure to specify which score sheet you want: white-tailed deer, typical or non-typical; black bear; or elk, typical or non-typical.

This year, hunters are being asked to rough-score their trophies to help confirm their chance to be listed, and minimum scores require that any whitetail, bear or elk trophy to be measured must be within 10 points of qualifying for entry onto the official list. Those rough-score minimums for the various categories are: 130 for typical whitetail taken with a firearm; 105 for typical whitetail taken with archery; 150 for non-typical whitetail taken with a firearm; 125 for non-typical whitetail taken with archery; 18 for black bear taken with a firearm; 16 for black bear taken with archery; 290 for typical elk taken with a firearm; 190 for typical elk taken with archery; 315 for non-typical elk taken with a firearm; and 265 for non-typical elk taken with archery. (To actually qualify for the official listing, add 10 points to the rough-score minimums.)

Under Pennsylvania Big Game Records Program criteria, crossbow or a muzzleloader harvests are listed in the firearms categories.

Any hunter who has had his or her trophy measured by a certified Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young measurer can mail a copy of the official score sheet (both sides) to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Attn: Big Game Records, 2001 Elmerton Avenue,Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797. These records then will be added to the Pennsylvania Big Game Records.

GAME COMMISSION LAUNCHES ONLINE BUSINESS CENTER

In an effort to save money, increase the competitive bidding process and meet the public's expectations for open government, the Pennsylvania Game Commission recently launched its online "PGC Business Center" to serve as a one-stop shop for companies looking to do business with the state wildlife agency.

To access the PGC Business Center, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on "Business Center" in the left-hand column of the homepage.

"This new business center will reduce our postage and printing costs while, at the same time, enable more companies to become aware of opportunities to submit bids to do business with the Game Commission," said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. "Additionally, this new site will provide the public with information about those companies awarded contracts, and reduce the time our employees spend on the telephone talking to bidders and potential bidders."

Information about various Game Commission procurement and service contracts can be viewed, from the purchase of herbicide used on State Game Lands to road-killed deer removal from local roads. Companies also may view timber, oil and gas bid packages being offered by the Game Commission.

The PGC's Business Center also provides links to the Department of General Services' surplus equipment, forms, procurement handbook, supplier registration and PA Supplier Portal.

WILDLIFE MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Looking for the perfect photo of a porcupine for your school report? Interested in changing your computer screen-saver to highlightPennsylvania wildlife? Then check out the latest addition to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us); the Wildlife Media Resource Center.

To access the new section, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on "Media Resource Center" in the right-hand column of the homepage.

"This resource center provides information, photographs and streaming videos that showcase Pennsylvania's amazing wildlife resources," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "The reference materials and photographs may be used to promote and/or learn more about wildlife. They are available to news media, students and others interested in wildlife and may used in articles, school reports and as a desktop display or screen-saver on your computer."

The website offers visitors 46 photos that can be used as screen savers; as well as 60 bird and 60 mammal photos. There also are more than 50 video downloads featuring information about various wildlife species, hunting safety tips and important Game Commission programs to promote hunting, trapping and wildlife education.

The Media Resource Center also links to the Game Commission's news releases, research reports and statistics, the popular Wildlife Note series and information about the state's wildlife on the endangered and threatened birds and mammals.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: PGCNews@state.pa.us.

Contact: Jerry Feaser

717-705-6541

PGCNews@state.pa.us

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission

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