Outdoors

By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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BUTLER TWP. - The Pennsylvania Game Commission has enlisted two new helpers in its fight against poaching.

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The Honey Hole Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently donated two robotic turkey decoys to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The decoys were purchased with a $5,000 grant from state Rep. Todd Eachus’s office.

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Pennsylvania Game Commission law enforcement supervisor Dan Figured, left, and Mark Ferdinand, president of the Honey Hole Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, work the remote control for a robotic turkey decoy. The decoy was one of two donated to the game commission to help catch poachers.

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With the help of the Honey Hole Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and state Rep. Todd Eachus, the PGC recently acquired two robotic turkey decoys that law enforcement officials say will help the agency catch poachers who road hunt for the big game birds.

The decoys – each a full-size gobbler mounts, are equipped with internal motors that are activated via remote control. A wildlife conservation officer posted nearby can use the remote controls to move the heads of the decoys and make them swivel, giving them a life-like appearance.

PGC Northeast Regional Law Enforcement Supervisor Dan Figured said the decoys will be used to help wildlife conservation officers catch road hunters.

“Road hunting for turkeys can be an issue, especially now in the fall season,” Figured said. “It’s unethical and it gives the sport of hunting a bad name.”

The turkey decoys will be used much like the 13 deer decoys that WCOs use in the region. Figured said they will be set up in locations throughout the region where road hunting complaints are a problem, and WCOs will monitor them from a hidden location. If someone shoots at a decoy from their vehicle Figured said they could face numerous violations, including using a motor vehicle to hunt ($200 - $500 fine), loaded gun in a vehicle ($100 - $300 fine) and unlawful taking ($100 - $300).

Figured said WCOs already make a habit of watching flocks of wild turkeys that are feeding in a field near a roadway. If someone shoots one of the birds while a WCO is watching they will be apprehended, he added.

PGC Northeast Region Information and Education Specialist Tim Conway said the decoys will save wild turkeys from getting shot and they will be set up in a manner that appeals to road hunters.

“We try to set them up where the average person won’t see them,” Conway said. “We’re targeting people who are out there solely to road hunt.”

The two decoys cost approximately $1,500 and were purchased with a $5,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant obtained by Eachus.

Mark Ferdinand, president of Honey Hole Longbeards, said his chapter got involved in the project after being approached by WCO Dave Allen.

“We were interested in doing something like this to help,” Ferdinand said. “It’s something we wanted to see.”

Ferdinand said his chapter and the National Wild Turkey Federation contacted Eachus’ office for help to purchase the decoys and donate them to the game commission. Eachus came through with a $5,000 grant, Ferdinand said, and the remainder of the funds will be used for conservation education projects and wildlife habitat improvement.

Figured said the deer decoys have proven to deter poaching activity in some areas and he expects the turkey decoys to do the same. He said WCOs from around the northeast region have expressed an interest in using the decoys to address road hunting problems in their districts.

“Road hunting for turkeys is a serious problem. Just about every district has had instances of turkeys shot from vehicles, especially in the fall,” Figured said.

Bob Eriksen, regional wildlife biologist with the NWTF, said turkeys are susceptible to road hunting because they frequently feed in fields. Because turkeys rely on their keen eyesight, they feel safe in open fields and aren’t too wary of vehicles, he added.

“In the fall you also have young birds that aren’t as wary in general,” Eriksen said. “In this area of Pennsylvania turkeys see vehicles on a regular basis and they are very susceptible to road hunting.”