PFBC: 3.2M adult trout in 697 streams, 126 lakes open to public angling

Throughout the 2023 season, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 697 streams and 126 lakes open to public angling.

These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.3 million Rainbow Trout; 707,000 Brown Trout; and 168,000 Brook Trout.

As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of 0.58 pounds.

The statewide Opening Day of Trout Season got underway at 8 a.m. on April 1.

The PFBC will also stock approximately 70,000 trophy-sized trout measuring 14-20 inches. Approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout, weighing an average of 1.5 pounds, will also be stocked during preseason and in-season stockings.

PFBC partner cooperative nurseries, sponsored by sportsmen’s groups and other organizations, will combine to raise an additional one million trout that will be stocked into public waterways throughout the trout season.

During the regular trout season, which runs through Labor Day, anglers may keep up to five trout (combined species) per day measuring at least seven inches long. During an extended season from Sept. 5 through Feb. 19, 2024, the daily limit is three trout.

To purchase a fishing license and trout permit, review trout stocking schedules, and find trout fishing tips, visit fishandboat.com or use the FishBoatPA mobile app.

Anglers are no longer required to display a printed copy of their fishing license on the outside of their clothing and may simply store their license digitally on their phones.

Anglers who plan to fish from a boat during trout season are reminded that the PFBC’s cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect from Nov. 1 through April 30. Under this rule, anyone aboard a boat 16-feet or less, including all canoes and kayaks, is required to wear a life jacket. Children ages 12 and under are always required to wear a life jacket while boating in Pennsylvania.

The PFBC reminds boaters that regulations have changed on lakes that permit only the use of electric motors, including all PFBC owned or controlled lakes, some state park lakes, and other special regulation lakes specified under 58 Pa. Code § Chapter 111. Under these changes, electric motors of any size may be used, but they must not exceed slow, no wake speed on these select waters.

The PFBC reminds anglers of proper catch-and-release fishing techniques when harvest is not permitted or when anglers choose to practice catch-and-release fishing during trout season. The techniques listed below will ensure that released fish have the best chance to survive and contribute to future angling enjoyment.

• Land your fish as quickly as possible and don’t play the fish to exhaustion. Excessive stress and exhaustion increases post-release mortality.

• Use a landing net (rubber or rubberized mesh is best) to better control your catch and reduce trauma associated with handling.

• Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. The chance of a fish being injured increases the longer it is held out of the water.

• Wet your hands, your net, and other materials that touch the fish. Don’t handle fish with a towel or rag. This helps to keep a fish’s protective mucus or slime layer in place.

• Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This can calm the fish for quicker unhooking and release.

• Use hemostats or long nose pliers to aid in removing a hook quickly and safely. Use barbless hooks or pinch down barbs on existing hooks with small pliers to make removing hooks easier.

• When not possible to remove the hook without harming the fish, cut the line or harvest to eat (subject to season, length, and creel limits).

• Avoid contact with the gills and do not handle by placing your fingers under the operculum (gill cover).

• Hold the fish upright underwater after unhooking until it can swim away on its own. If necessary, gently hold the fish out of strong current until it revives.

PGC estimates deer harvest

The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently reported results from the 2022-23 deer seasons, which ended in January.

Hunters harvested an estimated 422,960 white-tailed deer. The statewide buck harvest was estimated at 164,190 and the antlerless harvest at 258,770.

All told, that’s a 12% increase over 2021-22’s estimated take, which was 376,810. Longer-term, though, it’s very much in line with recent trends, with the buck harvest in particular only 2% higher than the most-recent three-year average.

Game Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor David Stainbrook said that is noteworthy because the buck harvest is considered a good indicator of the overall deer population trend. If the buck harvest is climbing, the deer population likely is, too. If it’s dropping, the population probably mirrors that. If it’s stable, the population likely is as well, though, if hunter numbers are declining, a stable antlered harvest trend may actually indicate an increasing population trend.

“The long-term buck harvest trend indicates Pennsylvania’s deer population is in a pretty good place right now,” Stainbrook said. “We see generally stable population trends in most of the state, near goal levels, and we are seeing more older bucks available for harvest.

“For five years running, about one of every four Pennsylvania hunters has tagged a buck, with two of every three bucks harvested being 2.5 years old or older.”

When it comes to antlerless deer, 67% of those harvested were adult females, while 17% were button bucks and 16% were doe fawns. Hunters filled roughly one of every four antlerless deer licenses last season.

All of those figures are in line with the long-term averages.

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said the harvest numbers reflect well on not only the agency’s deer management program, but on the opportunities the state’s deer hunters have now and figure to have going into the future.

“We’ve been saying for a while now that this is a great time to be a Pennsylvania deer hunter,” Burhans said. “These harvest figures are the proof of that.”

As in years past, the regular firearms deer season accounted for the largest part of the 2022-23 deer harvest. Firearms hunters took 251,520 deer, with 87,190 of those bucks and the remaining 164,340 being antlerless.

Bow hunters accounted for a little over a third of the total deer harvest, taking 145,640 whitetails (75,770 bucks and 69,870 antlerless deer) with either bows or crossbows.

The estimated muzzleloader harvest was 25,790 (1,230 bucks, 24,560 antlerless deer).

PGC welcomes new

deputy executive director

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has a new deputy executive director of administration.

Deana Vance, who recently had been serving as the director of the Bureau of Automated Technology Services, stepped into her new role on April 1.

Vance fills the vacancy created when former deputy executive director Thomas P. Grohol retired on March 31.

As deputy executive director of administration, Vance assists in the planning, directing, executing and coordinating of the Game Commission’s programs to manage and protect wildlife. Deana directly supervises Game Commission bureau directors and other staff.

Vance has worked for the Game Commission for nearly 36 years, throughout which she’s showcased her innovation and people skills among other talents, said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. Those traits will serve her well in her new role, he said.

“Deana has a passion for hunting and wildlife conservation, and everything she’s done in her career has revolved around those things,” Burhans said. “She’s a superb leader with a proven track record who will excel in her new role, and I’m excited to work alongside her in this capacity.”

Vance, of Penns Creek, has worked her entire career with the Game Commission.

She originally joined the agency in 1987 as a computer systems analyst and continued to work in application development and database administration before being promoted to Section Chief of Application Development and Specialized Software in 1991. She was promoted to Data Resources Division Chief in 2007, planning and managing the agency’s software application development and operations.

In February 2017, Vance was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Automated Technology Services, serving as the Chief Information Officer, responsible for the information technology program and policies for the Game Commission.

Growing up in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Vance earned a B.S.B.A. degree from Shippensburg University in 1986. In 2013, she earned the credential of Certified Government Chief Information Officer from Harrisburg University.

Vance said she is eager to get started, and she’ll draw on her 36 years of experience with the agency to fulfill the role of her new position.

“My role as the IT director and a member of the senior leadership team has provided me an opportunity to deliver information technology solutions that promote the mission of the agency,” Vance said. “I’ve been fortunate to gain valuable insight about agency initiatives and strengthen relationships while collaborating with agency program areas over the years to provide services to the employees of the agency as well as the sportsmen and women throughout the Commonwealth.

“I’m honored and look forward to working on a broader scale with our Board of Commissioners, state legislators, agency staff, and our valued constituents who share our commitment for Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources,” she added.

Vance is one of two deputy executive directors working for the Game Commission. David Mitchell is the deputy executive director of field operations.

NBLT, King’s College to hold

Earth Day Cleanup on April 22

The North Branch Land Trust and King’s College Environmental Program are teaming up on Earth Day — Saturday, April 22 — for some “MarSh Madness” to clean up the Hanover Crossings Marsh.

Keep an eye on the NBLT website and social media for more chances to celebrate nature with NBLT including a planting party at Forest Echo Bird Sanctuary (date TBD).