Pennsylvania Game News - January 2013 - 7

in areas of suitable habitat within the Commonwealth, with the goal of establishing populations of at least 10 hens/mi2 in the spring through habitat improvement and the release and temporary protection of wild trapped and transferred ring-necked pheasants. Five WPRAs have been established to date: Pike Run (Washington County), Central Susquehanna (Montour, Northumberland and Columbia counties), Somerset (Somerset County), Hegins-Gratz (Schuylkill and Dauphin counties), and Franklin (Franklin County). All WPRAs have regulations in place prohibiting the release of pen-raised pheasants, dog training and most small game hunting from early February through July 31, and the hunting and harvesting of pheasants at any time. The 6-year evaluation period for the Pike Run WPRA concluded in spring 2011. The estimated hen density in 2011 was only 1 hen/mi2. Habitat analysis showed that although the WPRA contained adequate nesting cover, it did not meet the other four targets in the habitat model. Because Pike Run did not meet the criteria to be considered successful, the Board of Commissioners eliminated it from the list of WPRAs and re-opened the area to cocks-only pheasant hunting and the stocking of birds for the 2012-13 hunting season. The Central Susquehanna WPRA contains two study areas: Turbotville-PPL and Greenwood Valley. Spring 2011 hen densities were eight hens/mi2 in Turbotville-PPL (meets all ﬁve of the habitat targets) and four hens/mi2 in Greenwood Valley (meets four of the ﬁve habitat targets). In the Somerset WPRA, wild pheasants were released from 2009-11. Spring 2011 hen densities in the Somerset WPRA were one hen/mi2. This area meets three of the ﬁve habitat targets. Pheasants and habitat will be monitored for an additional two years and a ﬁnal evaluation of success or failure will occur in 2014. The Hegins-Gratz Valley WPRA contains two study areas: Hegins Valley and Gratz Valley. Initial wild pheasant releases in this WPRA occurred in winter 2011 with 298 birds (274 females and 24 males) transferred from South Dakota. Spring 2012 was the ﬁrst year for hen density calculations; results were not available at the time of preparation of this report. Each study area met three of the ﬁve habitat targets during the 2011 growing season. This WPRA was due for two additional years of releases (300 birds/year), but we suffered a setback when the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks informed us that due to declining pheasant populations in their state, they would not be providing us with wild pheasants for transfer to Pennsylvania WPRAs in 2012, and we were unable to locate a suitable backup source. We are working with South Dakota and other potential partners in an effort to resume trap and transfer efforts in 2013. The Franklin County WPRA was scheduled for its ﬁrst wild pheasant releases in winter 2012, but these efforts were delayed by our inability to acquire pheasants. We intend to release 300 birds each year for three years once a source of wild birds is again available, and monitor populations during the transfer/release period, and for an additional three years after trap and transfer is completed. Meanwhile, we will continue to monitor habitat in this WPRA, which in 2011 met four of the ﬁve habitat targets. Pheasants Forever chapters have expressed interest in establishing additional WPRAs elsewhere in the state, but current projects strain our capacity to obtain and monitor pheasants, and analyses of existing WPRAs should be completed to evaluate the possibilities of success and guide future management. Therefore, we informed these partners that no additional WPRAs can be approved until we complete analysis of existing WPRAs. The PGC’s four game farms continued to operate with a reduced production quota of 100,000 due to ﬁscal cutbacks since 2005. Propagated birds remain popular with sportsmen and provide many hours of hunting recreation, as well as a junior hunting opportunity.
JANUARY 2013 7

Pennsylvania Game News - January 2013

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