Call of the Outdoors (Pennsylvania Game Commission)

At the Pennsylvania Game Commission, our passion is wild, from the top on down. The “Call of the Outdoors” is the agency’s podcast, and the first-ever episode features Executive Director Bryan Burhans and Marketing Director Matt Morrett. Listeners will gain an inside look into the agency, it’s leadership and the strong hunting and wildlife traditions that have existed in the Keystone State for more than 125 years.

Bryan is a proud Pennsylvania native who has spent his life hunting wild turkeys, whitetails and more in Penn’s Woods. At a young age, he developed a passion for wildlife and conservation and you can hear that excitement in some of the stories he tells. He recounts being so happy to take his Hunter-Trapper Education Course, as a kid, that he actually took it a second time!

As a wildlife biologist, Bryan has dedicated his entire professional career to wildlife conservation in both the public and private sectors. It was a lifelong dream of his to work for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. That became a reality in 2014, and in 2017, he assumed the role of executive director. Bryan shares about his personal preference for hunting on public lands, the lasting legacy those lands will provide and more.

Bryan and Matt explain what the Game Commission is all about – it’s mission, it’s people, it’s passion and it’s purpose. The year-round wildlife management that is done on Pennsylvania’s 1.6 million acres of state game lands is for the betterment of wildlife and for current and future generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. They also provide insight on how the agency is funded, the challenges the agency faces when it comes to managing wildlife and habitats, as well as dispel a few common myths about the Game Commission.

Not only is the white-tailed deer Pennsylvania’s state mammal and most popular game species, but here in the Keystone State, we have some of the most deer hunters in the country! To celebrate fall and a new deer season, this episode is completely focused on deer and what’s been done to manage the herd for current and future generations.

Chris Rosenberry, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Game Management Division Chief, provides an inside look into our state’s deer management strategies. If you can hunt it or trap it, the management strategies related to that species falls within Chris’s division.

Prior to his current role, Chris served as the agency’s Deer and Elk Section Chief, and he’s also a Pennsylvania native and lifelong deer hunter. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a deer biologist, Chris shares some of his own experiences collecting data and using science to develop recommendations to achieve agency goals for the betterment of the resource.

If you harvest a deer this season, be sure to report it! Chris explains how important accurate deer harvest data is in managing the deer in our state. He also gives deer hunters a few of his personal tips to keep in mind while pursuing Pennsylvania whitetails this fall!

If you’re a Pennsylvania bear hunter, you’re in luck, because the hunting opportunities have never been better! It’s an exciting time, between expanded seasons, including one of Pennsylvania’s first-ever Sunday big game hunting opportunities on Nov. 22 for the statewide regular firearms bear season, and a robust bear population totaling about 20,000.

In this episode, Pennsylvania native and lifelong hunter Frank Sutliff, shares his insights on bear hunting in our state, and what to look for when you’re planning your hunt. Frank is from Renovo, Clinton County, which is well-known for its black bear hunting, due to the rugged terrain in that northern area of the state.

Frank grew up hunting and fishing in the great outdoors and went on to create Top Calls, a well-known Pennsylvania call company specializing in turkey, deer, waterfowl and predator calls. He shares some of his favorite bear hunting tips and stories from his time in the woods.

Pennsylvania is home to more than 20,000 black bears and they can be found in all 67 counties. Whether you hunt bears or just enjoy learning about them, this episode is full of information about black bears in the Keystone State, including biology, behavior and much more.

Mark Ternent is the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Wildlife Management Supervisor and has worked with bears for 30 years, including 20 of them as the agency’s bear biologist. Mark went from studying prairie chickens in the Midwest, to turkeys in the Ozarks, to grizzly bears in Wyoming and then to Pennsylvania as the agency’s black bear biologist in 2000.

In Pennsylvania, we have 12 million people and a robust bear population, so regardless of where you live or recreate in the state, it’s possible for humans and bears to end up in the same places. The Game Commission receives about 5,000 reports of nuisance bears a year. Whether you want to see a bear in the woods or you’re trying to avoid a run-in, Mark shares some tips on how we can best live together in Penn’s Woods.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, Pennsylvania’s archery deer hunters made history as they took to the woods for the state’s first-ever regulated big-game hunting opportunity. It’s been an exciting fall, with plenty of expanded hunting seasons, including two more Sunday hunting dates during the statewide regular firearms bear season, on Nov. 22, and statewide regular firearms deer season, on Nov. 29.

To celebrate the hunt, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett in this episode to wish hunters a happy Thanksgiving and remind everyone about the important role our hunters share in conserving our wildlife.

As the first day of rifle deer season in Pennsylvania is quickly approaching, Bryan shares his memories from his first-ever buck harvest, his personal sentiments on being a Pennsylvania hunter and his thoughts on all the hunting opportunities we’ve had so far this fall – from doves to squirrels to pheasants, turkey, deer, bear and more!

To Bryan, conservation means “the wise use of natural resources,” and he shares why the work the agency does to actively manage wildlife habitat is so important to current and future generations of both wildlife species and humans. Hunters live a certain lifestyle that embodies the principles of conservation and requires them to take personal responsibility for their actions. From knowing the hunting regulations and laws, to taking clean and ethical shots, to getting their deer tested for CWD, to sharing tasteful photos on social media, to recruiting and teaching new hunters and continuing traditions, hunters are very involved with conservation.

We’re beginning the new year with a meaningful nod to the past. For 125 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has officially managed the state’s wildlife resources and our state has always been a national leader when it comes to wildlife conservation efforts here in Penn’s Woods. In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett welcomes the Bureau of Wildlife Protection’s Chad Eyler, as he shares about Pennsylvania’s earliest conservation efforts and how the realities of the 1800’s – dwindling wildlife, deforestation, pollution and unregulated hunting and trapping – led to the creation of the Game Commission. Chad shares his story about how his long-time passion for the outdoors – as an Eagle Scout, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, serving as a DCNR Park Ranger and much more – led him to become a Pennsylvania State Game Warden and serve wildlife and the public for more than 20 years.

The 2020 archery deer season is one that Cory Gulvas will never forget, as he successfully harvested one of the state’s largest typical bucks – ever – on public land in Tioga County, with a traditional bow. The history between him and this buck began two years prior, in September 2018, when he got his first glimpse of him on his trail camera.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks one-on-one with Cory about what hunting and conservation means to him, as well as the details of his unbelievable fall 2020 deer hunt. Cory is an avid woodsman, a dedicated outdoorsman and a professional forester who has spent a lot of his life studying white-tailed deer, from understanding their behavior patterns and movement and beyond.

In 2005, Cory’s passion for studying their habits was further fueled when he began searching for their sheds in the big woods. He now has a shed hunting dog, Mighty, that helps him comb through miles of mountains in search of antlers. Cory shares some of his tips and what he’s learned over the years and how this method of scouting has helped him have better success in the field.

Cory explains how hunting is about so much more than harvesting an animal; the challenges, skills and lessons are just as valuable and important. As a traditional bowhunter and IBO Traditional Archery World Champion, he makes a point to shoot his bow every single day. Cory has a young family, and a very supportive wife, who encourages him to get out in the woods as much as possible.

Being a Pennsylvania state game warden is more than just a job; it’s a passion fueled by protecting our state’s wildlife and natural resources. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a game warden – wonder no more – because this episode is packed with insight right from the Game Commission’s Director of Training Kyle Jury and State Game Warden (SGW) Hannah Robinson.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s training program takes place at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg. The school started in 1936 and has produced just 728 graduates since that time. Hear how Director Jury and SGW Robinson’s paths led them to being two of those 728 and why they are passionate about their unique roles in protecting wildlife here in the Keystone State.

The official training currently takes about 44 weeks, but the process to getting to that point requires multiple steps. Director Jury provides insight on that process, from the civil service announcement, to applying online, to the written, oral and physical assessments, to background checks and more.

SGW Robinson is a Wayne County native and recent graduate of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32nd class. She was just assigned to her first district in southern Bucks County in February. Hannah had the opportunity to harvest her first pheasant while on field training last fall. As a graduation present from academy, her family surprised her with a new bow and she’s looking forward to becoming an archery hunter this fall. Click here to watch the recent graduation of the 32nd class on YouTube.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications through April 10 for its 34th class of state game wardens. Learn more or apply here.

If you ask a Pennsylvania state game warden what their dream job is, they are likely to tell you that it’s being a game warden. In part two of “How to Become a State Game Warden” Pennsylvania Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with Assistant Director of Training Joel Gibble and State Game Warden (SGW) Travis O’Neill about how becoming a game warden is the career they wanted to pursue.

Every state has some form of wildlife protection. Here in Pennsylvania, we refer to our officers as game wardens. The Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg is the academy where our game wardens go to train. In addition to the physical and educational requirements, game wardens must have an appreciation for wildlife and natural resources to be truly successful in their careers.

Assistant Director Gibble and SGW O’Neill grew up with true passions for the outdoors, from hunting, fishing and beyond. They have both served our country in the military and they both work every day to serve the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The pair discusses the unique role that game wardens have and how their primary mission is protecting wildlife, but the ways in which that is accomplished – through education, communication and enforcement – can look a little different on a daily basis.

Assistant Director Gibble served as a game warden in Schuylkill County for several years before coming on board to help train the next generation of game wardens. He gives plenty of advice to those interested in becoming a game warden and also touches on some of the other opportunities that are available within the agency. He also shares memories from some of his best days and worst days in the field and how they helped to shape his career as a game warden.

SGW O’Neill is an Allegheny County native and recent graduate of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32^nd class. Believe it or not, he nearly talked himself out of applying for the class, which he explains in the episode. He went on to receive the class award for academics, with a score of 96.9 percent and gave the class speech at the graduation in February. Watch it here: https://bit.ly/3cRR8rU. He was recently assigned to his first district in Butler County and he tells some stories about his first few weeks on the job.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications through April 10 for its 34^th class of state game wardens. Learn more or apply here: https://bit.ly/2OkvYdr. Click here to listen to “How to Become a State Game Warden, Part One:” http://bit.ly/3vBY2K9.

Lots of Pennsylvanians are thinking about turkeys as the state’s 2021 Spring Gobbler season is right around the corner! In this episode, host Matt Morrett talks with Pennsylvania Game Commission Wild Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena about the state of the turkey flock, as well as some of her own professional experiences.

The answer to the No. 1 question our agency gets when it comes to spring gobbler season, “Why doesn’t the season open sooner?” is answered in this episode. Mary Jo explains why fall turkey harvest rates and habitat management strategies are both very important when it comes to managing wild turkeys in Pennsylvania. Details about why the Game Commission is leg banding males to get harvest rates and annual survival rates, a practice similar to waterfowl leg banding, is also included.

Mary Jo covers some of the challenges that are currently facing our wild turkey population and shares what the agency is doing to best monitor and manage those issues. Mary Jo also shares many facts and figures related to our turkey population, including the average life expectancy of our gobblers is three years old.

Mary Jo admits her favorite species to hunt is the wild turkey and “there’s nothing like the roar of the gobble in the spring.” In 7th grade biology class, Mary Jo decided she wanted to be a wildlife biologist to speak on behalf of wildlife. She recently celebrated her 28th anniversary with the agency, where she’s held a few positions, including pheasant biologist, then waterfowl biologist and now as the wild turkey biologist since 1999.

If you’re a Pennsylvania turkey hunter, you need to listen to this episode, featuring two of Pennsylvania’s own Grand National Champion Turkey Callers Denny Gulvas and host Matt Morrett, as well as Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. The amount of tips and information related to turkey calling is incredible and will leave listeners better prepared – and more excited – for Spring Gobbler season, which opens statewide on May 1, 2021.

Denny Gulvas, of DuBois, is a proud Pennsylvania hunter who loves living in a state with plenty of turkey hunting opportunities. He’s dedicated most of his life to turkey calling and was inducted into the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand National Hall of Fame in 2020. Denny refers to turkey calling as an art. He explains that the whole process of calling in a turkey – from locating the gobbler, to setting up, to communicating, to watching the bird’s body language – is all an art and something that takes time and skill to learn.

Denny has produced his own turkey calls since the 1970s, and he explains how he got started and what makes his calls unique. He spends a lot of time in the woods and shares some of his best tips and tricks for hunting and understanding turkeys and other wildlife. Denny has mentored plenty of young turkey callers and hunters, including his sons. In this episode, he also shares memories of his earliest hunting experiences with his dad and grandfather, including every detail of his first turkey hunt.

You know Blake Shelton as a country music superstar. You know him as a host on The Voice. Here is a chance to meet a different side of Blake – a passionate hunter, a longtime conservationist and someone who loves introducing new people to the great outdoors.

In this episode, Blake shares that his late brother was the person who got him started hunting early in life, (and also interested in music). Blake shared some of the challenges he endured during his first few years hunting whitetails in Oklahoma and how those experiences helped to shape his great appreciation for wildlife conservation.

Hear about Blake’s favorite way to hunt turkeys; some of his favorite turkey hunting memories with host, Matt Morett; his thoughts on Pennsylvania’s first-ever upcoming Sunday Hunting opportunities; his involvement with wildlife conservation efforts in Oklahoma; how he’s occupying his time at home during the COVID-19 outbreak and plenty more.

As much as Blake loves to hunt, he explains how his rush nowadays comes from taking someone hunting for the first time and introducing people of all ages to the great outdoors that he knows and loves. He shares that someone doesn’t need to harvest an animal to be passionate about the outdoors.

A shared passion for wildlife, whether identifying as a hunter or birder, is the one thing all wildlife lovers have in common. Listen to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans, Bureau of Wildlife Management Director Matthew Schnupp and Call of the Outdoors Host Matt Morrett discuss exciting new hunting opportunities, along with ways in which hunting seasons and limits are determined, as well as the importance of everyone working together for wildlife.

Whether an avid hunter or someone with a general love of the outdoors, understanding the multi-faceted approach of modern wildlife management practices helps everyone better appreciate our agency’s mission: To manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations.”

Matthew Schnupp was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia and spent much of his childhood chasing after pheasants in the state game lands of Pennsylvania. After going to West Virginia University for his undergraduate degree, he headed down south to Texas, where he attended Texas A&M University. He spent the next 15 years in Texas working as the chief biologist for an 825,000-acre private ranch. Matthew took the opportunity to move closer to home in 2018 and planted his roots in Pennsylvania when he assumed his current role. He’s glad be in the state where his love for hunting began.  

Wildlife crimes affect everyone. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) program provides a way for people to directly report information related to wildlife crimes. Reporting illegal wildlife activity helps to protect our wild birds and mammals for current and future generations.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with the Bureau of Wildlife Protection’s Chad Eyler and Brian Sheetz about our state’s wildlife protection programs, including OGT. To confidentially report information, call the OGT hotline toll-free – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out a form online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. With more than 1,500 tips a year, Pennsylvania’s program is ranked third in the nation behind Texas and Florida. 

From its first days, Pennsylvania was founded on William Penn’s belief that wildlife belongs to everyone. Today, our state Constitution says that all the natural resources within this Commonwealth belong to the people. The Pennsylvania Game Commission serves as the state’s wildlife agency and is dedicated to managing and protecting wildlife and their habitats, while promoting hunting and trapping, for current and future generations.

The smell of fall is in the air. The rut is on in Pennsylvania.In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the mating season and biology of white-tailed deer with Kip Adams, the National Deer Association’s Chief Conservation Officer.  

Kip lives in Knoxville (Pennsylvania) and is a certified wildlife biologist whose love for hunting began while growing up on a dairy farm in Tioga County. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a wildlife biologist.  

Pennsylvania has a seven-to-ten day window in early to mid-November when the whitetail rut reaches its peak. Kip’s advice to hunters: Once we hit the rut, go and stay in your stand. It can all change at any second and turn into the most explosive time of the year. Go and stay in your stand for as long as you can.  

Kip explains why education is so important in managing and understanding deer. Knowing the deer’s patterns, food sources and shelter needs for deer is crucial to determining the life cycle and mating habits for deer.   

Kip credits hunters for being very knowledgeable about deer biology, management and knowing how to enhance habitats. Hunters have always answered the call and are working toward ensuring that we have healthy deer herds for the next generation. He predicts a lot of good things for the future of white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania.

Since its inception in 1991, Pennsylvania’s acclaimed Hunters Sharing the Harvest program has donated nearly TWO MILLION pounds of venison to hungry families across the state, thanks to the generosity of Pennsylvania hunters.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest is a hunter-inspired community service outreach that works through a network of approved deer processors to channel venison donations to local food banks, soup kitchens and hungry families in Pennsylvania’s urban and rural communities. 

This episode features the program’s first Executive Director John Plowman and its current Executive Director Randy Ferguson. They join host Matt Morrett to share the step-by-step process in which a hunter can donate a deer to the program at no cost to them and how it gets from the processor and back into the community. This program is a national leader and has grown into a huge success, thanks in large part to the generosity of Pennsylvania hunters.

One deer can provide as many as 200 high protein, low fat servings. Last year, in 2020, the program set a new all-time record when 190,302 pounds of venison was distributed across the Commonwealth.  Visit www.sharedeer.org or call 866-474-2141 to learn how to donate or volunteer, or to locate a processor, area coordinators and/or food banks near you.

Being a game warden is a job unlike any other and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation is actively recruiting candidates for its 35^th class. Interested in applying, but wish you knew more about the process? Listen to this episode for the inside scoop from new state game wardens Hannah Robinson and Travis O’Neill. Visit www.pgc.pa.gov to apply. 

Hannah and Travis are 2021 graduates of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32nd class. Hannah has been a serving in Bucks County and Travis in Butler County since February 2021. After they graduated, host Matt Morrett spoke with the pair about their journeys to becoming game wardens in episodes 16 and 17. In this episode, they fondly recount memories from their first year in the field. 

Both game wardens agreed they felt fully ready after completing their 44-week intensive training, where they were trained to investigate crimes, interview suspects, educate the public and protect wildlife. Visit www.pgc.pa.gov to learn more about becoming a state game warden. 

From its rivers, streams, wetlands and agricultural fields, Pennsylvania offers waterfowl – and waterfowl hunters – many diverse and appealing habitats. Through careful planning and habitat management, Pennsylvania has become one of the top states in the Atlantic Flyway, with ample hunting opportunities for Canada goose, mallards and wood ducks.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the biology and migrations of waterfowl in Pennsylvania with Nate Huck, Waterfowl Program Specialist for the Game Commission. As the agency’s Waterfowl Biologist, Nate’s main focuses throughout the year include post-season banding, waterfowl surveys and flyway communication with other states. He emphasized the importance of analyzing the banding and survey data to estimate survival and harvest rates, because both play a crucial role in proposing annual seasons and bag limits.

Pennsylvania has a rich history of archery across the state.  No one knows more about that than Todd Holmes, Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  The tradition of archery is strong in Todd’s family.  He began shooting a bow when he was just five years old with his dad and uncles.  Today, he’s passing that same tradition on to his own sons. 

 In this episode, Todd joins Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett to discuss shooting sports in Pennsylvania and the growing excitement for the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). 

NASP is a joint venture that partners with state education and wildlife management agencies to promote student education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery.  The NASP program which had around 100 schools participating in the program has steadily grown to over 300 schools and reaches 90,000 students each year in Pennsylvania.  

Not only has Todd helped develop the NASP program in Pennsylvania, but he has also made it a priority to create public access archery ranges on state game lands.  Listen now to learn how he is increasing opportunities for everyone looking to get out and shoot. 

For more information on the NASP program, visit www.pgc.pa.gov or www.facebook.com/PennNASP.   

What’s better than getting tips from a Grand National Champion Turkey Caller? Getting to learn from TWO Grand National Champion Callers. In this episode, host Matt Morrett is joined once again by Denny Gulvas, World Champion Turkey Caller and mentor. Denny has spent decades learning turkey habits, body language and calls and is ready to share his secrets that will leave listeners excited for Spring Gobbler season, which opens statewide on April 30, 2022.

What makes a turkey talk?  Host Matt Morrett and Denny Gulvas continue to break down turkey habits, mannerisms and body language to help you develop your turkey calls and have a successful season.

In this part 2, they are joined by Michael Waddell, a well-known name in the turkey hunting industry and host of “Bone Collector,” on the Outdoor Channel.

Michael and Denny swap stories of how they mastered turkey vocalizations over the years and are ready to let you in on their best kept secrets. 

The clock is ticking down to the start of Spring Gobbler season which opens statewide on April 30, 2022.  It’s time to practice your calls and put them to the test! 

How do you define habitat? Host Matt Morrett is joined by Dave Gustafson, Bureau Director of Wildlife and Habitat Management for the Pennsylvania Game Commission who dives in on habitat 101.

Dave explains that habitat is essentially a place where wildlife has access to food, water, space, and a secure place to raise their young.

Dave’s love for the outdoors started at a young age while spending time hunting and fishing with his grandfather, leading him to become passionate about wildlife and their habitat.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is currently in charge of over 1.5 MILLION acres of state game lands. Dave says, “it’s a humbling responsibility to think about our charge of managing wildlife and their habitat for current and future generations.”

Dave is excited about the future of the agency and the Bureau of Wildlife and Habitat Management he’s leading.

Michael Waddell is a well-known name in the hunting industry who got his start by winning a turkey calling contest. From there, he went on to guide and film many hunts and eventually founded “Bone Collector,” his show on the Outdoor Channel.

He recently took a break from hunting turkeys in his home state of Georgia to talk with us for a few minutes about his passion for hunting and wildlife.

If it gobbles, quacks, bugles or grunts, chances are Michael has hunted it more than a time or two. He got his start hunting small game with his dad and from there he’s had the opportunity to hunt in plenty of other states, including Pennsylvania.

Michael and host, Matt Morrett, have been friends for a very long time; they’ve hunted together many times and even competed against one another in turkey calling contests.

He shares about what it means to be a hunter, why he’s proud to be one, and how hunting is what made him appreciate wildlife conservation. Hunters are the largest group of conservationists; we feed those in need, we fund conservation, we do a lot of good and it’s time to celebrate and share that message on a broader scale.

Michael commends the work done by state wildlife agencies to manage our wild species to ensure we’re leaving it better than we found it, so future generations of hunters and wildlife lovers can enjoy the natural resource, too.

It’s the best time of year! Mornings are crisp and it’s beginning to feel like fall. Pennsylvania is celebrating 50 years of conservation for this year’s National Hunting and Fishing Day. Host Matt Morrett is joined by Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission Bryan Burhans and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Tim Schaeffer.

National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates generations of hunters and anglers and how they contribute to our rich sporting heritage and wildlife conservation.

Pennsylvania is home to 1.6 million acres of state game lands that are open to the public and 86,000 miles of streams, second only to Alaska! The Keystone State is a special place that has something to offer everyone whether you’re hunting, fishing or just enjoy recreating outside.

Thank you to our hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts for their passion and dedication to conservation. Listen now to find out how you can play a role in protecting and preserving wildlife and their habitat for current and future generations.

On June 15, 2020, Pennsylvania’s State Game Lands System turned 100 years old! To celebrate, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Habitat Management Bureau Director Pete Sussenbach shared a lot of details about our game lands system, which totals more than 1.5 MILLION acres of land today, [which is more than the entire state of Delaware]!

Pete explains how the forefathers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, responsible for establishing the state game lands system in 1920, had the vision to create “many miniature Yellowstone Parks throughout the state,” including lots of public hunting land and suitable habitat for wildlife.

Today, we have 308 state game lands that are managed for high-quality wildlife habitat, including forage, feed, shelter and water for ALL wildlife; game and non-game species alike. Our agency uses the best science and technology available to make this possible across the state.

We remain grateful to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s forefathers for their great vision to dedicate public land for wildlife, hunting, trapping, wildlife watching and recreation. Thank you to Pennsylvania hunting license buyers for supporting wildlife conservation in our state, including wildlife management. And thank you to the men and women who have worked to manage these special lands for the last 100 years!

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been a national leader in wildlife management for 125 years! On June 25, 2020, the agency celebrates its 125th anniversary. In this episode, Pennsylvania Game News Editor and Game Commission Historian Joe Kosack leads listeners on a walk through the agency’s impressive natural history here in Penn’s Woods.

In the late 1800’s, wildlife was dwindling as a result of deforestation, pollution, and unregulated hunting and trapping took place in Pennsylvania. From this dark period emerged the Game Commission, created by the state Legislature to protect and conserve wildlife, which was then commonly referred to as “game.” The wildlife diversity we enjoy today is largely due to the agency’s progressive, scientifically-based wildlife management programs and support from countless Pennsylvanians, hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and outdoors organizations.

Joe is the author of “100 Years of Wildlife Conservation,” a book published in 1995, to commemorate the agency’s 100th anniversary and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of wildlife and conservation in the Commonwealth. The book is available at http://www.pgc.pa.gov.

Early accounts claim that the last of Pennsylvania’s native elk were hunted in the 1860’s. Today, thanks to many dedicated efforts of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, as many as 1,400 elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within several counties in our state’s northcentral region.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Director Dave Mitchell joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett to explain the modern elk hunting opportunities we have in the Keystone State and much more!

Dave is a longtime, passionate hunter and has been out west to hunt elk several times. He shares some comparisons between his western elk hunts with the opportunities available here – including our bonus points system, elk hunt zones and more.

Of course, the elk hunting opportunities wouldn’t exist without extensive wildlife habitat projects within the herd. Dave provides an inside look into some of the ongoing work happening within the region, benefitting the elk, and some of the current and future goals to expand the herd in the future; more elk equals more hunting.

Successful 2019 Pennsylvania rifle elk hunters Trevor Vossler, from Chester County, and Alice Elliott, from Montour County, also joined this episode to share their exciting Pennsylvania elk hunting experiences.

The opening day of Pennsylvania’s 2020-21 hunting seasons is almost here! Dove hunting is one
of the first signs of fall and a brand-new hunting season. It opens statewide in Pennsylvania on
Tuesday, Sept. 1. Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife habitat crews have created some
incredible managed dove fields across the state for hunters to explore.
In advance of the dove season opener, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Research
Biologist Tom Keller spoke with Marketing Director Matt Morrett about all things related to our
state’s mourning dove program. Details about what dove like to eat, their habits throughout
the year and ways the agency is working to manage overall populations.
Tom also shares some hunting-related tips with dove hunters, including how to be safe in the
field and what to look for before and during the season – including food sources, locations, field
quality, water and more!

As hunters, we wait all year for fall to get here! In this episode, Pennsylvania Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett celebrates the beginning of the new season by talking with lifelong Pennsylvania hunter and host of The Sportsman Channel’s “Innerloc’s Out There,” Corey Brossman, about the upcoming archery season and so much more! 

Corey and Matt have hunted together in Penn’s Woods for decades. Corey is a Berks County native and has spent his life hunting the mountains of northcentral Pennsylvania. Now, as host of his own hunting show, he travels the country chasing everything from deer, to turkey, to stingrays.  

Corey’s Pennsylvania hunting roots run deep and that shows as he shares his story about how his dad and grandfather taught him how to hunt and how’s he’s now passing the tradition of hunting along to his two kids.  

A special piece of hunting history was made in Pennsylvania when the first-ever archery elk season took place in September of 2019. Pennsylvania Game Commission Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett to talk about how that exciting season came to be and explain the opportunities now available for those interested in pursuing elk in the Keystone State.

Jim Lickfeld and Luke Miller also join us on this episode, who were both fortunate enough to draw an archery bull tag in 2019 and had the opportunity to hunt in the inaugural season. On the first evening of the season, Jim was able to take the season’s first-ever archery bull, a 7×6 dark-antlered bull in Hunt Zone 10. Luke also successfully harvested a bull with his bow in Hunt Zone 13.

While the elk hunting opportunities are exclusive in Pennsylvania, it’s an important component of maintaining a healthy and sustainable herd. The deadline to apply for the 2020-21 Pennsylvania Elk Hunting Seasons – archery, general and late season – is July 31, 2020. A total of 164 tags will be allocated for the seasons, which is an increase of 20 tags from last year.

Thank you to everyone who applied for an elk license and thank you for being a Pennsylvania hunter!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Daylight hours are shortening, and Pennsylvania’s first hunting seasons are finally here.

Waterfowl hunters are gearing up for early Canada goose season, which opens Thursday, Sept. 1. Waterfowl hunt zones, season dates, hours and regulations are different across the state, so hunters should review the digest before heading out to hunt.

Game Commission Assistant Legal Counsel Creigh Martson and Waterfowl Program Specialist Nate Huck joined host Matt Morrett to provide some updates and tips for hunters.

Our state’s geography, from river valleys and wetlands to large agricultural fields and farm ponds, makes it a pretty good waterfowl state. People and patience are two keys to waterfowl hunting in our state.

It’s about the people you hunt with. From your crew and those you strategize, to being respectful to the private landowners and other groups of hunters.

Practice your patience, as there are plenty of variables in waterfowl hunting, including wind, weather and the birds changing up their behavior when hunting season starts.

Tune in for other helpful tips, including when to call (and when to stop), the importance of scouting and the role decoys can play.

Good luck. Have fun. Hunt safely.

Just in time for the statewide regular firearms deer season opener, Dr. Gary Alt, a well-known Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist talks about his career with the agency.

Dr. Alt is a Pennsylvania native and a lifetime deer hunter. In fact, he got out of his tree stand to do this podcast interview. He hunts deer six weeks in the fall but he thinks about deer every week of the year. His greatest memories of his father, grandfather and son all include hunting whitetails.

Dr. Alt began his work with the Pennsylvania Game Commission in the late 1970’s as a bear biologist to conduct research on the bear population and continued in that role for 22 years.

He then served the agency as the whitetail deer biologist for five years, where he led efforts to balance the deer herd with habitat by increasing antlerless permits and reducing the mortality of immature bucks by instituting antler restrictions.

He shares his perspective on deer and the enormous impact they have in our society in Pennsylvania. From our forests, to agriculture, to people, there are very strong opinions on deer management, which has historically made deer management here in the Keystone State difficult.

Dr. Alt retired from the Game Commission in the early 2000s. Today’s he is still researching bears across the globe and also works with the Pennsylvania Wildlife Leadership Academy as an instructor and curriculum developer.

Whether you hunt, fish, hike, or simply enjoy viewing wildlife, Pennsylvania has millions of acres of public lands for you to to take advantage of. Host Matt Morrett is joined by Division Chief of Habitat Planning and Development of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Scott Bearer and Chief of the Forest Resource Planning and Information Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Seth Cassell. 

Prior to State Game Lands, the Game Commission established wildlife refuges on the Bureau of Forestry Lands to protect wildlife, until non-resident and resident hunting funds paved the way for the State Game Lands System.

The Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources both have conservation at the core of their missions, however there are some differences when it comes to managing public lands. Learn how these two agencies work together for recreation, conservation and the betterment of Pennsylvania. 

The Keystone State is a special place for everyone, enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer.  

Photo Caption: Gifford Pinchot (the Father of American Forestry, seated at left) and Valentine Bearer (Bureau of Forestry’s Forbes District Forester, Scott Bearer’s great-grandfather; seated at right) at the 1922 Society of American Forester’s Convention at Mont Alto, Pennsylvania.

The average adult white-tailed deer needs five pounds of browse per day — healthy habitat is critical to a healthy deer population.

Chief Forester Paul Weiss and host Matt Morrett discuss how the Game Commission manages habitat for white-tailed deer and hundreds of other species on state game lands throughout Pennsylvania.

Learn more about the challenges of maintaining young successional forests and how DMAP permits can help balance deer populations for the future of our forests in this first installment of a two-part series.

Did you know that taking a single doe out of the deer population can have a ripple effect into future years? Deer Biologist David Stainbrook joins host Matt Morrett to discuss the history of deer management in Pennsylvania and how the Game Commission sets license allocations to promote healthy deer herds and bigger bucks in the Keystone State. From the effects of CWD to harvest trends, get insight into the current status of white-tailed deer in this second installment of the two-part series.

Did you know the Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent agency tasked with managing the Commonwealth’s wildlife resource for both current and future generations? Legislative Liaison Josh Zimmerman and Executive Director Bryan Burhans join host Matt Morrett to explain how the agency works with legislators, the way policies get made, and what it takes for issues such as Sunday hunting to come under the Game Commission’s control. Tune in for a breakdown of the legislative process and how hunters, trappers, and wildlife enthusiasts can make their voices heard on the future of conservation in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania Game News has been in print since 1929 and still boasts a circulation of 80,00 throughout the Keystone State nearly a century later! Editor Travis Lau and Senior Associate Editor Bob D’Angelo join host Matt Morrett to share details on the rich history of the magazine, the iconic artists who’ve contributed illustrations to its cover, and how the all-hunter staff chooses what will grace its pages each month. Listen to learn what’s ahead for Game News and how hunters could get their own stories printed in this uniquely Pennsylvania publication.

Last year, Pennsylvania recorded 14 hunting-related shooting incidents, and more than 6,000 hunters were cited for serious violations that could put themselves, other hunters, and wildlife at risk. State Game Warden Mario Altieri and Information & Education Supervisor Aaron Morrow join host Matt Morrett to share the most common mistakes they see hunters make and their tips for staying safe in the field. From following regulations for firearms seasons to taking a few simple precautions before heading into the woods, hear firsthand advice on how hunters can legally harvest game and make it back home safely.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission doesn’t just serve hunters — the agency manages 480 species of wild birds and mammals for all 13 million residents of the Keystone State. Executive Director Bryan Burhans and Commissioner Robert Schwalm join host Matt Morrett for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Board of Commissioners works with the PGC to set regulations, seasons and bag limits according to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. From the science and surveys that help shape wildlife regulations to the challenges of managing these valuable resources, learn how the PGC moves forward with a mission to protect wildlife,...

Prescribed fire is nothing new — Native Americans used controlled burns to boost berry production and draw in wildlife for centuries. Chief Land Manager Dr. Scott Bearer and Land Management Supervisor Steve Ferreri join host Matt Morrett to explain the value of this management tool to wildlife and their habitats throughout Pennsylvania. Learn how prescribed fire is fundamentally different from wildfire, how it ultimately benefits wild turkey nesting, creates woody browse for healthy deer populations, and uses drone technology to efficiently target pockets of land. Episode Highlights: Resources: Learn more about how the Pennsylvania Game Commission uses prescribed fire. Check out our interactive online...

Available 24/7/365, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Centralized Dispatch Center received nearly 210,000 calls last year, from reports of game law violations to sasquatch sightings. Each spring, as animals are born and bears come out of hibernation in search of food, the number of wildlife-related calls skyrockets. Nick Sechrist, Assistant Director of Central Dispatch Operations, joins host Matt Morrett to share what to do if you see young wildlife alone, ways to avoid close encounters with black bears, and how to let wild be wild. Episode Highlights: · How white-tailed deer use the hider strategy to protect their fawns · What...

Have you heard whispers that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is in cahoots with car insurance companies to reduce the deer herd or the agency trades our turkeys to other states in exchange for coyotes? Captain Chad Eyler and Furbearer Biologist Tom Keller join host Matt Morrett to dispel the most common myths swirling around social media and hunting camps. Episode Highlights: Resources: Explore our frequently asked questions. Find details on road-killed deer permits and contact information for region offices. Report wildlife crimes to Operation Game Thief.

The future is bright at the Pennsylvania Game Commission! New executive director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to provide Pennsylvanians with an update on the latest changes within the agency. Learn how 30 years of public land hunting and legislative expertise ultimately led Steve to this pivotal role and gain insight into his vision for the future of wildlife conservation. Episode Highlights: Resources: Learn more about the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Check out Pennsylvania Game News.  Explore the state game lands system.  

With nearly a million passionate hunters in Pennsylvania, the new process for purchasing antlerless licenses led to high demand and longer-than-expected wait times last year. So the Game Commission made some key changes for the upcoming license year to streamline the process and guarantee antlerless licenses for most residents. Deputy Director of Field Operations Dave Mitchell joins host Matt Morrett to share what’s new for 2024, answer the most common questions about buying antlerless licenses, and explain how funds from these licenses directly benefit wildlife habitat throughout Pennsylvania. Episode Highlights:             Resources: Learn more about antlerless deer licenses. Review the new license year...

Bowhunting big woods bucks isn’t just a fall hobby — it’s a year-round grind. Beau Martonik of East Meets West joins host Matt Morrett at the Total Archery Challenge in Seven Springs to discuss ways to improve your archery skills in the offseason, effective summer scouting strategies, and how to take advantage of the millions of acres of public land available to Pennsylvania hunters. Episode Highlights: Resources: Find state game lands near you. Learn more about Lyme disease and prevention. Explore East Meets West.

Did you know the sixth-largest non-typical bull on record was harvested in Pennsylvania? Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield joins host Matt Morrett to discuss how the Game Commission’s reintroduction and careful management have resulted in a thriving population of world-class wapiti here in the Commonwealth. They also share a behind-the-scenes look at the elk license drawing, tips for applying, and what survival studies have taught us about this iconic species. Episode Highlights: Resources: Learn more about the history of elk in Pennsylvania. Review elk hunting seasons and zones. Apply now for an elk hunting license. Find more details on how to be ELK SMART.

Did you know Pennsylvania proudly claims an elite archery program and a 2024 NASP world champion? Shooting Sports Division Chief Todd Holmes joins host Matt Morrett to discuss how participation in Pennsylvania NASP has skyrocketed over the last decade, and competitor Madi Rhinevault shares her firsthand experience rising to the top of the life-changing program. Episode Highlights: Resources: Learn more about Pennsylvania NASP. Check out our spotlight of a top Pennsylvania team.  Explore Outdoor Insiders.

With participation numbers trending downward nationwide, efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters are more critical than ever. Hunter-Trapper Education and Outreach Division Chief Courtney LaCivita joins host Matt Morrett to detail what the Game Commission is doing to create new hunters in the Commonwealth, and Environmental Education SpecialistBrian Collett shares his personal tips for finding places to hunt without access to private land. Episode Highlights: Resources: Access resources to get started hunting. Join the PA Wild Women Facebook Group. Find state game lands near you. Email mentoredhunting@pa.gov with questions.

Access resources to get started hunting.

Join the PA Wild Women Facebook Group.

Find state game lands near you.

Email mentoredhunting@pa.gov with questions.

Did you know more than half of black bears in Pennsylvania den on top of the ground in a thicket that resembles a giant bird nest? Black Bear Program Manager Emily Carrollo joins host Matt Morrett to bust some common bear myths, share her firsthand experience visiting dens, and explain what to do if you encounter a bear in the wild. She also provides insight into the Game Commission’s new black bear management plan and how proposed changes to hunting seasons would help the black bear population in Pennsylvania.

Hunters are at the forefront of wildlife conservation — the Pennsylvania Game Commission depends on hunter harvest and input for the future of hunting in the Keystone State.

 

Heading into hunting season, Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to discuss key changes for this fall, tips for success in the field, and updates on hot-button issues like Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.

 

Episode Highlights:

• Squirrel season insights and tips
• Legislative updates on the Sunday hunting issue and how to make your voice heard
• How the Game Commission invests back into wildlife, habitat, and hunters 
• The challenges of deer management and the importance of filling antlerless tags
• Early season archery tactics for hunting public land
• Bear season changes for better management and future hunting

 

Resources:

Find a shooting range near you.

Learn more about your role in healthy forests and healthy deer. 

Review safe hunting tips.

Contact the Game Commission with your feedback.

Enter the Take Someone Hunting Photo Contest.

The Drury dynasty has become synonymous with monster white-tailed deer, but did you know Mark and Terry got their start filming turkey hunting videos in the 80s?

Mark Drury joins host Matt Morrett to share insights from 35 years in hunting media, from the conditions he looks for to consistently shoot world-class bucks to his tactics for balancing the buck-doe ratio for better rut activity.

Episode Highlights:

• How Mark broke into the hunting industry and started Drury Outdoors
• Why he and his team harvest 125 does annually on their properties
• The story of the 160-inch Missouri buck he shot in early archery season
• His strategy for managing and hunting on small parcels of land
• Top tips for targeting big bucks anywhere

 

Resources:

Learn more about healthy forests and healthy deer.

Explore DMAP opportunities in Pennsylvania.

Find where to donate a deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Get the DeerCast app and subscribe to Drury Outdoors on YouTube. 

From finding camouflage corn culprits to taking tips from scorned lovers to catching bear poachers in the act, the life of a Pennsylvania state game warden can be rewarding, dangerous, and anything but boring.

Southcentral Region Director Seth Mesoras and Assistant Counsel Jason Raup join host Matt Morrett to discuss the demands of serving as a game warden, the intensive process of investigating poachers, and some of the most interesting cases that have resulted from Operation Game Thief (OGT).

Learn what you can do to help protect our wildlife resources and how to avoid ending up on the wrong side of an OGT tip.

Episode Highlights:

• Details of the recent Chester County poaching ring case
• How OGT helps protect Pennsylvania wildlife
• The critical role tips from the public play in uncovering cases — and the rewards up for grabs
• The investigation process and why some tips don’t result in criminal charges
• Some memorable and bizarre poaching cases in Pennsylvania
• The most common violations game wardens encounter 

Resources:

Report suspected wildlife crimes to OGT.

Get familiar with current regulations in the Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Review safe hunting tips.

Find state game lands near you.

We’re nearly halfway through Pennsylvania’s deer firearms season, but hunters still have plenty of opportunities to get into the field and fill tags!

Range Management Coordinator Luke Johnson and Deputy Director of Field Operations Dave Mitchell join host Matt Morrett to discuss their changing strategy as hunting season progresses, go-to guns and gear throughout the year, and why no amount of technology can replace putting boots on the ground.

 

Episode Highlights:

• How to adjust your tactics based on hunting pressure and time of year
• Ways to up your odds for success without relying on expensive technology
• Tips for taking advantage of Pennsylvania’s unique flintlock season
• The connection between healthy habitat and big bucks
• Small game, waterfowl, and predator hunting opportunities available this winter

 

Resources:

Explore winter hunting opportunities.

Find shooting ranges and places to hunt.

Report a harvest.

Donate a deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Learn more about how deer populations affect habitat.

Piling up corn for deer might seem helpful during harsh winters, but feeding wildlife is actually dangerous to animals and humans.

Deputy Executive Director Dave Gustafson and Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Andrew Di Salvo join host Matt Morrett to explain how supplemental feeding negatively impacts wildlife, why food plots and birdfeeders are different, and how Pennsylvanians can create complex habitat in their own backyards.

Episode Highlights:

The ways supplemental feeding can harm wildlife

How feeding deer can disrupt habitat for other species

Why food plots can be beneficial for several species

Best practices for birdfeeders

Tips for helping wildlife long-term no matter where you live 

Resources:

Learn more about the dangers of feeding wildlife.

Find six things you can do for wildlife.

Explore ways to improve habitat for wildlife.

It’s about that time when white gold starts dropping in Penn’s Woods! 

Forester Chris Sabol and Recruiting Outreach Specialist Tyler Strohecker join host Matt Morrett to share their tips for finding dozens of antlers across Pennsylvania public land and how shed hunting helps them harvest bucks each fall.

Episode Highlights:

• The best time of year and conditions for shed hunting
• Where to look for deer and elk sheds 
• Tactics, technology, and gear to up your odds
• How shed hunting can help your fall hunting strategy
• Regulations on shed hunting in Pennsylvania

 Resources:

Find state game lands near you.  

Learn more about deer and elk in Pennsylvania.

Get familiar with forest habitat for wildlife.

Question: what kind of bear is best? Black bear!

The Game Commission’s new Black Bear Biologist Brandon Snavely joins host Matt Morrett to provide insight into the latest black bear science, a look at a year in the life of a Pennsylvania bear, and tips for coexisting with these opportunistic omnivores.

Episode Highlights:

• The state of the black bear population in Pennsylvania
• Current studies and research projects that will help shape bear management
• What biologists learn from visiting bear dens
• The diet and lifecycle of black bears
• How to prevent human-bear conflicts

Resources:

Learn more about black bears in Pennsylvania.

Explore ways to be BearWise.