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| Jeremy Banefield, Elk Project Leader: Photo Courtesy PA Game Commission |
The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced on May 17, 2013, in
News Release 035-13,
that Rochester, N.Y. native, Jeremy Banefield has been appointed to the
position of elk project leader. Although it does not specifically say
so, he is was likely hired to fill the position formerly held by the
late Jon DeBerti.
Below is the Release in its' entirety:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 17, 2013
Release #035-13
ELK BIOLOGIST BEGINS WORK WITH GAME COMMISSION
Jeremy Banfield previously worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Game Commission has hired a new wildlife biologist to serve as its elk project leader.
Jeremy Banfield began his work for the commission this week.
A
native of the Rochester, N.Y.-area, Banfield comes to the Game
Commission after working most recently as a wildlife biologist with
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Banfield received
his bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife management from Michigan
State University and received his master’s of science in ecology from
the University of Alberta.
While working toward his
master’s degree, Banfield’s studies focused on mountain lion foraging
and prey selection, with an emphasis on impacts to elk populations.
Banfield
has experience capturing and radio-tracking elk and other wildlife,
investigating and resolving crop-damage issues, conducting wildlife
surveys and research studies, running check stations and providing
public presentations on his work.
Banfield also is a
four-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, where he worked as a
machinery technician with and supervised a boat engineering and
maintenance group.
Banfield, his wife and his
2-year-old son have taken up residence in DuBois.
In his new role, Banfield said he wants to continue Pennsylvania’s
legacy of effective elk management in the state’s northcentral region.
“I look forward to meeting and talking with the residents of and
visitors to the area comprising Pennsylvania’s elk range, and working to
ensure the continued success of the state’s elk,” Banfield said.
To read other important News Releases visit the
PGC Website and look for News Releases under
Quick Clicks
Elk License Opportunities
According
to information received from Paul Staniszewski, The House has
unanimously passed House Bill 577. This is legislation that if approved
by the Senate and signed by the governor, would guarantee at least one
resident of the Elk Management Area receives an opportunity to purchase
an elk hunting license each year. The bill provides
for a raffle open only to residents of the elk management area, with the
prize being the opportunity to purchase one elk license. According to
the text of the bill the drawing would be for an antlered elk license in
even-numbered years and an antleress license in odd-numbered years.
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| Foggy Morning Bull |
This appears to be another "feel good" measure that
is a sure fire win for the politicians, but in truth accomplishes little
if anything. It seems some, if not many residents of the elk range, do
resent the fact that they put up with the tourists and hunters and
endure property and crop damage from elk, yet seldom does an elk tag go
to someone who has to put up with the problems.
While
the bill may appear to rectify this to a certain extent, one needs only
to consider that most people live in the more developed areas of the
range, so it seems likely that most who would enter a raffle for one of
these licenses, would be from one of the towns or a more heavily
developed areas in the elk range. Someone who actually owns the
properties where the damage and conflicts occur would still have an
extremely small chance of getting a license.
In reality
this appears to be nothing more than another aspect of the current
trends of more seasons, special seasons, longer seasons, higher bag limits, more days of
the week to hunt, etc. It is all about increased "Hunting Opportunity"
and not about what is best for wildlife.
To read the full text of the bill and for other information
Click Here.
Originally published at
Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.
