Written by: Jim Slinsky 
  
         The hunters and trappers of this state have a severe problem.  Frankly, our PGC Board of Commissioners has evolved into a worthless travesty of government.  With the exception of Commissioner Steve Mohr and most often, the retiring Bob Gilford, our PGC Commissioners are political hacks that couldn’t figure their way out of a round room.  Sorry to be blunt, but that’s the reality of our situation.

            By comparison, our Fish Commissioners operate in a professional, coherent manner.  No, we don’t always agree with them and sometimes they disappoint us, but they function as they were legislatively intended.

            Depending on the issue our PGC Commissioners have been subservient to a broad array of special interests.  It could be the law enforcement culture within the PGC, timber interests, environmentalists, DCNR’s eco-tourism pipe dream, the Audubon Society and the list goes on.  However, in almost ten years of observing them, I have never seen them take a hard stand on the side of hunters and trappers.  If they had, we wouldn’t be in the mess that currently embroils us.

            It is interesting that the PGC always looks to Wisconsin and how that state handles wildlife management issues.  What the PGC doesn’t tell you is that Wisconsin has legislatively mandated their sportsmen’s participation.  Here’s the way it works.  Six representatives from every Wisconsin County are elected by their sporting class to serve on the Wisconsin Conservation Council.  This 366 member Council is broken down into committees such as the deer committee, trout-stocking committee, grouse committee and so on.  They meet all year and map the future of Wisconsin’s sporting traditions.  Once a year they submit their recommendations to Wisconsin’s Board of Commissioners.  Obviously, with this kind of political clout their Commissioners listen.  By comparison, PA is in the feudal age of pre-democracy.

            Furthermore, in some states hunters, fishermen and trappers actually elect their Commissioners.  Generally, by popular vote of their sporting class two names are sent to the Governor.  The Governor picks one name for a four-year term.  Senate confirmation is not required.  If the elected, selected Commissioner does not serve the interests of their sporting class, he can be recalled and a new election will occur.  In essence, only their sporting class can hire and fire Commissioners, not politicians.  I’m told the election process is simple.  Only license buyers are permitted to vote.

            All of this logically brings us to the discussion of “alternative financing” that is being touted by the PGC as their salvation.  Bullpucky.  What the PGC really needs is to go on a financial diet.  They have become a government bureaucracy spiraling out of financial control, just like DCNR.  The Fish Commission’s expenditures for dams and hatcheries have created a legitimate need for general tax revenue, but not the PGC.  The sporting class of this state will be very sorry, very quickly if any monies other than sporting dollars fund the PGC.  I sometimes wonder if the “alternative financing” propaganda was designed to preempt the demand for elected Commissioners by our sporting class.  Accept general tax revenue to fund the PGC and Cindy Dunn (formerly with Audubon) will be demanding to become a PGC Commissioner.  Think about that.

            And now, here comes the irony of it all.  The PGC has spent decades trying to influence and/or control our PGC Board of Commissioners.  The PGC is deathly afraid of any outspoken Commissioner or Commissioner candidate.  We only need revisit the PGC Commissioner George Venesky debacle to see what happens to Commissioners who seek to reform or even hold the PGC accountable.  The last group on this earth the PGC is willing to accommodate is our sporting class.

            Unfortunately, these are small-minded people in green uniforms.  The people who have consistently rose to the occasion and fought off all political attempts to takeover the PGC are our hunters and trappers.  We have consistently come to their aid and they have consistently worked against our wishes.  Only the Unified Sportsmen of PA have had the courage to hold the PGC accountable and PGC has ignored and condemned them.

            The bottom line is a license fee is a tax and the sporting class of PA has not been permitted any representation in the discussion of the management of the agencies and their policies.  This is a legitimate legal issue that someone or some group needs to explore.  These agencies must be held accountable to those who have financed their existence for over 100 years.  It is imperative to our future and their independence.   

            By the way, I heard there’s a shipload of overtaxed tea sitting in the harbor at Harrisburg.

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Sportsman’s Connection”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program.  For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at

www.outdoortalknetwork.com