PA Approves Higher Poaching Fines
HARRISBURG – The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change that establishes replacement costs that may be assessed on those convicted of illegally killing certain wildlife in Pennsylvania.
Under the new regulation, a judge will be able to assess anyone convicted of illegally killing the following wildlife a replacement cost of: $5,000 for any endangered or threatened species; $1,500 for an elk or bear; $800 for a deer; $500 for a bobcat or river otter; $300 for a wild turkey or beaver; and $200 for any other wildlife.
Additionally, if the big game animal were a “trophy class animal,” judges will be able to require a replacement cost of $5,000 for an elk with a minimum Boone & Crockett Club green score of 200 points; a deer with a minimum Boone & Crockett Club green score of 115; or a bear with a field-dressed weight of more than 350 pounds.
“These replacement costs are on top of those fines and penalties already specified in the Game and Wildlife Code, which may only be changed by the state Legislature,” said Rich Palmer, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection director. “In addition to this action by the Board, we are asking the General Assembly to pass House Bill 97, sponsored by Rep. Ed Staback (D-Lackawanna), who chairs the House Game and Fisheries Committee, which would increase the fines and penalties for poaching.”
Palmer noted that increasing penalties for serious violations is one of the operational objectives in the Game Commission’s Strategic Plan.
For more information on the Game Commission’s previous testimony on legislation to increase fines and penalties, see News Release #015-08 in the “News Release” archives on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).
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