News Briefs January - February 2007

Deer Kills Hunter On Opening Day
A hunter was killed Nov. 27 when his pickup truck struck a deer and then crashed into an above ground pool, police said.
Christopher A. Eutsey Jr., 20, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County, was driving to a hunting area when a deer ran into his path and smashed through the windshield of his pickup truck in Bullskin Township, Fayette County. The deer continued through the truck’s rear window and was also killed.
Eutsey’s truck continued down a rural road and crashed into a swimming pool about a quarter-mile away, state police said.
The accident happened at about 5:30 a.m. Monday, the first day of the firearms deer season.
Deputy Coroner Jessie Langer tentatively ruled that Eutsey died of head injuries, but results of a scheduled autopsy were not immediately available.

Deer Hunter Fatally Shoots Himself
A deer hunter from York County died Nov. 27 after accidentally firing a handgun into his chest, authorities said.
Roger M. Lemkelde, 79, of Wellsville, was hunting in Penn Township, Perry County, when the accident occurred. He is the first Pennsylvania hunter in the state to die in a weapon-related accident this deer season, according to the state Game Commission.
Lemkelde had been hunting with his 39-year-old son, Greg Lemkelde, also of Wellsville. The son took his father to a hospital, police said.
The commission said an average of four hunters die in hunting accidents each year while pursuing deer and other game.

Top-5 PA Wildlife Units For Coyotes
Trying to pinpoint a location or hot spot for this wily predator is akin to finding a needle in a haystack, according to Dr. Matt Lovallo, the PGC’s chief furbearer biologist, but he did point towards several areas of the state.
“Based on our most recent estimates, WMU’s 1A, 1B, 2G, 3B, and 4E have produced relatively large coyote harvest during the recent seasons,” he said.
Lovallo narrowed down some of the better areas within the borders of these particular wildlife management units for hunters. His suggestions are as follows:
In WMU 1A, look to Mercer County and its Interstate 79 corridor.
“All Mercer County wildlife conservation officers have reported a high number of coyote complaints, with losses of livestock and poultry scattered throughout the county,” notes Lovallo.
In WMU 1B his pick is the southeastern part of Erie County and its plentiful game lands.
WMU 2G includes a portion of Clearfield County, specifically the area north of Interstate 80. There are numerous game lands and state forests to roam.
WMU 3B’s pick is Sullivan County, specifically SGL 13 and its huge expanse of public land located in the southeastern part of that county.
For WMU 4E, the choice is Columbia County, anywhere along the Susquehanna River Basin.

Deer Hunters Have Extra Weekend To Hunt With A Gun
December 16-17 open for deer-gun hunting in Ohio

    Ohio’s popular deer-gun season will run an additional weekend this year, Saturday and Sunday, December 16-17, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
     The days were added in response to the comments received from hunters for more weekend time to hunt. They also represent another opportunity for new hunters taking advantage of Ohio’s apprentice license program.
     Apprentice hunting licenses allow new hunters, both adults and youth, to sample the experience of hunting under the mentorship of a licensed adult, prior to completing a hunter education course. The apprentice hunting license was developed as part of a nationwide effort called “Families Afield,” designed to remove barriers that prevent hunters from passing along the hunting heritage.
     “These two additional weekend days will allow people more time to enjoy hunting with the added benefit of harvesting more deer,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “The archery season for deer is also longer this year, due to days being added to the traditional beginning and ending dates of the season.”