Officer Field Reports
- Berks County Game Warden Benjamin Sawina reports investigating several cases resulting in illegal deer and hunting through the use of bait. Numerous charges were filed.
- Bucks County Game Warden Hannah Jimenez reports citing multiple individuals for using bottle-necked cartridges while hunting for deer in a Special Regulations Area.
- Bucks County Game Warden James Crown reports two hunters have been caught and cited for a multitude of serious big-game violations. In total, 10 deer were illegally harvested. There will be charges filed for unlawful use of bait, using deer tags belonging to another, shooting over the season limit, trespassing while hunting and more. When all is said and done, approximately 40 charges will be filed, amounting to thousands in potential fines and license revocation for quite a long time.
- Chester County Game Warden Nelson Yocum reports charges have been filed against several individuals throughout the firearms deer season for not wearing the required florescent orange materials. It ranged from individuals not wearing any orange at all, to some with just a hat or just a vest. The daylight florescent orange protective material is important for your safety during seasons it’s required.
- Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties Game Warden Supervisor Sgt. Bill Vroman reports assisting a Montana Game Warden with an investigation regarding violations of a mule deer that was killed in Montana and left to waste, which is a wanton waste violation in that state. Delaware County Game Warden Blake McNew assisted in interviewing the hunter involved at his residence in Delaware County.
- Delaware County Game Warden Blake McNew reports charges were filed against two individuals for hunting with unplugged shotguns. The one individual also was charged with two illegal ducks.
- Lancaster County Game Warden Greg Graham reports that charges have been filed against an individual who allowed his dog to chase deer. There were multiple complaints received over several months and there were photos and video evidence of a beagle chasing deer. The owner was located and was warned after an explanation of how deer are affected by the pursuing dogs. After another incident, that included additional photographic and video evidence, the dog’s owner was cited.
- Lancaster County Game Warden Daniel Gibble reports filing charges against a Lancaster County hunter for killing a black bear while trespassing on multiple properties.
- Lancaster County Game Warden John Veylupek handled a number of violations this past deer season, including failure to wear required fluorescent orange, unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife, unlawful acts concerning licenses, failure to tag big game properly and failure to report a big game harvest.
- Lebanon County Game Warden Zach Salsgiver reports that, during the regular firearms deer season, he encountered two individuals who were hunting with rifles though they are not lawfully allowed to possess firearms in Pennsylvania.
- Lehigh County Game Warden Trevor Faust reports investigating numerous road-hunting incidents near State Game Lands 205. Wardens are looking for a white van similar to a FedEx van, which was last seen with four males inside, shooting out of the side doors at pheasants and deer. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-833-PGC-HUNT.
- Montgomery County Game Warden Kyle Lubak reports receiving numerous calls about hunter trespass during the extended deer season. Make sure you get permission to enter property before tracking and retrieving your harvest, Lubak advises.
- Northampton County Game Warden David Furmato reports apprehending a person shooting at an antlered deer from a roadway in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The individual was charged with numerous game law violations.
- Berks and Schuylkill Counties Game Warden Supervisor Sgt. Jason Macunas reports that individuals from Mahanoy City and Ringtown have recently pleaded guilty to several charges related to an incident in the Ringtown area. During the investigation, it was discovered that the two men were responsible for the unlawful killing of one deer and the attempted unlawful killing of a second deer. The individuals were using a vehicle to locate game and shot at the deer with crossbows, from the vehicle. In an attempt to recover the deer, they also trespassed on private property. Further investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle also harvested a deer during the archery season, but failed to tag it as required. Total cost and fine amounts were in excess of $8,000 and carry the possibility of loss of their hunting and furtaking privileges.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged separate individuals for living on state game lands. Both were in possession of methamphetamine at the time they were encountered.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged two men for deer hunting in WMU 5B before the start of the season.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged a man with hunting through the use of bait and determined that his 2023 antlered deer harvest was also taken unlawfully through the use of bait.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged a man with interference with lawful hunting. He had admitted to placing moth balls around our victim’s hunting location in an effort to scare deer from the area.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged multiple individuals at Blue Marsh Lake with hunting pheasants without the required pheasant permit.
- Berks County Game Warden Ryan Zawada reports he recently charged a mother for allowing her 14-year-old to hunt with a rifle while unattended. The juvenile harvested a protected deer while hunting alone.
- Bucks County Game Warden Hannah Jimenez reports citing an individual for hunting small game without a hunting license.
- Bucks County Game Warden James Crown reports a father and son were recently cited for shooting a deer out of season. The dad bought his license and tagged the large 8-point buck after he’d already killed it. His son was charged for aiding his father in the illegal take of the deer. In all, seven charges will be filed against the duo and will go through the court system.
- Chester County Game Warden Nelson Yocum reports criminal charges have been filed against an individual for harvesting and tagging a buck with another individual’s harvest tag. This was done in an attempt to harvest more than one antlered deer for the season. This is also a reminder that a person who kills any big game shall, immediately, and before moving the animal, fully complete the proper game harvest tag and attach it as instructed on the tag.
- Chester County Game Warden Brian Johnston reports citing an individual for small-game hunting in a safety zone. “If unsure what constitutes a safety zone, please call the PGC for clarification,” he advised.
- Chester County Game Warden Brian Johnston reports citing an individual for unlawfully taking three wood ducks without possessing a valid federal duck stamp.
- Dauphin County Game Warden Zachary Soles reports a private property located on North Harrisburg Street in Swatara Township recently reported a potential poaching incident. The property owners located a crossbow bolt in the front yard of their home and after reviewing security footage from their Ring camera, learned it resulted from a shot at deer feeding in the front yard at approximately 1 a.m. No suspects are known at this time and the camera was unable to capture any additional information.
- Delaware County Game Warden Blake McNew recently had two individuals plead guilty to the illegal use of bait. One of the individuals also pleaded guilty to harvesting a 8-point buck illegally.
- Lancaster County Game Warden Greg Graham reports that several individuals were cited for hunting over bait on State Game Lands 46. Fortunately, no deer were shot at the bait site.
- Lebanon County Game Warden Zach Salsgiver reports that, while patrolling State Game Lands 80, he encountered a vehicle with drug paraphernalia inside. After searching the vehicle, we discovered multiple drug- and firearms-related violations.
- Montgomery County Game Warden Kyle Lubak reports citations were given to a local law enforcement officer for harvesting a doe over illegal bait and trespassing in Bucks County.
- Northampton County Game Warden David Furmato reports a hunter was charged with taking a bear unlawfully with archery equipment, through the use of bait in Nazareth. The hunter pleaded guilty to all charges.
- Schuylkill County Game Warden Charles T. Schuster reports two individuals received a citation for hunting for deer through the use of bait.
- Schuylkill County Game Warden Charles T. Schuster reports one individual received a warning for hunting for squirrels with an unplugged shotgun.
- Schuylkill County Game Warden Charles T. Schuster reports one individual received a citation for harvesting a protected deer during the early special firearms season.
- Schuylkill County Game Warden Charles T. Schuster reports that one individual received a warning for failure to provide a hunting license.
- Schuylkill County Game Warden Charles T. Schuster reports that one individual received a warning for carrying expired kill tags.
- Chester and Lancaster Counties Game Warden Supervisor Sgt. Matthew Johnson reports charging a 17-year-old in Drumore for exceeding the daily bag limit of Canada geese by five birds on an evening in early September. The daily bag limit is eight, and the violator told acquaintances that he shot 13 and was aware of that being a violation. The information was passed on to the PGC in a very timely manner, enabling Game Wardens to follow up quickly and gain a successful prosecution. The penalty included several hundred dollars in fines and court costs and the possibility of several years’ hunting license revocation.