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A quick review of either the Pennsylvania Game Commission or Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission summary of regulations, the paper booklet provided to every license buyer, will find that not every species of wildlife or fish has a season. When even lifelong outdoorsmen realize the Commission spends license dollars on these species, one of which cannot be legally taken with said license, there is often confusion.
What they do not understand is how important these non-game species are to the overall natural landscape, the health of our streams and forests, and even the survival of the trout or deer they hunt each season.
Pennsylvania has a long history of natural diversity. When William Penn first stepped ashore, he would have been greeted by a vastly different landscape, wilder than the Pennsylvania we know today. The northern tier was dominated by towering conifers and hardwoods covered the lower landscape. Penn's notes the presence of large herds of elk and deer, abundant bears and timber wolves. Streams teeming with shad, trout, sturgeon and perch under skies flush with flocks of turkey, partridges and passenger pigeons.
These natural resources were so abundant that they were viewed as a commodity that would never run dry.
Unfortunately, many of the species did run dry. Passenger pigeons, sturgeons, shad and even the beloved whitetail deer disappeared or reached the brink of doing so. This is the reason both the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission came to be.
They were tasked with finding a way to turn back time, bringing these valuable species back from the brink of destruction - and to protect what remained.
Over time, there was some success, some failures, and a lot of learning. One lesson learned was the importance of all species, whether they provided income or sustenance. Today, there are over 480 recognized species of birds and mammals and 320 recognized species of reptiles, amphibians, mussels and fish.
While only a portion of these species can be harvested, each received equal protection.
While freshwater mussels cannot be taken home for the pot, they are vital to providing clean water. Trout are dependent on this clean water for survival. Small mammals such as mice, voles, and ground squirrels burrow in the earth, which in turn aerates the soil, mixing it with organic material to produce better crops of nutrient-rich grasses. Deer, elk and a host of other herbivores rely on these grasses as a food source.
As you can see, a thriving game population depends on healthy non-game species. Spending license dollars on these species may not put more trout or pheasants in a stocking truck. But it does allow those trout and pheasants to survive and provide more than a day and a half of recreational opportunities.
The same can be said for the deer, turkey, perch, bass and small game sportsmen target each and every day. In other words, any sportsman looking to the future, rather than just the next season's limit, will consider this money well spent.