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The Board of Game Commissioners has taken a preliminary step to establish replacement costs that may be assessed on those convicted of illegally killing wildlife in Pennsylvania. If approved by the Board at its April meeting, regulations would specify replacement values for certain species illegally killed.
Under the proposal, a judge would be able to assess anyone convicted of illegally killing the following species 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 following big game species were a "trophy class animal," judges would be able to require a replacement cost of $5,000 for an elk with a minimum Boone & Crockett green score of 200 points; a deer with a minimum Boone & Crockett green score of 115; or a bear with a field-dressed weight of more than 350 pounds.
"These replacement costs would be 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, once again, asking the General Assembly to consider legislation that 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, please see News Release #015-08 in the "News Release" archives on the agency's website www.pgc.state.pa.us.
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