For the past 122-year history of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Law Enforcement Officers have been known by many titles such as Game Protectors and Wildlife Conservation Officers.

Those names never really struck a chord with the general public or their constituents in the hunting outdoors. In order to fall in line with the thinking of many citizens and other state wildlife programs, the PGC has decided to make a new change in the titles of its officers.

Effective immediately, the PGC Law Enforcement officers will be titled as State Game Wardens, little change to the general public as most people commonly referred to the officers as “Game Wardens” in general discussion anyway.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will not be making any changes to its law enforcement division as its officers will continue with the title of WCO or Waterways Conservation Officer.

In a discussion with WCO Jon Kay, Butler County's assigned officer as well as V.P. of the WCO's State Union, he reports that no changes will be made and that their duties are best reflected by the Waterways Conservation Officer title.

Historical rack

The PGC was proud to make a historical announcement when a trophy whitetail rack shattered the previous record in the Typical Archery category in the state records.

The record replaced the previous record of 178-2/8 from a buck harvested in Allegheny County in 2004. That record was held for 13 years in the typical category.

However, the new record was harvested by Ron Shaulis of West Newton. The Westmoreland County trophy buck was taken on Oct. 24 with a compound bow on public land.

The rack had a net score of 185-4/8 and was a 13-point. The 13-point rack was very symmetrical with 25 and 26-inch main beams, more than 11-inch G-2 and G-3 points, a 20 inch inside spread and a 4 ½ inch circumference at four points on the main beam.

That's what you call a massive rack!

While this buck takes the record for a typical buck taken with archery equipment, over 150 names are added to PA's Record book each year as hunters harvest some nice bucks. Last year a buck taken in Clearfield County scored 228 6/8, which was a new record in the Nontypical Archery category.

Elk harvest results

The 2017 Pennsylvania elk harvest results were released by the PGC and more than 89 percent of the hunters participating have taken home a trophy.

The total number of elk harvested was 104 with 79 cow elk and 25 bulls. The largest cow weighed in at over 500 pounds while the heaviest bull weighed in at 833 pounds and also sported an 8-by-7 rack by a hunter from Franklin, Shawn Latshaw.

Ten elk bulls weighed in over 700 pounds with three over 800 pounds. That's a lot of venison!

One of the largest racks was taken by an out of state hunter, Robert Cook of Earlville, N.Y. His bull sported a massive 8-by-9 rack with a green score at 431 6/8 inches Boone & Crockett big game scoring standard.

Official measurement of bulls taken in the hunt must have their antlers air dried for at least 60 days before they can be officially recorded. The PGC reported that over 30,000 applicants vied for the coveted elk tag draw for this hunt.

Conservation funding

Outdoor enthusiasts and the PGC are extremely hopeful and encouraging the support of legislation that would create new conservation funding.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would dedicate $1.3 billion in funding to help states address the needs for thousands of fish and wildlife species in trouble across America.

This Act would be known as the Recovering America's Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647), which proposes to provide assured and sufficient funding to states to proactively conserve imperiled species identified in State Wildlife Action plans.

Pennsylvania would receive an annual payout of $34 million to better address conservation actions for these species. All concerned with wildlife's future should contact their U.S. legislators and ask for their support of this bill and get it moving off their desks and be a voice for Pennsylvania's wildlife.

Christmas bird count

The Christmas Bird Count has come to an end and I have seen some great birds in my journeys.

The unknown hawk raiding my bird feeders was identified by us as a Coopers Hawk after one of his raids on the winter flock allowed me to study him at length.

Nature is tough when one species depends on others for survival, with this brutal end of year weather everyone is doing their best to get through it.

Until we meet again keep bundled up and stay warm!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle