PHARRISBURG — As part of its 50th anniversary of hunter education, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials recently honored 24 dedicated volunteer instructors, including Oran L. Deemer of Zelienople, who now have been teaching hunter education for half a century.

"This corps of instructors has witnessed the historic events that have changed the world and our lives over the past 50 years and rolled with the changes that have defined hunter education in Pennsylvania along the way," said Keith Snyder, Game Commission Hunter Trapper Education Division chief.

"We offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to these individuals, as well as all of our volunteer instructors, for their service that is a keystone in the Game Commission's efforts to pass along our state's rich hunting and trapping heritage to current and future generations."

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission is calling for nominations of citizens willing to participate in one of three Citizen Advisory Committees to help gather input related to the deer management goal of reducing deer-human conflict in three Wildlife Management Units in 2010. Nominations must be received by Sept. 15.One of those is WMU 2B, which consists of portions of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties.All nominations will be presented to the governor's office, which will interview potential candidates, make the final selections and facilitate the meetings. The Game Commission does not participate in the selection process.The PGC Board of Commissioners retains the authority to make final deer management decisions."The purpose of the CACs is to gather input related to establishing a compatible deer population that balances recreational desires with acceptable levels of deer-human conflicts," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.For information and a nomination form, visit www.pgc.state.pa.us. Nominees must live in the WMU in which they apply.

HARRISBURG — Hunters and trappers seeking to participate in Pennsylvania's upcoming bobcat seasons have until Sept. 1 to submit an application via the Pennsylvania Game Commission's new Pennsylvania Automated License System to be included in the public drawing to award 1,780 permits.This can be done at any issuing agent or through the www.pgc.state.pa.us. There is no paper application process this year.There is a $5.70 non-refundable application fee to be entered into the Sept. 11 drawing. Details on the season can be found on page 76 of the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations.Hunters looking to participate in this year's Pennsylvania elk season have until Aug. 28 to submit an application through PALS or the website.Applicants must pay a $10.70 non-refundable application fee to be included in the Sept. 11 drawing. Details on the elk season and drawing are available on pages 89 to 91 of the digest.