A Pennsylvania Game Commission Pheasant Farm in neighboring Armstrong County will remain open but two others will be closed.
The farms in Crawford and Lycoming counties are being closed Jan. 27 and 14 employee positions will be eliminated due to budget due to financial concerns. The Southwest Game Farm in Armstrong County will continue to be operated by the commission.
The Game Commission faces an $8 million budget shortfall for the upcoming year and closing two of the four current facilities will save about $1.5 million. One possible solution to maintain the program could be to create and sell a pheasant hunting permit.
While the board is allowed to take that action, only the state legislature can increase hunting license fees for the first time in nearly 20 years. A proposal that would have allowed a modest increase to those fees stalled in the state house earlier this year after passing the senate.
Written By: Ryan Saeler
