W-b Woman Jailed In Alleged Shouting Of Obscenities 
Debbie Thurston Was 
Previously Fined After Being 
Found Guilty Of Harassment And 
Disorderly Conduct

Abortion Protesters From Area Rallying

Friday, January 23, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





New game laws might draw fire &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Pennsylvania Game Commission has proposed bold new initiatives that
would increase hunting opportunities, radically change the traditional hunting
season calendar and bolster bag limitsAnd I'll bet the proposals will spark
controversy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Things change with the times," said Bruce Whitman, the Game Commission's
spokesman in Harrisburg. "It depends on the individual's thinking (if the
proposals will be well-received). There was a time not too long ago when it
was unthinkable that hunters would be able to take more than one deer a year
in Pennsylvania. Now it is commonplace." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At its mid-January meeting the commission proposed major changes to the
whitetail deer season and the spring turkey season. The agency that manages
the state's wildlife resources also plans to overhaul the small-game seasons
and make unsold antlerless deer licenses available to all deer hunters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the heart of the proposed changes is an opportunity for junior hunters
with the proper licenses to take both an antlered and antlerless deer during
the two-week "buck" season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The two deer could be taken on the same day. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This proposal was driven by the recognition, desire and need to recruit
young hunters and retain them," Whitman said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Statistics indicate the number of junior licenses sold in the state to
hunters ages 12 to 16 have dropped from a high of 168,546 in 1976 to 100,851
in 1996. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Whitman warns that conclusions based on those figures regarding hunter
interest among young people might be inappropriate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you look at the demographics for that time period you find there are
not that many kids in that age group," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Whitman said this proposal is right on target with other junior hunting
initiatives. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The special junior squirrel hunt approved by the state and the special
junior waterfowl hunt approved by the federal government pave the way for this
deer hunting proposal," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A second proposal would allow spring gobbler hunters to double their season
bag limit and take two birds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This is a common practice in the Southern and Midwestern states. Our
biologists feel these bag limits would not have a detrimental effect on the
resource. And if there was a problem, things could be quickly adjusted,"
Whitman said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The commission also moved to allow hunters to purchase more than one
antlerless deer license that remained unsold by a date to be determined in
November. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 About 70,000 antlerless deer licenses went unsold last year when hunters
were limited to only one antlerless or surplus license. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another proposal pertaining to small-game would bring rabbits, pheasants
and quail in season during mid-October along with squirrels and grouse. And a
late rabbit and squirrel season would extend from Dec. 26 through Feb. 27. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We know that changes in lifestyles and in the workplace affect hunters,
and we know hunters can't always take time off from work. That's why we have
to spread out the number of Saturdays that are available to hunters," Whitman
said

New Game Laws Might Draw Fire 
The Pennsylvania Game Commission Has Proposed Bold New Initiatives That Would 
Increase Hunting Opportunities, Radically Change The Traditional Hunting 
Season Calendar And Bolster Bag Limits.

New Game Laws Might Draw Fire The Pennsylvania Game Commission Has Proposed Bold New Initiatives That Would Increase Hunting Opportunities, Radically Change The Traditional Hunting Season Calendar And Bolster Bag Limits.