Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania

10/05/2026

Attention Sportsmen:

This is a letter I received from a concerned sportsman that I sent out via Constant Contact.

He also asked me to put it on Facebook.

If you'd like to be added to our Constant Contact email list, email us at [email protected]. Please include your name & email address.

If you are a dedicated sportsman or sportswoman and want to stand up to Harrisburg, consider joining USP. We are the only non-governmental organization that stands up for the sportsmen.

Blaine M Toy
President USP

THE DESTRUCTION OF PGC LAW ENFORCEMENT

Attention Members:

We all know by now of the unceremonious and cowardly firing of the Game Commission’s dedicated 140-person deputy game warden complement by PGC Executive Director Stephen Smith last month.

A short, terse email to the deputies with no warning that the firings were coming.

An interesting, but not surprising, almost comical, the ‘empty suit’ commissioners who are supposed to set agency policy found out when they turned on the news, just as the rest of us did.

So where does that leave things in terms of game law enforcement and protection of the Commonwealth’s valuable wildlife resources?

It leaves both the game wardens and our wildlife resources in a very precarious position. It leaves them at risk, high risk in many instances.

Hunting season is now in full swing. Game wardens patrol alone, with no deputies for backup. The wardens are approaching and sometimes apprehending dangerous individuals. Most encounters game wardens have in the field are with individuals who are in possession of a fi***rm. A dangerous situation in itself. And again, with no backup.

Nighttime patrols for deer poaching are extremely dangerous. Will these nighttime patrols by a single officer with no backup be curtailed, or will the warden be expected to go forth alone?

Surveillance and decoy operations will come to a halt. Poaching in its many forms will increase exponentially. The outlaws know when the ‘coast is clear’. Injured wildlife will wait if even addressed at all. Road kills will continue to rot along the roadside.

At least two counties in the state don’t even have a game warden assigned because of personnel mismanagement. Who will cover those areas? No one.

A proud and dedicated game warden in the western part of the state recently resigned in disgust over this mess created by the PGC hierarchy.

The game warden union has been strangely quiet on this. Can you blame them for being out of fear of retaliation?

Director Stephen Smith and his wrecking crew have done a fabulous job in dismantling game law enforcement within the PGC. And what do they have planned next?

Stephen Smith needs to tender his resignation as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania

Game Commission immediately, if not sooner.

The sportsmen, the public, and PA's wildlife resources deserve better.

Concerned PA Sportsman

05/14/2026

The PA sportsmen were again sold out on May 6, 2026, by a vote of 49 to 1. The Republican-controlled PA Senate confirmed both the present sitting Game Commissioners Allen Demarco and Haley Sankey for another term.

There is no indication that these positions were advertised, or that the Sportsmen Advisory Council (we sportsmen have no idea who the council is) conducted interviews, or that there even is one, nor were there any interviews with the Game and Fishers Committees. Both of these individuals support the controversial Saturday opener, yet it appears the PA Senate is okay with it.

These commissioners were complicit in the former Executive Director's (Brian Burhans) unethical conduct and in all personnel issues!

1. Sponsorship of the race car of the boyfriend of the daughter of a PGC top-level staffer
2. Selecting a new Executive Director (in-house) with no search conducted whatsoever
3. Voted to hire the new Executive Director in violation of the Sunshine Law
4. Abdicated their duty, responsibility, and authority to approve/disapprove yearly antlerless license allocation, handing it solely to the biologists (they put the fox in charge of the henhouse).
5. Nashville Pub Crawl.
6. No accountability for the half-billion-plus Oil and Gas Fund.

Current embarrassment with the Central Dispatch scandal is listed below.

The PA hunters have been shafted again by our politicians of both parties.

Unified Sportsmen of PA is the only Non-Governmental Organization that stands up for the hunters of PA. There is no other group that opposes PGC mismanagement.

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This is an article I received about the harassment of female employees at the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters.

It is bad enough that they are in violation of Title 34 by not managing our wildlife properly; now, this article is about harassment.

Allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation at its central dispatch center were discovered.

05/14/2026

Baiting Deer

PA HB 2440 proposes allowing the Pennsylvania Game Commission to authorize deer baiting on designated private lands for specific management purposes. Read the PDF on the bill. It passed the House Game and Fisheries Committee last week on a 17-9 vote.

Republican Tom Mehafie sponsored the bill, and two Democrats co-sponsored it. Every Democrat voted for it, and 3 Republicans defected and also voted for the bill. The bill now goes to the full House, and if it passes there, which it probably will, this bill will allow baiting of deer statewide. This will fall right into PGC’s plans to eliminate all the deer.

PGC is responsible for managing and protecting wildlife; however, small-game populations are declining due to the introduction of predators, and deer have been eliminated on game lands and forest areas. Starting July 1st, deer can be shot with Ag Tags. That means spotted fawns can be shot, does nursing fawns can be shot, and pregnant does (2nd rut) can be shot. It seems like they are only interested in eliminating deer.

Baiting has always been questioned on ethical grounds, or lack thereof. PGC currently allows baiting of deer in the Southeast Special Regs area, yet they claim that placing deer feed in other areas enhances the spread of CWD and is punishable by a fine. This is conflicting, isn't it? Neighbors may end up pitted against one another. If one ethical neighbor has all their deer drawn off their property by an unethical owner who hunts over bait, because the deer are drawn to that owner's property, it will create a highly contentious relationship between property owners, resulting in more posted property. Baiting lacks in hunting ethics and fair chase.

PGC also reversed itself, banning urine-based scents to attract deer, claiming they can carry CWD prions, yet allowing their use in CWD areas.

03/26/2026

PGC 2025-26 deer harvest report. Can you believe the numbers? The PGC is out of control and cares less about following Title 34; they are more interested in non-hunting wildlife.
https://conta.cc/4bzRbbq

https://conta.cc/4bzRbbq

Email from Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (Non-Profit Club)     PGC 2025-26 DEER HARVEST REPORT Attention Members: Here we go again. The 2025-26 deer harvest numbers are out, and if this isn't eno

02/07/2026

Due to the weather, Rep. David Maloney's Sportsmen's Tour was poorly attended, but it was live-streamed, so hopefully many watched. Rep. Brian Smith attended. I thank the Rayburn Township for donating their social room for this event. I think we should thank Rep. Maloney and Rep. Smith for their time.

2.6.2026 Rep. Maloney Sportsmen’s Listening Tour – Kittanning – 6:30PM

02/07/2026

David Maloney Sportsmen's Tour in North Huntington was very well attended. This event was live-streamed. In addition to Rep. Maloney donating his time, Rep. Jacob Banta attended. We should thank both of them for their time.

2.5.2026 Rep. Maloney Sportsmen’s Listening Tour – North Huntingdon – 6:30PM

11/02/2025

2025 USP Fundraiser Raffle Winners

1. Howa Legacy Model 1500 Walnut Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor with Buck engraved & painted in stock
#29288, Eugene Turner (Member), Shickshinny, PA – Fundraiser Mailing
2. Mossberg Patriot Walnut Fluted 308 WIN with bear engraved & painted in stock
#03329, Alayna Adams (Nonmember), Clearfield, PA – Central PA Sport & Outdoor Show
3. Mossberg 500 Retrograde Walnut 12 gauge with Beagle & Rabbit engraved & painted in stock
#06407, June Woodward (Nonmember), Elkland, PA – Morris Snake Roundup
4. Henry Lever Action Large Loop .22LR with Red Squirrel engraved & painted in stock
#02344, Jeff Stein (Nonmember), La Jose, PA – USA International Sports Show
5. Fly Fishing Outfit, Riffle T-61 9’ #5 line w/reel line and cases, donated by Kettle Creek Fly & Tackle
Shop #10598, Danielle Donley (Nonmember), North Bend, PA – PA State Fall Flaming Foliage Festival
6. Exotic Hunt, donated by Exotic Island Hunts
#06834, Page Line (Nonmember), Carlisle, PA – Morris Snake Roundup
7. Shot Assist, donated by Shoot for More, LLC
#14075, John Murawski (Member), Wattsburg, PA – Office
8. Tekari Vision 270 Hub Blind
#18450, Paul Christeson (Member), Boston, PA – Office
9. 8 pc. Hiker’s Kit – (Backpack and Survival Gear)
#04390, Shaun Derrick (Nonmember), Curwensville, PA – Central PA Sport & Outdoor Show
10. Bushell PowerView 16x50mm Binoculars
#08196, Shawn Jones (Nonmember), Dawson, PA – Sinnemahoning Snake Hunt
11. Wildgame Innovations 2 pack Terra Extreme 18MP Trailcams
#05763, Mike Mease (Nonmember), Pine Grove, PA – Cross Fork Snake Round Up
12. Realtree Fishing Large Tackle Bag & Rapala Finlander Filet Knife
#05928, Mervin Hostetler (Nonmember), Shinglehouse, PA – Potter County Outdoor Show
13. Ugly Stik GX2 6’6” 4 pc. Spinning Combo
#09476, Wendy Hendricks (Nonmember), Warren, PA – PA State Championship Fishing Tournament
14. Eagle Claw Trailmaster 4 pc. 7’6” Spinning/Fly Travel Rod
#07492, Cristin Corwell (Nonmember), Morrisville, PA – Cross Fork Snake Round Up

02/27/2025

Pennsylvania rep. pushes for opening day of deer season be moved

JEFFERSON COUNTY (WTAJ) – A bill that would move the opening day of r***e season back to the Monday after Thanksgiving is being proposed in Harrisburg, a representative in Jefferson County is…

10/24/2024

Back in July, Pennsylvania Outdoor News (PON) printed a letter from Harold Daub in which he praised Democrats and criticized Republicans (see photo) regarding the Sunday hunting bill. I responded with a letter but PON Editor Jeff Molhollem refused to print it because he said it was an attack on Daub. I disagree but I took out references to Daub and "Daub's Ds" and resubmitted the below letter in hopes that PON would at least print an opposing view before Election Day.

They did not. So, I'm sharing the letter here.

I hope that in the future, PON will refrain from printing blatantly political letters if they're going to then protect the author and refuse to print opposing views.
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To the Editor:
In Harold Daub’s letter to the Editor (July 15) he praised Democrats for their support of a bill to force the PGC to allow hunting on every Sunday, for every species. He also chides Republicans for opposing the legislation.

Daub, for those who may not know, is the former executive director of HUSH (Hunters United for Sunday Hunting) as well as the former executive director for the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists (Formerly PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs). The PFSC has been a staunch supporter and dependable cheerleader for the PGC in nearly all of their deer decimation efforts over the years.

Daub’s letter reminds us of which political party is constantly attacking the traditional family and Christian values. The push for Sunday hunting is just another scheme to give families conflicting schedules on the traditional family day of Sunday and to take yet another brick from America’s Christian foundation. If you look around, the foundation can’t take many more bricks being removed… but that’s exactly the plan, isn’t it?

And before we all run out to reregister as Democrats because Harold Daub has declared them as “the party that really supports hunters”, let’s not forget that Democrats are also the party of the radical animal rights activists who will ban hunting if they ever get the chance. They are also the same Democrats that fight every day to destroy our rights to possess and carry fi***rms.

Democrats don’t actually care about hunters. We’re icky rubes to them. Their interest lies merely in the destruction of the traditional Sunday.

Wayne Bush
Roaring Spring, PA