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Date: 11/27/25 8:28 pm From: Margaret Brittingham <mbrittingham01...> Subject: Re: Hunting at Dreibelbis Birding Area
Hi All Just catching up with this email string. I am a former board member with Wildlife For Everyone and the current chair of the wetland committee. Both Dreibelbis birding area and Soaring Eagle Wetland are owned by the Wildlife For Everyone Foundation and not The Nature Conservancy. Hunting is allowed in both areas with the restriction that hunters must get permission to hunt first (similar to hunting on most private land). As Joe said, the organization promotes all types of outdoor activity including hunting. That being said, it is evident that there needs to be signage letting everyone know where and when hunting may be occurring, and there needs to be a re-evaluation of best ways to reduce any conflicts. Thank you George for contacting the organization and letting them know of your concerns. I will also bring this up for discussion with our wetland committee and see what we can do. Finally, hunting aside, your membership in WFEF provides funds for the work that has been done so far so I encourage you to join. Happy Thanksgiving Margaret On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM Young, George Spencer <g3y...> wrote: > Words of wisdom. > ------------------------------ > From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 4:11 PM > To: Young, George Spencer <g3y...>; <SCBIRDCL...> < > <SCBIRDCL...> > Subject: Re: Hunting at Dreibelbis Birding Area > > Just because somewhere is a birding area doesn't mean it's closed for > hunting. I would not call PGC unless I was the landowner or was calling on > behalf of the landowner who wanted it. Wildlife for Everyone is an > organization with the goal of bringing together all kinds of outdoorsy > folks, including hunters and birders both, so I think the assumption that > this property should only be for one and not the other is not a safe one. > > ------------------------------ > From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf > of Young, George Spencer <g3y...> > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 1:07:40 PM > To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...> > Subject: Re: Hunting at Dreibelbis Birding Area > > HI Dave, > > I never saw the hunters and suspect they never saw me. I just hear two > loud shots from the north shore of the east pool. I did not proceed closer > to see if they got their duck. Instead, I got back in my car and drove to > safety. As others have pointed out today, confronting hunters is not a > wise endeavor. When I'm on their territory I always try to be supportive. > When they're on mine, I just try to be elsewhere. > > Best, > Georg > ------------------------------ > From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf > of <rgar670...> <0000236c4f481b8f-dmarc-request...> > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 12:57 PM > To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...> > Subject: Re: Hunting at Dreibelbis Birding Area > > Responsible hunters need to.be able to retrieve any birds shot: dog > retriever or a boat. The original author didn't mention if the hunters were > successful. It would be a simple matter to make contact and provide more > facts. Wildlife for All Endowment Foundation' needs to explain how an > area is closed to hunting, except to a select few. > > On Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 11:23:06 AM EST, David Bell < > <00002310b6e8239b-dmarc-request...> wrote: > > > I will give my 2 bits, > > A birding Area, to protect birds. Ducks are birds. Seems there is a > conflict of interests. > > Dave Bell > > > > On Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 10:13:45 AM EST, Young, George Spencer < > <g3y...> wrote: > > > Hi All, > > I called the Wildlife for All Endowment Foundation which manages > Dreibelbis and Soaring Eagle. The helpfull staffer let me know that a few > folks did have their permission to hunt there. We had a productive > discussion about things their Board could do to minimize danger to birders > and walkers. > > This may be a case of the Wildlife for All folks having overridden the > Nature Conservancy rules. If there is a conflict there, it is "far above > my pay grade". I think this encounter will give the Wildlife for All staff > a handle to improve the situation. Nice folks! > > Best, > George > ------------------------------ > From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf > of Joanna Taylor <joanna...> > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 9:55 AM > To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...> > Subject: Re: Hunting at Dreibelbis Birding Area > > The very best thing to do is call the game commission and report it. Best > not to approach hunters (poachers) directly. Collect any available visible > information you can such as vehicle information and personal ID > information. > > The hotline to report PGC hunting violations is > 1-888-PGC-8001 (Operation Game Thief). For other inquiries, such as > wildlife health issues or to contact the centralized dispatch, you can call > 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT > > Sent from my iPad > > On Nov 26, 2025, at 9:43 AM, <0000236c4f481b8f-dmarc-request...> > wrote: > > > No, hunting is not allowed at Dreibelbis Birding Area because it is a > designated birding area, not a state game land or state forest. > The Nature Conservancy > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.org%2Fen-us%2Fabout-us%2Fwhere-we-work%2Funited-states%2Fpennsylvania%2Fstories-in-pennsylvania%2Fpennsylvania-hunting-information%2F&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976607640%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uX1L0ZE4vXbruRDypzxPrgM6giZPvNJ6Sfxd6BK5vUo%3D&reserved=0> which > owns the property, prohibits hunting to protect the bird population, though > hunting is permitted on nearby State Game Lands > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3DState%2BGame%2BLands%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26mstk%3DAUtExfDGiJ8KZYyhyqgjc4FTruatjqtIs6-viw0mZrsQ_XD9RwuDeo_qZOJFYL7c8Ds0NUMbmVV0vmbIYc5WlrTUGdcVPi7gyKD0vY9I4yUNu3srbEMdLCS1T3vtMwLju0icATzSQM9h5eJMVaZtfNPgg__-jidlV6UM2gvtln0SIJgYsgY%26csui%3D3%26ved%3D2ahUKEwif36qlhpCRAxWwF1kFHWKaJzoQgK4QegQIARAC&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976649778%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JN3TcDOflAJm0pIafsfIH1D1R0fAvec2ZJOwZlpA9EU%3D&reserved=0> > and State Forests > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3DState%2BForests%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26mstk%3DAUtExfDGiJ8KZYyhyqgjc4FTruatjqtIs6-viw0mZrsQ_XD9RwuDeo_qZOJFYL7c8Ds0NUMbmVV0vmbIYc5WlrTUGdcVPi7gyKD0vY9I4yUNu3srbEMdLCS1T3vtMwLju0icATzSQM9h5eJMVaZtfNPgg__-jidlV6UM2gvtln0SIJgYsgY%26csui%3D3%26ved%3D2ahUKEwif36qlhpCRAxWwF1kFHWKaJzoQgK4QegQIARAD&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976668943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3hjQj%2BD9piU3zmiDcu1e9AoF9QOH%2F4BUiCwhVHzXgPQ%3D&reserved=0> > like Bald Eagle > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3DBald%2BEagle%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26mstk%3DAUtExfDGiJ8KZYyhyqgjc4FTruatjqtIs6-viw0mZrsQ_XD9RwuDeo_qZOJFYL7c8Ds0NUMbmVV0vmbIYc5WlrTUGdcVPi7gyKD0vY9I4yUNu3srbEMdLCS1T3vtMwLju0icATzSQM9h5eJMVaZtfNPgg__-jidlV6UM2gvtln0SIJgYsgY%26csui%3D3%26ved%3D2ahUKEwif36qlhpCRAxWwF1kFHWKaJzoQgK4QegQIARAE&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976700414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PDgD4nJq7s4kDP91qqG1ABGOAL5eKzzyfCw0bRIUJEs%3D&reserved=0> > and Rothrock > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3DRothrock%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26mstk%3DAUtExfDGiJ8KZYyhyqgjc4FTruatjqtIs6-viw0mZrsQ_XD9RwuDeo_qZOJFYL7c8Ds0NUMbmVV0vmbIYc5WlrTUGdcVPi7gyKD0vY9I4yUNu3srbEMdLCS1T3vtMwLju0icATzSQM9h5eJMVaZtfNPgg__-jidlV6UM2gvtln0SIJgYsgY%26csui%3D3%26ved%3D2ahUKEwif36qlhpCRAxWwF1kFHWKaJzoQgK4QegQIARAF&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976715922%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tFytrttyIwrsqf9mMeVqx3m76QVLQbhy1hylsEhIZTY%3D&reserved=0>. > Hunters must follow all Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) regulations > <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3DPennsylvania%2BGame%2BCommission%2B%2528PGC%2529%2Bregulations%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26mstk%3DAUtExfDGiJ8KZYyhyqgjc4FTruatjqtIs6-viw0mZrsQ_XD9RwuDeo_qZOJFYL7c8Ds0NUMbmVV0vmbIYc5WlrTUGdcVPi7gyKD0vY9I4yUNu3srbEMdLCS1T3vtMwLju0icATzSQM9h5eJMVaZtfNPgg__-jidlV6UM2gvtln0SIJgYsgY%26csui%3D3%26ved%3D2ahUKEwif36qlhpCRAxWwF1kFHWKaJzoQgK4QegQIARAG&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C1a32925a02f04a4176e208de2e368bb2%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638999008976729905%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4LIkQYr2PfS5YdynqL9YP9BsaRRFu4EHgdWU7mnu%2BR4%3D&reserved=0> and > wear fluorescent orange in all hunting areas. > > On Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 09:07:43 AM EST, Young, George Spencer < > <g3y...> wrote: > > > Dear all, > > I was shocked to discover waterfowl hunting going on at Dreibelbis Birding > Area. At approximately 8:20 this morning a duck flushed from the east pond > and was immediately met with two shotgun blasts from the north shore of > that pond. This use of the property seems dangerous given the heavy > recreational use and the adjacent residential area and busy highway. > > Does anyone know if waterfowl hunting is allowed at Dreibelbis Birding > Area or if these individuals were violating the property rights of the > Wildlife for Everyone Foundation which runs the property? > > Many thanks, > George Young > >

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