Newly Appointed Game Commissioner Looks to Future

James R. Daley, of Butler County, says he’ll focus on hunter recruitment, retention.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today met at a working group meeting, and the next time the board convenes, it will be at its full, eight-member complement.

James R. Daley, of Cranberry Township in Butler County, has been appointed to fill the position left vacant when former commissioner Ralph Martone’s term on the board expired.

Daley represents Region 1, which includes Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Warren, Venango, Butler, Forest and Clarion counties.

Like many Pennsylvanians, Daley got his first hunting license at age 12. Few of them, however, have dedicated as much time to sustaining and expanding Pennsylvania’s rich hunting heritage.

Daley has volunteered as a Hunter-Trapper Education instructor since 1978, teaching about seven or eight courses a year since then. With his classes averaging about 55 students each, he figures to have helped more than 14,000 youth begin their hunting careers.

Daley is the recipient of several district-level Outstanding Instructor awards. Twice he was named Outstanding Instructor in the Northwest Region, and in 2009, he was selected as Pennsylvania’s Instructor of the Year.

In addition to basic Hunter-Trapper Education, Daley actively has taught the remedial hunter-education course and the Successful Turkey Hunting course.

Speaking about his appointment, Daley said his desire to represent the Game Commission runs deep. In college, he said, he dreamed about becoming a Wildlife Conservation Officer (then called a Game Protector), but his eyesight was too poor. He chose instead to serve as a volunteer instructor, by working for the Butler County Conservation District and, later, through a career in environmental and engineering consulting.

Daley currently works as director of environmental services for Novel Geo-Environmental LLC, an environmental and geotechnical consulting firm. He has worked at multiple firms that are members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, and he was instrumental in developing recommended practices for project site planning, development and restoration, with a focus on minimizing impacts and employing restoration practices that benefit wildlife.

As commissioner, Daley said he will focus on hunter recruitment and retention as a way to ensure Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage endures. In doing so, there is a need to adapt, he said.

For instance, Daley said that over the many years he’s taught Hunter-Trapper Education, there’s been a significant increase in the number of female students in each class.

“Most classes today are about 25 percent female, but I’ve seen classes with 50 percent,” Daley said. “Meanwhile, the percentage of female instructors who would serve as good role models for these students is low.

“It’s something I will work to improve,” he said.