Bish Honored By Ducks Unlimited For Conservation Efforts
Bish was chosen for this award for his efforts to improve habitat for wildlife, as well as his participation in Game Commission wildlife research and management projects, at the Game Commission’s Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area and Geneva Marshes in western Crawford County and southern Erie County.
Bish began his career with the Game Commission in 1988, when he was selected to attend the 20th Class at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation. Upon graduation in 1989, he was assigned as a Wildlife Conservation Officer in Jefferson County in the Northwest Region. In addition to agency training, Bish earned a bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Environmental Science.
In 1992, Bish was selected as the Land Management Group Supervisor for Group VI, Crawford County, which is comprised of three different State Game Lands and the highly managed Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area. LMGS Bish oversees a six-person food and cover crew who perform wildlife management and maintenance work on 16,015 acres of State Game Lands.
LMGS Bish has a keen interest in waterfowl and waterfowl management. During his tenure, he has initiated a drawdown of the Hartstown Swamp as a management tool to promote the growth of plants beneficial to waterfowl and to discourage the spread of invasive species such as purple loosestrife. Additional water level management has created resting areas for rails and other shorebirds in their seasonal migrations.
LMGS Bish is an official climber for the Game Commission and has helped place abandoned eaglets into active nests to enhance the eagle population.
An ever-present fixture at the public drawing for goose blinds at Pymatuning, Bish and his crew work to educate hunters and insure that they have a pleasant and safe hunt while visiting the area.
Over his 21 years with the Game Commission, Bish has developed and maintained an excellent relationship with numerous sportsmen’s organizations within his land management group.
For his outstanding service, Bish was honored with the Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year Award from Safari Club International in 2002.
Prior to joining the agency, Bish served as a Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
A native of Armstrong County, Jerry and his wife, Deb, reside in the Conneaut Lake area along with their three children.
About:
For more than 100 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians. With the help of more than 700 full-time employees and thousands of part-timers and volunteers, the agency provides a host of benefits to wildlife, state residents and visitors.