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The Pennsylvania Game Commission will begin recruiting the 31st class of Wildlife Conservation Officer Cadets at its Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg.

The State Civil Service Commission will begin accepting applications March 1 until April 1, or until 600 applications are received, whichever occurs first.

“We should have put a class through this year, but without a hunting and furtaker license-fee increase, we simply did not have the funding,” said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough.

Over the last three years, the agency has reduced its workforce and cut or eliminated several programs.

“However, we can’t turn our backs on the wildlife resource and Pennsylvanians,” Hough said.

To deal with the revenue issues, the Game Commission will be requesting approval from the Governor’s office to use money in its reserve account to fund the class. The additional class of officers is needed so the agency can respond to crimes against wildlife and provide for the public safety.

Pending approval from the governor’s office, the class will report for training in March 2018 and graduate in March 2019.

The agency is seeking up to 35 qualified candidates who have a genuine interest in becoming a Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer.

For more information on the position visit pgc.pa.gov and select the quick link “WCO Test Opening,” or click on “Information and Resources,” then “Careers and Volunteers.”

Applications will only be accepted online. To view the announcement and apply visit the State Civil Service Commission’s website on or after March 1 at scsc.pa.gov

Times Leader

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky