WR Case/PGC Collectibles Available

HARRISBURG – The third year of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s two time-limited collectible series – the Wild Turkey Heritage Series and the Upland Game Bird Series –now are available for ordering. Orders will be taken through the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by mail or by calling 1-888-888-3459 (toll-free).

In addition to ordering online, a downloadable application is available on the agency’s website by clicking on the “Limited Collector’s Series” icon in the right-hand column of the homepage. Delivery can be expected by December.

The two series, which were launched in 2007, and will run for a total of five years, incorporate products grown and made in Pennsylvania, as well as the designs of an award-winning Pennsylvania wildlife artist.

“The new collectible, numbered wild turkey calls and knives are handsome additions to these continuing series,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Both series, which also offer corresponding fine-art prints and patches, feature products made in Pennsylvania by Pennsylvanians.

“It’s also important to remember that all purchases from these collectible lines will support wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania and help preserve our hunting heritage.”

The “Wild Turkey Heritage Series” will feature five collectible box-style turkey calls, made in Pennsylvania by Top Calls in Renovo, Clinton County, and will sell for $49.95 (plus tax and shipping). Each year, the call will be made from a different Pennsylvania-grown wood. This year, the call will be made of cherry. The first two calls of this series were cedar and walnut, and subsequent years will be sassafras and, for the final year, a combination of walnut, maple and sycamore. Each call will be individually numbered, comes in a green velvet bag and features a different wild turkey scene.

The “Upland Game Bird Series” features five collectible mini-trapper knives made by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., of Bradford, McKean County, and will sell for $74.95 (plus tax and shipping). This year, the series showcases the ring-necked pheasant, and will have a handle made of old red bone. The first two years featured the ruffed grouse and American woodcock, and subsequent years will focus on the bobwhite quail and mourning dove. Each knife will be made with a different bone handle – bone stag, chestnut bone, old red bone, amber bone and antique bone – and comes in an attractive tin featuring the artwork of that year’s upland game bird. Like the turkey calls, each knife will be individually numbered.

Complementing the turkey calls and knives will be a special fine-art print and collector’s patch designed by Gerald W. Putt, of Boiling Springs, Cumberland County. Each art print –available either framed or unframed – and patch will represent the original wildlife artwork used for each product line.

The patches, for both series, will sell for $5.66. Also, both framed prints, which are 13x18 inches, will sell for $179.95, and unframed prints are available for $79.95.

“The edition size in these series will limited to 1,000, with delivery set for October through December,” Roe said. “A new call and knife, and accompanying prints and patches, will be introduced for the next two years in March, and the prices will not increase.”