The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners is comprised of nine board members, each selected by the Governor, and confirmed by majority vote of the state Senate. Title 34, the law that governs the Board, requires that each member be a citizen of the Commonwealth, and well informed about wildlife conservation and restoration. Commissioners are appointed from various geographical districts of the state to ensure uniform representation for all residents. These districts are not the same as Game Commission agency regions.

Game Commissioners individually hold office for terms of four years and may be reappointed for a maximum of two additional terms. Commissioners receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Commissioners function as a board of directors, establishing policy for the agency. They are not agency employees. Although they are selected by district, they represent all Pennsylvanians and the state's 480 species of wild birds and mammals.

The Board of Game Commissioners holds quarterly meetings, generally in January, April, June and October, and at other necessary times, if necessary. By law, it is the duty of the commission to protect, propagate, manage and preserve the game or wildlife of Pennsylvania. Specific duties include:

Fix seasons, bag limits and hunting hours;
Remove protection, declare an open season, or change or close a season;
Revise bag limits;
Define geographic limitations for hunting;
Limit the number of hunters or trappers in an area;
Prescribe methods of hunting and trapping;
Govern the use of calls for taking game or furbearers;
Prohibit the possession, importation, exportation, or release of animals considered harmful to the state;
Revise the state classification of any wild bird or mammal, such as threatened or endangered;
Manage and develop state game lands and private lands under public access programs;
Collect data and preserve statistics about wildlife;
Select an agency Executive Director; and
Serve the interests of sportsmen and sportswomen by preserving and promoting recreational hunting and trapping by providing adequate opportunity to hunt or trap out wildlife resources.

The Board of Game Commissioners works hand-in-hand with the Executive Director and agency staff to ensure that all wild birds and mammals, and their habitats are managed for current and future generations.

Commissioners Policy Manual (PDF)