By Brett Stayton, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator
At their most recent meeting, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners made a number of announcements regarding the upcoming hunting season.
First, the Game Commission unanimously approved regulations allowing hunters between the ages of 12 and 17 to participate in the Game Commission’s mentored hunting program for up to three years. In previous years, participants in the program were required to be 11 years old or younger and this change will expand hunting opportunities for kids around the state. These regulatory changes are the result of legislation sponsored and supported by members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Beginning July 1, individuals that meet the updated age requirements will be able to purchase a Mentored Youth Hunting Permit for the 2019 -2020 hunting season. The Mentored Permit allows new hunters to pursue small game, upland birds, deer and turkey prior to taking a hunters education course provided they are under the guidance of a licensed mentor who is 21 years of age or older. Apprentice hunting will continue to remain a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
The Game Commission also announced the Board would not be advancing attempts to authorize the use of semiautomatic rifles for hunting big game during the 2019-2020 hunting season. Under certain stipulations, semiautomatic rifles have been permitted for small game hunting and furbearers for the last two years, this past fall was the first deer season in which semiautomatic shotguns were permitted for use statewide. The proposed authorization of semiautomatic rifles for big game hunting stems back to legislation sponsored and supported by members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus two years ago that granted the Game Commission with the authority to promulgate rules regulating the use of semi-automatic firearms for hunting. The bill was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf, now Co-Chair of the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus, and although the potential changes will not be advanced this year, the Board of Game Commissioners could potentially revisit the idea in the future.
A modification to the deer hunting season was proposed by the Board of Commissioners as well, which would effectively move the opening day of the statewide deer firearm season to the Saturday following Thanksgiving. The agency and the Board of Commissioners are now taking public comments on this proposal.
Additionally, a proposal that eliminated the requirement for archery and fall turkey hunters to wear fluorescent orange while afield was approved. Hunters are still required to wear the legally required amount of fluorescent orange while pursuing deer, bear, and elk with firearms; all small game; and when hunting coyotes in daylight hours during big game firearms seasons.
Finally, the Commission announced that several land acquisitions will add more than 3,000 acres to the current system of state game lands. The state currently manages almost 1.5 million acres with the primary purpose of managing wildlife habitat and providing the public with opportunities for hunting and trapping.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
