Doe tag allocations reduced For 2010

From the Post Gazette... Click here for map of PA WMU's Fewer antlerless deer licenses will be available in 19 of 22 Wildlife Management Units in the 2010-11 hunting seasons. At last week's meeting of the board of Pennsylvania game commissioners, members agreed to cut regional allocations by the number of Deer Management Assistance Program permits issued in each WMU during the 2009-10 seasons. The current number of DMAP tags issued in most WMUs will become the maximum available to landowners in the 2010-11 seasons. The DMAP program (not related to Red Tag) helps landowners reduce deer populations by increasing doe harvest limits on enrolled properties during deer seasons. DMAP is less popular in southwest Pennsylvania, where state parks and state forests are among its biggest users. A recent independent audit of the agency's Deer Management Plan recommended that DMAP permits be fully incorporated in antlerless allocation procedures, and that the agency, "better highlight to the public the fact that DMAP is an important contributor to antlerless harvest in some WMUs.". The greatest cuts in allocations will occur in central and northern tier areas where DMAP is popular. WMU 2G, where 2006-07 DMAP kills totalled nearly 24 percent of the total doe harvest, according to auditor Quality Deer Management Assoc., will lose 10,790 tags this year. 4D will lose nearly 10,000, and 3B allocations will drop by 9,239. In 2F, where DMAP kills totalled more than 25 percent of the doe harvest from 2005-07, the allocation dropped from 28,000 to 22,148, reflecting last year's decrease in DMAP permits. In southwest Pennsylvania, WMU 2D allocations will drop from 56,000 in 2009-10 to 50,123 in 2010-11. Most units will see less significant cuts: 2A, 55,000 to 54,879; 2C, 49,000 to 44,107; 1A, 42,000 to 41,705. WMU 2B will get 68,000 tags, the same as last year, and DMAP permits will not available this year. Visible blinds Hunters who use blinds for deer, elk and bear may soon have to augment their camouflage with 100 square inches of fluorescent orange. The Game Commission gave preliminary approval to changes that could have the greatest impact on archery hunters, who are often well camouflaged. The rule would require that the orange material be posted within 15 feet of the blind and visible from all angles. Hunters would be required to wear orange while inside the blind. "Archery deer hunters, who [currently] don't need to wear orange, would have to display the orange band as noted if they are using a manufactured blind," said PGC spokesman Jerry Feaser. The ruling would include, "any artificial or manufactured blind consisting of all man-made materials of sufficient density to block the detection of movement within the blind from an observer located outside of the blind." More Game Commission news • Deer: The board approved a split deer season -- a five-day antlered season Nov. 29-Dec. 3, and a seven-day concurrent season Dec. 4-11, in WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2G, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. A two-week antlered and antlerless deer season will run Nov. 29-Dec. 11 in the remaining 14 units. The board removed the two-week doe hunt between the close of firearms season and Christmas in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, and will offer an antlered/antlerless season for archery hunters in those units Dec. 27-Jan. 29. Over-the-counter application for unsold antlerless licenses in all WMUs was advanced by a month to Oct. 4. Over-the-counter sale of doe tags for WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D will continue to be available Aug. 24. • Bear: A statewide five-day archery bear season will be held Nov. 15-19, and a three-day statewide season will open Sat., Nov. 20, and continue on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 22-23. All extended bear seasons held during the firearms deer season were eliminated. • Turkey: Fall season, Nov. 13-19 and Nov. 25-27 in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D; Nov. 6-19 and Nov. 25-27 in WMUs 2B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E; Nov. 16-18 in WMU 5A. No fall turkey season in WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D. Spring gobbler season, April 30-May 31, 2011. • Pheasant: A Wild Pheasant Recovery Area was added in Schuylkill/Dauphin counties, bringing the number to four in the state including two in Washington and Somerset counties. • Rabbit: A new junior rabbit season will be held Oct. 9-16, open to junior hunters age 12-16 when accompanied by an adult not required to have a license. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10115/1052810-358.stm Doe licenses Here is a look at the number of doe licenses that will be available this year compared to last for some of the state's wildlife management units. Unit: 2010-11 license allocation/2009-10 license allocation 1A: 41,705/42,000 1B: 27,844/30,000 2A: 54,879/55,000 2B: 68,000/68,000 2C: 44,107/49,000 2D: 50,123/56,000 2E: 20,407/21,000 2F: 22,148/28,000 2G: 15,210/26,000 3A: 25,247/26,000 4A: 27,521/29,000 4D: 30,052/40,000