Many seasons will start later in coming
license year.
The
Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to
hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2014-15 license
year.
Hunters
and trappers – particularly those setting vacations for this fall and winter –
are advised that, once again, several seasons in the 2014-15 license year will
open or run about a week later than they do in many years to accommodate
calendar swings related to the timing of Thanksgiving.
Other
modifications proposed for the 2014-15 seasons include: changes to fall turkey
seasons in several Wildlife Management Units; new extended bear hunting
opportunities in WMUs 2C and 4B; an expansion of the fisher trapping season to
WMUs 1B, 3B and 3C; and increased possession limits for small
game.
The
public may offer comments on all proposed 2014-15 seasons and bag limits, as
well as other board actions, between now and the board’s next meeting, April 7
and 8, at which time the board is scheduled to finalize seasons and bag limits
for 2014-15.
Also,
the board will receive staff recommendations for antlerless deer license
allocations for the 23 WMUs at its April meeting. Deer harvest estimates for the
2013-14 seasons will be available in mid-March.
Following are several articles on meeting
highlights.
SPLIT
FIREARMS DEER SEASONS UP FOR APRIL APPROVAL
The
Board of Game Commissioners adopted a slate of deer seasons for 2014-15 that
retains the split, five-day antlered deer season (Dec. 1-5) and seven-day
concurrent season (Dec. 6-13) in 12 Wildlife Management Units. The list includes
(WMUs) 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. The package also
retains the two-week (Dec. 1-13) concurrent, antlered and antlerless deer season
in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.
Hunters
with Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer permits may use
the permits on the lands for which they were issued during any established deer
season, and will continue to be permitted to harvest antlerless deer from Dec.
1-13 in WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E. Fees for DMAP
permits are $10.70 for residents and $35.70 for nonresidents.
DMAP
permits also may be transferred to Mentored Hunting Program participants.
The
board retained antler restrictions in place for adult and senior license holders
since the 2011-12 seasons. It remains the “three-up” on one side, not counting a
brow tine, provision for the western Wildlife Management Units of 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B
and 2D, and the three points on one side in all other WMUs. Those exempt from
these antler restrictions are junior license holders, disabled hunters with a
permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military on
leave.
BOARD
PROPOSES EXPANDED BEAR SEASONS
The
Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today proposed opening up extended bear
hunting opportunities to two additional WMUs in
2014.
WMUs 2C
and 4B each would be open to bear hunting for four days in deer season,
beginning the first Wednesday of the 2014 statewide general deer season Dec.
3.
Game
Commission staff had recommended the additions based on increases in the bear
populations within those WMUs.
WMU 2C
has had a slightly increasing bear population trend. Highway mortalities of
bears have been slowly increasing in the area, and there’s been a noticeable
increase in human-bear conflicts there.
WMU 4B
also has had an increasing trend of human-bear conflicts, and several incidents
in recent years involving home entry or injury to pets and people. Highway
mortality of bears also has increased there, as has the bear harvest, which has
increased by about 20 percent annually since 2003.
The
Board retained expanded bear seasons in the state’s most urban Wildlife
Management Units – WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D – and will continue to allow the
harvest of black bears with a bear license during all deer seasons from
September through early December in these WMUs.
The
extended bear season dates for 2014 are:
- Sept.
20-Nov. 15 in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, for archery only;
- Oct.
4-Nov. 15 in WMU 5B, for archery only;
- Oct.
18-25 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, for muzzleloaders
only;
- Oct.
23-25 and Dec. 1-13 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, using any legal sporting arm for
juniors and seniors, disabled person permit holders to use a vehicle as a blind
and resident active duty in armed services.
The
statewide five-day archery bear season opens Nov. 17 and runs through Nov. 21.
The four-day statewide bear season is slated to open on Saturday, Nov. 22, and
then continues on Monday and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 24-26.
Extended
bear seasons have been proposed as follows:
- Dec.
3-6 in WMUs 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E; and
- Dec.
1-6 in WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D.
- Dec.
1-13 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.
FALL
TURKEY SEASONS CHANGES MOVED FORWARD
The
Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to fall
turkey seasons for 2014 and spring gobbler dates for 2015.
Decreasing populations in WMUs 3A, 3B and 3C prompted the
preliminary adoption of a two-week fall turkey season in those WMUs. Previously,
there had been a three-week season there.
The
three-day Thanksgiving season segment would continue in WMUs 3A, 3B and 3C
despite the one-week decrease in the earlier
segment.
Also,
2014 marks the final year of the hen harvest rate and survival rate study. So
those WMUs in the study area will continue with the season lengths implemented
last year.
And the
board also proposed retaining a three-day fall turkey season in WMU 5A, but
shifting it from midweek to a Thursday-through-Saturday framework.
The fall
season dates for 2014: WMU 1B, Nov. 1-8 and Nov. 27-29; WMU 2B (shotgun and bow
only), Nov. 1-21, and Nov. 27-29; WMUs 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B and 3C,
Nov. 1-15, and Nov. 27-29; WMUs 2C, 2E, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E, Nov. 1-21,
and Nov. 27-29; and WMU 5A, Nov. 6-8. WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D will remain closed for
the fall seasons.
For the
2015 spring gobbler season, which is proposed to run from May 2-30, the board
continued the change in legal hunting hours to reflect the following: from May
2-16, legal shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until noon
timeframe; and from May 18-30, hunters may hunt all day, from one-half hour
before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
The
board proposed holding the one-day Spring Gobbler Youth Hunt on April 25, 2015,
which will run from one-half hour before sunrise until noon. All junior license
holders and Mentored Youth Hunting Program permit holders can participate in
this special one-day hunt, as well as the other spring season
dates.
PROPOSED 2014-15 HUNTING
SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray,
Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or
without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 11-17 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after first
day).
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray,
Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 18-Nov.
29; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 21 (6 daily, 18 possession).
RUFFED GROUSE:
Oct. 18–Nov. 29, Dec. 15-24 and Dec.
26-Jan. 24 (2 daily, 6 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail)
Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license:
Oct. 11-18 (4 daily, 12 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail):
Oct. 25-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-24 and Dec.
26-Feb. 21 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT: Special season
for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 11-18 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male pheasants
only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasants may be taken
in all other WMUs. There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any
Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.
PHEASANT: Male only in
WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs –
– Oct. 25-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-24 and Dec.
26-Feb. 21 (2 daily, 6 in possession). There is no open season for the taking of
pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.
BOBWHITE QUAIL:
Oct. 25-Nov. 29 (4 daily, 12
possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)
HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS)
OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan. 1, in
all WMUs except WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D, where season will run from Dec. 26-29 (1
daily, 3 possession).
WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS):
No closed season, except on Sundays and
during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.
PORCUPINES:
Sept. 1-March 31, except during overlap
with the regular firearms deer season. Daily limit of three, season limit of
10.
CROWS: July 4-April 5, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No
limit.
STARLINGS AND ENGLISH
SPARROWS: No closed season, except
during the antlered and antlerless deer season. No limit.
WILD TURKEY (Male or
Female): WMU 1B – Nov. 1-8 and Nov.
27-29; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 1-21 and Nov. 27-29;
WMUs 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B and 3C – Nov. 1-15 and Nov. 27-29;
WMUs 2C, 2E, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E – Nov. 1-21 and Nov. 27-29; WMU
5A – Nov. 6-8; WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded
bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license,
and mentored youth – April 25, 2015.
Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded
bird only): May 2-30, 2015. Daily limit
1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who
possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From May 2-16, legal hunting hours
are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 18-30, legal hunting hours
are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide)
Archery: Nov. 17-21. Only 1 bear may be
taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide):
Nov. 22-26. Only 1 bear may be taken
during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 4B,
4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 3-6. Only 1 bear
may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B,
5C and 5D): Dec. 1-13. Only 1 bear may
be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B,
3C and 3D): Dec. 1-6. Only 1 bear may
be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C
and 5D) archery: Sept. 20-Nov. 15. Only
1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMU 5B)
archery: Oct. 4-Nov. 15. Only 1 bear
may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B,
5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 18-25.
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B,
5C and 5D) special firearms: Oct.
23-25, for junior and senior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to
use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military.
ELK (Antlered or
Antlerless): Nov. 3-8. Only one elk may
be taken during the license year.
ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered
and Antlerless): Nov. 10-15. Only one
elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who
haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 8, in designated areas.
DEER, ARCHERY
(Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 20-Oct. 3, and Nov. 17-29. One antlerless deer
with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered
and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Jan. 12-24. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered
and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 4-Nov.
15 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One
antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered and
Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 1-13. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered Only)
WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 1-5. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
(Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on
DMAP properties during this period.)
DEER (Antlered and
Antlerless) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E:
Dec. 6-13. One antlered deer per
hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERLESS
(Statewide): Oct. 23-25. Junior and
Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and
Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in
U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with
required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will
reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold
a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section
2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERLESS
MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 18-25.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERED OR
ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec.
26-Jan. 10. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer
and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERED OR
ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24. One antlered deer per hunting license
year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each
required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERLESS
EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS: (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and
Philadelphia counties): Dec. 26-Jan.
24. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERLESS
(Military Bases): Hunting permitted on
days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot,
Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven
Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
license.
PROPOSED 2014-15
FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
COYOTES:
No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of
any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a
hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any
big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a
furtaker license.
RACCOONS and FOXES:
Oct. 25–Feb. 21, unlimited.
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNKS
and WEASELS: No closed season, except
Sundays. No limits.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E,
2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 20-Feb. 10. One bobcat per license year, but all
licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
PROPOSED 2014-15
TRAPPING SEASONS
MINKS and MUSKRATS:
Nov. 22–Jan. 11. Unlimited.
COYOTES, FOXES,
OPOSSUMS, RACCOONS, STRIPED SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 26–Feb. 22. No limit.
COYOTES and FOXES
(Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec.
26-Feb. 22. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certification
course.
BEAVERS (Statewide):
Dec. 26–March 31 (Limits vary depending
on WMU).
BOBCATS (WMUs 2A, 2C,
2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 20-Jan. 11.
One bobcat per license year, and all licensed furtakers
may obtain one permit.
FISHERS (WMUs 1B, 2C,
2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4D and 4E): Dec. 20-25. One fisher per license year, and all
licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
PROPOSED 2014-15
FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined),
BOBWHITE QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS,
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING
HARES, RINGNECK PHEASANTS (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31. Daily and Field Possession limits
vary. (Migratory game bird seasons and bag limits for falconers will be set in
accordance with federal regulations in August.)
No open season on
other wild birds or mammals.
Waterfowl and
Migratory Game Bird seasons to be established in accordance with federal
regulations this summer.
