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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Pennsylvania Hunting Licenses On Sale Now

Sales for 2015-16 hunting and furtaker licenses going on now.


          Hunting and furtaker licenses for Pennsylvania’s 2015-16 seasons are on sale now.

          
New licenses are effective July 1, and are valid through June 30, 2016. All license fees remain unchanged.

          
Licenses can be purchased online through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) website,
https://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com

          
Licenses also can be purchased over the counter at all Game Commission region offices and the Harrisburg headquarters, as well as through more than 600 in-state and out-of-state issuing agents. 

          
A list of issuing agents is available at the Game Commission’s website, 
www.pgc.state.pa.us.

          
The beginning of license sales for the upcoming seasons also serves as a reminder for Pennsylvania hunters who hold senior lifetime hunting or furtaker licenses, or combinations of those licenses. While those hunters need not pay a license or transaction fee, they must pick up new licenses and harvest tags.

          
Additionally, those who hold range permits that allow them to use shooting ranges at state game lands are reminded that now-valid permits expire on June 30, and that new permits will need to be purchased for range use on and after July 1. 

          
The permits, which are required for range users not possessing a valid hunting or furtaker license, are $30 and must be purchased by credit card through The Outdoor Shop on the Game Commission’s website, or at any of the Game Commission’s region offices or the Harrisburg headquarters.

          
Licenses purchased through PALS are subject to a 70-cent transaction fee for each license or permit, and that fee is paid directly to the Nashville-based company that runs PALS.

          
Through PALS, hunters can purchase not only their general hunting and furtaker licenses, but add-on licenses needed for archery or muzzleloader hunting, specialty licenses to hunt bears or set out after a second spring gobbler, permits to trap fishers and otters, and more.

          
In short, what can be purchased from an issuing agent, can be purchased online.
          
Hunters also can use PALS to apply for the elk-license drawing or purchase Deer Management Assistance Program permits. 

          
Elk licenses are awarded by lottery and the deadline to submit an application is July 31. It costs $10.70 to apply and application fees are nonrefundable. 

          
Antlerless deer permits issued through the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) also are available to purchase online for $10.70, and DMA 2 Antlerless Deer Permits are available for $6.70.

          
County treasurers statewide on July 13 will begin accepting applications for antlerless licenses. Pennsylvania residents can apply beginning July 13. Nonresidents can apply starting July 27. Beginning Aug. 3, treasurers will begin selling the remaining unsold licenses for any wildlife-management unit for which licenses remain available. A second round of unsold license sales will begin Aug. 17.

          
Except in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2B, 5C and 5D, hunters may only apply for one license during each application period. In those WMUs, hunters may apply for an unlimited number of licenses. Only one license for WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D can be purchased during the initial round of sales, then beginning Aug. 3, up to three applications may be sent per envelope and licenses will continue to be sold until the allocation is expended.

          
Over-the-counter antlerless license sales in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D begin Aug. 24.

          
A bear license is required to hunt bears, and bear-hunting opportunities in some areas of the state begin as early as Sept. 19.

          
The deadline to purchase a bobcat or fisher permit is Dec. 19, and otter permits must be purchased before Feb. 21. And those wishing to purchase a second spring gobbler license must do so by April 29, 2016. 

          
Hunters purchasing their licenses early also might not be able to immediately get a copy of the 2015-16 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest regulations booklet. Some issuing agents won’t receive the booklets until late June. A complete version of the publication is posted on the agency’s website.  And hunters who don’t receive a printed copy of the booklet initially may return to the issuing agent and pick one up after the booklets are delivered.

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