2016 Bull Creek 3-D Archery Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2016 season. 

April 10th

May 15th

June 19th

July 17th

August 21st

September 18th

TRADITIONAL

COMPOUND

CROSSBOW

30+ Targets

Food and Beverages Available

             

Registration 9:00-2:00

Adults $10.00    Youth Under 16 $5.00

Bull Creek members who would like to help and earn work parties:

Saturday late afternoon/evening we setup the shooting stakes and organize animals. Sunday morning we usually get there around 7-730 to setup.

We start to takedown around 3.

Kitchen will be open

As always, we encourage all ages and skill levels to come out and participate. And yes, cross bows and traditionals are welcome. 

Cabela’s Helps Game Commission Combat Wildlife Crimes

Outfitter provides gift cards to reward tipsters in poaching cases.

Chad Eyler, the Game Commission’s special permits division chief and an Operation Game Thief administrator, left, stands beside Ron Leh, retail marketing manager for Cabela’s Hamburg store, and Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection Director Thomas P. Grohol as Leh is presented an award for the outfitter’s support of the Operation Game Thief program. Get Image

          In poaching cases, Pennsylvania law provides judges with the authority to levy an additional $500 penalty if the case originated from a tip.
          When it’s assessed, the penalty allows the Game Commission to pay a reward to the informant.
          But when it’s not, there’s no mechanism for the agency to make that payment and show its appreciation to those who report wildlife crimes
          Until now, that is.
          Cabela’s, the nationwide retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, has stepped up to provide $50 gift cards the Game Commission will use as rewards for tip-driven convictions when the additional penalty is not assessed.
          Ron Leh, retail marketing manager for Cabela’s Hamburg store, appeared this week at the Board of Game Commissioners quarterly meeting to present what he said were the first of 10 reward gift cards.
          In a show of appreciation, the Game Commission presented Leh with a placard recognizing the outfitter’s support for Operation Game Thief, the Game Commission’s program for reporting poaching of deer, bears, turkeys or elk, and endangered, threatened and protected species.

Get Image

          Since the hotline’s launch, Cabela’s also has supported Operation Game Thief by hanging posters throughout the Hamburg store.
          “The partnership we have formed benefits not only Cabela’s and the Game Commission, but more importantly, the wildlife of Pennsylvania,” Leh said. “We’re proud to support Operation Game Thief, and couldn’t be more pleased with the results the program is getting.”
          The 24-hour Operation Game Thief hotline was launched in late September, and tips have been coming in at record numbers since. Operation Game Thief has resulted in charges in poaching cases, including one in which several trophy-class bucks were taken unlawfully, and also has led to the recovery of an unlawfully harvested bobcat and a black bear that was shot with a crossbow bolt and left for dead.
          To make a report through Operation Game Thief, dial 1-888-PGC-8001, or go to the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us to fill out a reporting form online. Those providing information may remain anonymous.

From left, Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough, Southeast Region Director Bruce Metz, Game Lands Maintenance Worker Tim Esterly, and Game Commissioner David J. Putnam gather for a photo as Esterly is presented a Life Saving Award for taking action that prevented a would-be suicide in June. Get Image

Game Commission worker honored for life-saving action
          At this week’s meeting, Game Commission staff, Southeast Region Director Bruce Metz and the Board of Game Commissioners also presented an award recognizing life-saving action a Game Commission employee took in June.
          Tim Esterly, a game lands maintenance worker based in Berks County, was presented the agency’s Life Saving Award for intervening and stopping a woman’s suicide attempt in June. Responding to a report of a vehicle parked with its lights on in a lot on State Game Lands 280 in Berks County, Esterly pulled alongside the idling vehicle, which had a hose running from the exhaust pipe to a window. The woman was losing consciousness, but revived after Esterly opened the door and shut off the vehicle. He kept her alert and talking until paramedics arrived.
          Since the event, the woman has been doing well, and she and her family have thanked Esterly for taking action, Metz said.
          “It truly was a life-saving event and we’re honored and glad Tim was there to take action,” Metz said.

Preliminary 2016-17 PA Hunting/Trapping Seasons Approved

Final approval of seasons, antlerless license allocations, to occur in April.

         The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for the 2016-17 license year.
          Modifications proposed for the 2016-17 seasons include: opening the squirrel and rabbit seasons on the same day; making the length of the snowshoe-hare season consistent statewide; decreasing the length of the fall-turkey season in Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2A and 4C; adding an extended, four-day season for black bears in WMU 1B; eliminating the extended season for black bears in WMU 3A; and doubling to 12 days the length of the fisher trapping season in the 13 WMUs with fisher seasons.
          The public may offer comments on all proposed 2016-17 seasons and bag limits, as well as other board actions, between now and the board’s next meeting, April 4 and 5, at which time the board is scheduled to finalize seasons and bag limits for 2016-17.
          Also, the board will receive at its April meeting staff recommendations for antlerless deer license allocations for each of the 23 WMUs. Deer harvest estimates for the 2015-16 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 2016-17, proposing to retain a split, five-day antlered deer season (Nov. 28-Dec. 2) and seven-day concurrent season (Dec. 5-10) in 18 Wildlife Management Units. The list includes WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3D 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E. The package also retains the two-week (Nov. 28-Dec. 10) concurrent, antlered and antlerless deer season in WMUs 2B, 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 Nov. 30- Dec. 10 in 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3D 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 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 mentored youth hunters, junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active-duty military on leave.
          Once again this year, the commissioners gave tentative approval to concurrent hunting of antlered and antlerless deer in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D during all seasons, with the first segment of the archery season to run from Sept. 17 to Nov. 26 in those WMUs.

FALL TURKEY SEASON CHANGES MOVE FORWARD

          The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to fall turkey seasons for 2016 and spring gobbler dates for 2017.
          The slate of turkey seasons tentatively approved represents a reduction in the length of the fall seasons in four Wildlife Management Units – WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A and 4C.
          Those four WMUs all have shown indications of declining turkey population trends. The recommendation to reduce season lengths in those WMUs is in accordance with guidelines in the Game Commission’s Wild Turkey Management Plan.
          If the preliminary vote is given final approval, the fall season in WMUs 1A and 2A would be reduced to one week (Oct. 29-Nov. 5), plus a three-day Thanksgiving season (Nov. 24-26). In WMU 1B, the season would be remain one week (Oct. 29-Nov.5), but the Thanksgiving season would be eliminated. And in WMU 4C, the season would be reduced to two weeks (Oct. 29-Nov. 12), plus the three-day Thanksgiving season (Nov.24-26).
          The tentative fall season dates for 2016, as approved by the board today, are: WMU 1B, Oct. 29-Nov.5; WMU 2B (shotgun and bow only), Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 1A and 2A, Oct. 29-Nov. 5 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D; Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2C and 4E, Oct. 29-Nov. 18, and Nov. 24-26; and WMU 5A, Nov. 3-5. WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D will remain closed for the fall seasons.
          For the 2017 spring gobbler season, which is proposed to run from April 29-May 31, the board continued with legal hunting hours to reflect the following: from April 29-May 13, legal shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until noon timeframe; and from May 15-31, 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 22, 2017, 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 half-day hunt, as well as the other spring season dates.
OTHER MODIFCATIONS EXPLAINED

          Regarding the black bear seasons to be held in the 2016-17 license year, the only change proposed – the addition of a four-day extended season in WMU 1B – was given preliminary approval by the board.
          If given final approval, this season would run concurrent Wednesday through Saturday of the first week of firearms deer season in WMU 1B (Nov. 30-Dec.3). This season was recommended to prevent further expansion of bears into the western portion of WMU 1B, where the potential for bear-human conflicts is high.
          The board also proposed eliminating the extended season for black bears in WMU 3A. An extended bear season overlapping with part of the firearms deer season has been held in WMU 3A previously, and a proposal to continue the extended season initially was included on the meeting agenda. However, commissioners removed the proposal in preliminarily adopting the full slate of seasons and bag limits.
          They said the primary reason for removal was concern over the loss of firearms deer-hunting pressure in neighboring WMU 2F due to deer hunters opting to hunt instead in WMU 3A because of the additional bear-hunting opportunity.
          Additionally, the board preliminarily approved an earlier start to the regular season for cottontails earlier, allowing the statewide season to align with that for squirrels (Oct. 15-Nov.26, Dec. 12-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28). The shift also would align the youth seasons for cottontails and squirrels (Oct. 1-15). Commissioners said the changes intend to simplify regulations as well as expand rabbit-hunting opportunity.
          Likewise, the preliminarily adopted change to make the length of the snowshoe-hare season consistent statewide simplifies regulations, facilitates species monitoring programs, and reflects the fact that harvest mortality is not a major driver of population trends for this species, the commissioners said.
PROPOSED 2016-17 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. 1-15 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after first day). 
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 15-Nov. 26; Dec. 12-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28 (6 daily, 18 possession). 
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 15–Nov. 26, Dec. 12-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 21 (2 daily, 6 possession). 
RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 1-15 (4 daily, 12 possession). 
RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 15-Nov. 26, Dec. 12-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28 (4 daily, 12 possession). 
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 8-15 (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. 22-Nov. 26, Dec. 12-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28 (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. 22-Nov. 26 (4 daily, 12 possession). (Closed in 5A, open in all other WMUs.) 
HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Dec. 31, in all WMUs (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. (3 daily, season limit of 10).
CROWS: July 1-April 9, 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 – Oct. 29-Nov.  5; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 1A and 2A – Oct. 29-Nov.5 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D– Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2C and 4E– Oct. 29-Nov. 18  and Nov. 24-26; WMU 5A – Nov. 3-5;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 22, 2017. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. 
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 29-May 13, 2017. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From April 29-May 13, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 15-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. 
BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 14-18. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 19-23. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D): Nov. 28-Dec. 3. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 28-Dec. 10. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 1B, 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 17-Nov. 18. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMU 5B) archery: Oct. 1-Nov. 18. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 15-22. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) special firearms: Oct. 20-22, 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): Oct. 31-Nov.5. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. 
ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 7-12. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 5, in designated areas. 
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 17- Nov. 26 and Dec. 26-Jan. 28, 2017. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 26-Jan. 14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 
DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Nov. 28-Dec. 10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 
DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Nov. 28-Dec. 2. 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 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Dec. 3-10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 
DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 20-22. Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Youth Permit 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. 15-22. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 
DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 14. 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. 28. 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. 28. 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 2016-17 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. 22–Feb. 18, 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. 14-Feb. 8. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

PROPOSED 2016-17 TRAPPING SEASONS 
MINKS and MUSKRATS: Nov. 19–Jan. 8. Unlimited. 
COYOTES, FOXES, OPOSSUMS, RACCOONS, STRIPED SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 23–Feb. 19. No limit. 
COYOTES and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 19. 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. 17-Jan. 8.  One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each. 
FISHERS (WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4D and 4E): Dec. 17-28. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each. 
RIVER OTTERS (WMUs 3C and 3D): Feb. 20-22, 2017. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.