r u aloud to shoot rattlesnakes in PA

PA GOBBLER · 05-23-2005, 03:55 PM

the reason i ask is, below is a post i added on the turkey section and i was just making sure i was right about it.. i never looked it up am just going on what everyone tells me that u cant shoot rattlesnakes in PA.. am i right??

my season hasent been the easiest one this year. so today i was going to try something different.. i was going to hunt a field w/ a decoy.. so first thing in the morning i hear one gobble once not too far in the woods so i set up and call, he gobbles right back.. i didnt want to call too much these birds are hunted really hard.. so i give a few clucks, he hits me again.. then again and he is coming.. then out of no where this hen got between us and she starts going off cutting/yelping loud.. he is going nuts, i start cutting and he is gobbleing at every sound her or i make.. then he steps out sees her and she stole him.. left me hanging.. so i thought well he knows im there he will be back.. so i wait.. and wait.. then at 10:30 i hear BANG.. oh no someone shot him... never heard him call or heard a gobble, oh well its public land. so i packed up and headed out, then i run into two guys w/ a deer cart that they were bringing out that they left up there since deer season.. and i couldnt believe what the had on it.. the guy didnt shoot a bird, he shot a rattlesnake.. your not aloud to shoot them they are protected.. he said he didnt know that... that makes me mad.. i dont love snakes but i dont go killing them.. but some people just dont care.. well that was my day.. i got one more day to go out..

jcchartboy · 05-23-2005, 04:24 PM

PA LAW STATES....
"Persons who hunt, capture, kill, or possess timber rattlesnakes must have an Individual Timber Rattlesnake Hunter and Rattlesnake Possession Permit."

YES, unless he had a license, his actions were illegal.

Timber rattlesnakes are protected under specific regulations by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. For more information, consult the most recent "Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws" (supplied with fishing licenses) or direct questions to: Nongame and Endangered Species Unit, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 450 Robinson Lane, Bellefonte, PA 16823 www.fish.state.pa.us

rile1564 · 05-23-2005, 04:44 PM

jcchartboy is right..I don't go out to hunt them or look for them. I've let plenty of them go before. If they don't bother me I don't bother them. But if they have me cornered or in a way where it's him or me I shoot first and think about legality later.

Terasec · 05-23-2005, 05:46 PM

should have taken his plates and called PA wildlife agency,
not sure who it is in PA, in NY, its the DEC.
they do investigate such matters and have more authority than the police,
in NY, DEC regularly search cars/and homes for Illegal game.
never be afraid to call the authorities on poachers.

PA GOBBLER · 05-23-2005, 08:29 PM

jcchartboy-thank you for clearing that up for me...

terasec- well in PA it would be the PGC, and i do agree w/ you but in this case i didnt really think about it till i got home and thought about it.. i am 99% sure they are from this camp that hunts this area but its pretty late now and im not 100% sure.. so im letting it go.. but if im right we do have problems from the hunters from this camp.. they are from outta town(not that there is anything wrong w/ that) and they have been causing problems the past few years, examples-littering,not respectful to other hunters.. im sure there are some nice people in the group but a few bad apples always ruin it for the rest...

Terasec · 05-24-2005, 08:47 AM

actually its never too late,
here the DEC will recover illegal game even from taxidermist,
they would probably keep something from the snake such as the rattle,
and also if they illegally take the rattler, they probably have some other illegal game around,
rather tell the agency and let them decide whether they want to pursue it.
I am a hunter, and have Zero-tolerance for poachers and Illegal hunters.

tky1187 · 05-24-2005, 04:41 PM

I hate to tell ya fellas but there are as many guys out there who woulda shot that snake as who wouldn't have. I'm afraid he woulda bit the dust if he was rattlin at my boots.

PA GOBBLER · 05-24-2005, 04:44 PM

if i felt like i had to kill it or get bit, i would.. but if not i wouldnt bother it.. i dont kill something just to kill it...

Quote:

ORIGINAL: tky1187

I hate to tell ya fellas but there are as many guys out there who woulda shot that snake as who wouldn't have. I'm afraid he woulda bit the dust if he was rattlin at my boots.