GAME COMMISSIONERS APPROVE 2003-2004 SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004, including new wildlife management units and continued, but modified, antler restrictions for deer hunting. Following are several articles on meeting highlights.
NEW WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNITS GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to new wildlife management units to improve " and in some cases, simplify " the future of hunting and trapping.
Drs. Matthew Lovallo and Christopher Rosenberry drafted the new wildlife management units, which will be used beginning with the 2003-2004 seasons to manage nearly all wildlife species.
"Wildlife populations are not equally distributed or abundant across the Commonwealth," said Calvin W. DuBrock, director of the agency"s Bureau of Wildlife Management. "Given the problems associated with current species-specific management units and county boundaries, the Bureau conducted a thorough review of all management unit systems. The final product, which was built from the ground up, contains 22 management units.
"This design simplifies the unit system for hunters and trappers, as well as wildlife resource managers, by creating a single, uniform management system with easily recognizable boundaries for nearly all species."
Characteristics used to design the new wildlife management units included: land use/habitat; human density; public/private land ownership; recognizable physical features, such as major roads and rivers; and land use practices, such as agriculture, timber and development.
The Game Commission currently uses different units to manage bear, beaver, bobcat, deer, elk, pheasant, quail, turkey, waterfowl and other migratory game birds.
The only species that will not be managed using the new wildlife management unit system are: elk, which are primarily confined to an 835-square-mile area in northcentral Pennsylvania; and waterfowl and migratory game birds, which are managed using zones and frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The change to new WMUs also will impact certain firearms restrictions for turkey hunting; fall turkey fluorescent orange requirements; the types and numbers of traps that may be used for beaver trapping; and the antlerless deer license application process.
"While these new Wildlife Management Units will change the way the agency manages wildlife, they will not change the Special Regulations Areas firearm restrictions," DuBrock noted. "Use of rifles will continue to be prohibited in Allegheny, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties, and bow and arrow and crossbows are the only legal sporting arms that may be used in Philadelphia."
For a copy of the approved WMU map, visit the Game Commission"s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on the "Wildlife" section and select "Adopted Wildlife Management Units."
ANTLER RESTRICTIONS MODIFIED FOR UPCOMING DEER SEASONS
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to the 2003-2004 deer seasons that includes modifications to antler restrictions and the use of crossbows in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D during certain firearms deer seasons.
In January, the Board gave preliminary approval to retain the old antler restrictions (one point greater than three inches in length or one antler with at least two points) in place for WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. However, growing public support for antler restrictions has indicated a desire to see antler restrictions applied statewide, except for junior license holders, certain disabled hunters and active duty military personnel. For the 2003-2004 deer seasons, antler restrictions will follow the new alignment:
-- In WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D, hunters will be required to abide by the four points on one side antler restriction;
-- In all other WMUs, hunters will be required to abide by a three points on one side antler restriction; and
-- Statewide, all junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle and active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel will be able to abide by the old antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.
The Board clarified what qualified as a "point" in terms of what counts toward meeting the minimum antler restriction in a given area. The Board revised the definition of a "point" to "any antler projection at least one inch in length from base to tip. The main beam tip shall be counted as a point regardless of length."
The Board also approved the use of crossbows in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D during the two-week concurrent rifle deer season (Dec.1-13) and the late firearms deer seasons (Dec. 26-Jan. 10). Crossbows already are legal statewide during the two-week concurrent rifle deer season.
The deer seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004 follow the same format as last year. Following is an overview of the approved seasons.
A concurrent antlered/antlerless rifle deer season from Dec. 1-13. In order to harvest a doe during the concurrent seasons, all hunters must possess a valid, WMU-specific antlerless deer license for the unit in which they are hunting.
A firearms antlerless deer season from Oct. 23-25, for junior and senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) holders, or Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, who possess the appropriate WMU-specific antlerless deer license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach age 65 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.
A muzzleloader season for antlerless deer from Oct.18-25. The flintlock muzzleloader season, which is set for Dec. 26-Jan. 10, continues to be an antlered or antlerless season for hunters with primitive flintlock ignition firearms, provided the hunter possesses the appropriate license(s).
Archery seasons will be Oct. 4-Nov. 15, and Dec. 26-Jan. 10.
Late season antlerless deer hunting in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D will be Dec. 26-Jan.10.
In other deer hunting-related action, the Board gave final approval to a measure to extend the deadline for hunters to purchase a muzzleloader stamp from Aug. 31 to the second Saturday in November. For the 2003-2004 season, the deadline for purchasing a muzzleloader stamp will be Nov. 8.
The Board also approved the 2003-2004 antlerless deer license allocation of 973,000, which is a decrease from last year"s allocation of 1,029,350. Last year, hunters purchased 1,010,693 antlerless deer licenses, which resulted in a harvest of 352,113 antlerless deer.
"If the license success rate for each Wildlife Management Unit is within five percent, plus or minus, of the past year, we should see an antlerless deer harvest of between 320,000 and 355,000," said Dr. Gary Alt, Deer Management Section supervisor. "Overall, the anticipated effect of the deer harvest will be a two percent decrease statewide in the deer herd, which is consistent with our objective of improving the health of the deer herd by bringing it into balance with the available habitat."
A new antlerless deer license application and distribution system was given final approval by the Board in January.
DMAP TO FOCUS DEER HUNTER PRESSURE ON AREAS MOST IN NEED
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a simplified version of the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) that is designed to address specific deer management objectives within the new wildlife management units.
"While many people thought new deer management units would be smaller than the current county-based units, the development of the new wildlife management units demonstrated that smaller units would not be practical," said Dr. Gary Alt, Game Commission Deer Management Section supervisor. "DMAP will enable public and private landowners to address deer management goals on a more localized basis.
"DMAP also is designed to help build a better relationship between hunters and landowners so that we can get the right number of antlerless deer harvested in the right areas. By doing so, we hope to improve the deer herd and lessen deer impacts on habitat."
Eligible lands for the 2003-2004 license year are publicly-owned lands, and privately-owned lands enrolled in one of the Game Commission"s public access programs (Farm Game, Forest Game or Safety Zone). Completed applications must be submitted to the appropriate regional office by July 1.
Prior to final adoption, the Board made several significant changes to simplify and streamline the original version given preliminary approval in January. Under the amended version, the previously approved five programs have been reduced to one program, and landowners will be issued coupons for antlerless deer harvest permits rather than antlerless deer licenses. The change from license to permit will enable the Game Commission to handle the program in-house, rather than involve county treasurers.
Coupons for DMAP harvest permits may be issued to landowners at a rate of one coupon for every five acres in agricultural operations or one coupon for every 50 acres for all other landowners. Management plans will be required only when an applicant for DMAP requests more than the standard rate for issuance of DMAP harvest permits.
Landowners must designate their boundaries in a manner approved by the Game Commission. Landowners will receive one coupon for each DMAP permit allocated for their property. Landowners may not give more than one DMAP coupon to a licensed hunter, who will then apply to the Game Commission for the DMAP harvest permit. Hunters may possess only one DMAP permit for a specific DMAP area in any given license year.
DMAP permit allocations will be made separate from the general antlerless deer license allocations, and will be $6 for residents and nonresidents.
BOARD CONTINUES ELK AND BOBCAT SEASONS
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to hold Pennsylvania"s third elk season Nov. 10-15, which is a week earlier than the previous two seasons. Both antlered and antlerless elk will be legal game. The Board also set the elk license allocation at 100, comprised of 20 for antlered elk and 80 for antlerless elk, and successful applicants will be determined through a public drawing scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27.
The elk license allocation for the 2003 elk hunt is designed to accomplish the following: stabilize the range-wide elk population; permit elk hunting in all elk management units; target elk-human conflict areas with hunting pressure; and decrease the hunting pressure on branch-antlered elk.
One change for the coming elk season is the merging of two elk wildlife management units, thereby reducing the total number of units from 12 to 11. Unit 11, which was comprised primarily of privately-owned land, will be combined with Unit 1, which is made up of large tracts of publicly-owned lands, and thereby offer licensed elk hunters assigned to this new unit better access to huntable lands.
In addition, the Board gave preliminary approval to eliminate the cap on the number of nonresident elk licenses that may be awarded; to establish a preference system for those who apply for elk licenses in 2003 and proceeding years; and to make it unlawful to drive or herd elk. All three proposed regulations must be approved in June in order to take effect for the 2003-2004 seasons.
Cal DuBrock, director of the agency"s Bureau of Wildlife Management, noted that in the first two elk hunts, based on nonresident license sales, nonresidents were limited to receiving up to 2 and 5 elk licenses, respectively. However, in the 2001 elk hunt, only one nonresident application was drawn and in the 2002 elk hunt only four nonresidents applications were drawn.
Establishment of a preference system for the elk license drawing is consistent with the Game Commission"s effort to put a preference system in place for bobcat permit drawings, and is something that previous applicants supported.
"We have been experiencing problems with elk hunters and guides driving elk from one management zone to another or out of safety zones," said Mike Dubaich, director of the agency"s Bureau of Law Enforcement. "By making it illegal to drive or herd elk, we will address this problem."
As in the past, interested hunters will be able to make application for one of the elk licenses through the mail or by going to the agency"s webpage (www.pgc.state.pa.us) beginning in late April. All applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable $10 application fee.
For the third year in a row, the Game Commission has pledged to earmark the first 10,000 application fees, for a total of $100,000, for habitat improvement in the elk range. The Game Commission"s three-year pledge is part of a $1.2 million commitment that includes funding from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Dominion Resources, Sinnemahoning Sportsmens Club, and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Safari Club International. So far, this joint effort has resulted in 225 acres of improved habitat within the elk range.
(For more information on this pledge and the results of the 2001 elk season, see Game Commission News Release #102-01 in the "Newsroom" on the agency"s website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.)
The Board also gave final approval to the state"s fourth consecutive bobcat hunting and trapping season for 2003-2004. Sportsmen and sportswomen with a bobcat hunting and trapping permit may harvest one bobcat in Wildlife Management Units 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. The bobcat hunting season will take place starting Oct. 18, and ending Feb. 21, 2004. The trapping portion of the season will be Oct. 19, through Feb. 21, 2004.
Successful permit holders will be determined through a public drawing with the number of permits to be determined at a later date. Applications will be accepted through the mail and over the Game Commission"s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).
The Board also gave final approval to creating a preference system for individuals who apply for a bobcat permit beginning with 2003-2004. As in the past, an applicant issued a bobcat permit may not apply for another bobcat permit in the next license year.
YOUTH SPRING GOBBLER SEASON SET FOR 2004
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a special youth spring gobbler hunt for April 24, 2004, as part of the agency"s ongoing effort to increase hunter retention and recruitment.
"Part of the Game Commission overall vision is to promote our state"s rich hunting and trapping heritage," said Lori Richardson, agency outreach coordinator and chair of the Game Commission"s Youth Turkey Hunt Committee. "The future of hunting and trapping is directly related to the continuing participation of young Pennsylvanians in our hunting and furtaking seasons.
"The challenge is to successfully compete with all the other activities and recreational opportunities that vie for a teenager"s time. It"s truly a challenge for the Game Commission, as well as Pennsylvania"s more than a million hunters."
Under this new youth hunting opportunity, participants will be required to purchase a junior hunting license. The Committee recommended this requirement to ensure that all participants had passed a Hunter-Trapper Education course and to provide a method of tagging and reporting turkey harvest information via the report cards provided with each license.
As part of its discussions about a youth turkey hunt, the Committee looked at other states" experiences to determine what has worked.
Richardson also noted that by setting the youth spring gobbler hunt for April 24, which is a week earlier than the start of the statewide spring gobbler season, young hunters will be afield at a time when the turkey population is at its highest level, before the birds are hunted by others and at the peak of gobbling activity.
Other recent Game Commission initiatives to promote youth hunting opportunities include: a youth pheasant hunt that began in 2002; youth squirrel and waterfowl hunts initiated in 1996; special antlerless deer harvesting opportunities initiated in 1998, and expanded in 2000; and youth field days implemented in the early 1990s. Also, as part of the license fee increase approved in 1998, the General Assembly created a junior combination license that packages regular license privileges with archery, flintlock and furtaking opportunities for $9, compared to the regular junior license price of $6.
SMALL GAME OPPORTUNITIES EXPANDED
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to expanded small game hunting opportunities for 2003-2004.
Under the adopted framework, small game seasons for rabbits, pheasants and bobwhite quail will begin Saturday, Oct. 25, which is one week earlier than the 2002-2003 season opener for these species. Squirrel and ruffed grouse seasons will open on Saturday, Oct. 18.
ADOPTED 2003-2004 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license " Oct. 11-13 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Fall Season " Oct. 18-Nov. 29; Late Seasons " Dec. 15"23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, 2004 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 18"Nov. 29, Dec. 15"23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004 (2 daily, 4 possession). There is no open season for taking ruffed grouse in that portion of State Game Lands No. 176 in Centre County which is posted "RESEARCH AREA " NO GROUSE HUNTING."
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license " Male only in WMUs 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D and Male and female in WMUs 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D " Oct. 11-13 (2 daily, 4 in possession).
PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D " Oct. 25-Nov. 29. Male and female in WMUs 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D " Oct. 25- Nov. 29, Dec. 15"23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, 2004 (2 daily, 4 in possession).
BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 25-Nov. 29 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)
WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season except during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season.
CROWS: July 4-Nov. 30, and Dec. 26-April 4, 2004, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.
STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season except during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season. No limit.
WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): Wildlife Management Units 1A, 2A and 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow)- Nov. 1-22; WMU 1B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) " Nov. 1-15; WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E " Nov. 1-22; WMUs 5A and 5B " CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and bow and arrow) " Nov. 1-8. (1 bird limit)
SPRING GOBBLER: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and when properly accompanied " April 24, 2004. (1 bird limit)
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 1-29, 2004. (1 bird limit)
BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 24-26. One bear per hunting license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMU 3D): Dec. 1-6. One bear per hunting license year.
ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 10-15. Daily and season limit: one.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct.4-Nov. 15 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Dec. 1-13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
ANTLERLESS DEER (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
the 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, 2004. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional 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.
DEER, Antlerless (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2004. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
ADOPTED 2003-2004 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
RACCOON & FOXES: Oct. 18"Feb. 21, 2004. No limit.
COYOTE, OPOSSUM, SKUNKS & WEASELS: No closed season, with certain exceptions during deer and spring turkey seasons. No limit.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Oct. 18-Feb. 21, 2004. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)
BOBCAT (WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Oct. 19-Feb. 21, 2004. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)
ADOPTED 2003-2004 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined), QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS, SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE, RINGNECK PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2004. Daily and Field Possession limits vary.
No open season on other wild birds or mammals. Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons will be established in accordance with Federal Regulations this summer.
Well, what can I say. I am as open minded as most and, for the most part, like the seasons and bag limits for 2003-2004. My only complaint would be the lack of an earlier start to the archery season by at least one week to compensate for the one week earlier start to the small game season.
I' d like to see a longer archery season in general, but I don' t think it' ll ever happen. I think the PGC should give additional tags for each additional license....1 general, 1 archery, 1 muzzleloader. Maybe once we get the herd in balance we can do that and spread out the seasons and the " orange army" would become divisions in different seasons![8D]
PGC Approves WMU' s & other things...
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