Excuse me if this is old news to most of you, but I purchased my PA hunting license yesterday and noticed several interesting changes.

First, the archery season for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia WMU's has been substantially extended: it starts Sept 15 and pretty much continues straight through the middle of January or later.

Second, if you have a Concealed Carry Permit (which I do), you may now carry a handgun while archery hunting. Of course, I did so anyway (as far as I am concerned the PA Game Commission cannot overrule the US Constitution), but it is nice to be legal now. I often hunt alone, so I want more than my bow if I meet a group of beer swilling hooligans or aggressive dogs.

There are several other interesting changes: both muzzleloader and bow at the same time, crossbow during both muzzleloader seasons if you have a muzzleloader stamp, etc.