Sportmens NL Fall 2009

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Harrisburg Ofﬁce:P.O. Box 202060Harrisburg, PA 17120-2060(717) 783-5327District Ofﬁces:409 Ford StreetFord City, PA 16226(724) 763-3222208 1/2 N. Railroad AvenueApollo, PA 15613(724) 478-1050289 Route 85 HwyHome, PA 15747(724) 397-2961E-mail: jpyle@pahousegop.com(800) 287-0614

JEFFPYLE.NET

J

EFF

P

YLE

Representative

60

th

District

Special Update for Sportsmen - Fall 2009

Game Commission Finalizes Crossbow Regulations

The Pennsylvania Game Commissionis now allowing crossbows to be used by all archers, not just the disabled, during any season in which bows are permitted.The new definition will include devicesheld in place by a brace secured aroundthe body of the hunter. Also, a disabledperson permit will no longer be requiredfor bows and crossbows. According to the commission, cross-bows may be used by hunters participat-ing in the 2009-10 archery deer andarchery bear seasons, as well as turkey seasons and the two-week firearms deerseasons.Under the regulations, a crossbow must have a minimum drawn weight of atleast 125 pounds, and a bolt must beequipped with a broadhead that has anoutside diameter or width of at least 7/8inches with at least two cutting edges onthe same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface, and shall not exceedthree inches in length.Hunters who possess a generalhunting license and an archery stamp– as well as other required licenses, suchas an antlerless deer license or permit,or a bear license – can now hunt witha crossbow and participate in the early and late archery deer seasons. They canalso participate in the two-day archery bear season, but do not need an archery stamp, just a general hunting license andbear license.Hunters participating in the lateflintlock muzzleloader season cannot usecrossbows in place of muzzleloaders.Hunters participating in the overlapping archery deer seasons may use a cross-bow.This change also means mentoredyouths can use a crossbow during theseseasons as long as all other requirementsof the Mentored Youth Hunting Programare followed.For further details, visit the Pennsyl- vania Game Commission’s Web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us and click on cross-bow FAQ. With the first day of rifle seasonfor white tailed deer in Pennsylvaniaapproaching, successful hunters areencouraged to share a portion of theircatch with those in need.Every year, Pennsylvania deer huntersdonate tens of thousands of pounds of venison, or deer meat, to local food banksand soup kitchens through the HuntersSharing the Harvest (HSH) program.Established in 1991, HSH issponsored by Pennsylvanians for theResponsible Use of Animals and operates with the cooperation of the PennsylvaniaGame Commission and state Departmentof Agriculture, along with several statesportsmen’s organizations.The HSH program calls upon huntersto donate anything from a few pounds of venison to a whole deer to help needy Pennsylvanians.On average, the meat from one

Hunters are Encouraged to “Share the Harvest”

deer can provide 200 meals for hungry Pennsylvanians. Venison is a good source of protein, low in fat and eagerly sought afterby food banks for its nutritional value. With more than 1 million deer currently living in Pennsylvania, it comes as nosurprise that hunters have managed todonate more than 80,000 pounds of venison a year to needy individuals andfamilies though food banks and soupkitchens.One of the group’s largest costs isthe result of processor reimbursements, which is why HSH continually acceptsmonetary contributions year-round for itsservices. Currently, hunters donating theirharvest voluntarily pay a $15 tax-deductiblefee toward each processed deer. Theremainder of the processing fee is coveredthrough HSH sponsors and generousdonations of individuals across the state. As a way to reduce the cost of processing venison for the hunter and the butcher shop,I am currently working on legislation that would offer a tax credit to meat processors who participate in HSH. I feel this willstrengthen our food banks and no one willgo without proper nutrition.Those interested in contributing venisonto the HSH program should call 1-866-474-2141. Information can also be foundby visiting my Web site at JeffPyle.net andclicking on “Sharing the Harvest.”

Legislative Update

Game Code Violations, Poaching Law Penalties Would Increase Under Bill

Fines and penalties for a number of Game and Wildlife Code violations would significantly increase under House Bill 1859, whichI have co-sponsored. The bill is now in the state Senate for consideration.The penalty for intentionally, knowingly, recklessly and seriously assaulting an enforcement officer would increase to a felony of the second degree under the bill, carrying a $10,000 to $25,000 fine and up to 60 months imprisonment.Fines for illegally killing game or wildlife, knowingly, intentionally or recklessly attempting, aiding, abetting, or conspiring in thekilling of wildlife, illegally selling game or animal parts, and trespassing while hunting are all also increased under the bill. Fines andprison time for violations increase, as does the duration of hunting licenses suspensions, denials and revocations.

New Law Aﬀects Sportsmen

Pennsylvania Automated Licensing Service Fee Now Law

A new law, Act 22, formally enacts the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing Service (PALS) fee system, which will add a small trans-action fee on hunting licenses purchased through this automated system. The fee covers the actual cost of operating and maintaining the system. Hundreds of thousands of hunting, trapping and fishing licenses and related permits are issued each year. This fee will gotoward automating the distribution and sale of licenses and permits at the point-of-sale. More than 30 states have automated systems or are in the process of automating. The goal is to make services more convenientfor license buyers and improve revenue collection and communications between issuing agents and each commission.This fee is paid directly to the vendor and is set by contract between the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), the PennsylvaniaFish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the vendor of the computerized system and the Governor’s Office of Administration.Under the current contract, the cost per transaction is 70 cents. The bill places a cap on this fee at $1 per transaction.

ADOPTED 2009-10 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS

COYOTES

: No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of any deer or bear season, coyotes may be taken with a hunting or furtaker license, andwithout wearing orange. During any archery deer season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or with a furtaker license.During the regular firearms deer and any bear seasons, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear, or with a furtaker licensewhile wearing 250 square inches of fluorescent orange. During the spring gobbler season, coyotes may be taken by those with a valid tagwho meet fluorescent orange and shot size requirements.

RACCOON and FOXES

: Oct. 24–Feb. 20, unlimited.

OPOSSUM, SKUNKS & WEASELS

: No closed season, except Sundays and prior to noon during the spring gobbler season. No limits.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E)

: Oct. 24-Feb. 20. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers inpossession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2009-10 TRAPPING SEASONS

MINK and MUSKRAT

: Nov. 21–Jan. 10. Unlimited.

COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS

: Oct. 25–Feb. 21. No limit.

COYOTE and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints

: Jan. 1-Feb. 21. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certiﬁcation course.

BEAVER (Statewide

): Dec. 26–March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E)

: Oct. 25-Feb. 21. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers inpossession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2009-10 FALCONRY SEASONS

SQUIRRELS (combined), QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS, SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE, RINGNECK PHEASANT(Male or Female combined)

: Sept. 1-March 31. Daily and Field Possession limits vary. (Migratory game bird seasons and bag limits for falconersare set in accordance with federal regulations.)

Thousands of crimes against wildlife are committed each yearthroughout the Commonwealth. In a recent case, a convicted felonintentionally wounded deer with a handgun and then released his PitBulls on the wounded animal for “training” to increase aggressionin the dogs for illegal dog fighting. In another case, a poacher wasconvicted of killing over 30 turkeys and 50 deer. The one thing these cases had in common was that officers were contacted by concerned citizens who reported information that started theseinvestigations. Many Pennsylvania citizens have a strong connection to wildlife;in fact, a recent study indicated that over 95 percent of peoplebelieved that the protection of wildlife was one of the most im-portant functions of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC).Other surveys indicate that many people have witnessed wildlifecrimes; however, only between 1 and 3 percent of these crimes were reported. The reasons for this low reporting rate vary butmany people are hesitant to get involved. Pennsylvania Conservation Officers are spread very thin withonly 136 district wildlife conservation officers to patrol over 44thousand square miles of Pennsylvania. More than 60 percent is

Report Game Code Violations to the Game Commission

forested, where the officers serve more than 12 million citizens.They need your help.Each year, sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts spend mil-lions of hours outdoors. With today’s technology, cell phones workin most locations, and reporting violations as they are observed iseasier than ever before.If you witness a game or wildlife code violation, the PGCencourages you to call the Turn-in-a-Poacher Hotline at 1-800-742-8001. Bringing wildlife criminals to justice serves as aneffective deterrent, and everyone can help conservation officers inprotecting Pennsylvania’s 465 species of wildlife.The PGC has also placed a report form on its Web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us. Individuals may report violations in any for-mat and remain anonymous if they choose; however, conservationofficers may be able to gain valuable information by speaking withyou directly, and can still protect your identity from the offender.

www.JeffPyle.net

ADOPTED 2009-10 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRRELS

: Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 17-Nov. 28; Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 6 (6 daily, 12 possession).

RUFFED GROUSE

: Oct. 17–Nov. 28, Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23 (2 daily, 4 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail)

: Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 6 (4 daily, 8 possession).

PHEASANT

: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 24-Nov. 28. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 24-Nov. 28,Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 6 (2 daily, 4 in possession). There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.

BOBWHITE QUAIL

: Oct. 24-Nov. 28 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D).

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES

: Dec. 26–Jan. 1 (1 daily, 2 possession).

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS)

: No closed season, except: Sundays; during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons; and until noon daily during thespring gobbler turkey season.

CROWS

: July 3-April 4, 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 springgobbler turkey season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female)

: Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 31-Nov. 14; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bowand arrow) – Oct. 31- Nov. 21; WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 4A and 4B – Oct. 31-Nov. 14; WMUs 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4Dand 4E – Oct. 31-Nov. 21; WMUs 5A and 5B – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgunand bow and arrow) – Oct. 31-Nov. 4 (1 bird limit, either sex).

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only)

: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 24, 2010. Only 1 springgobbler may be taken during this hunt.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only)

: May 1-31, 2010. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may only be taken by persons who possess avalid special wild turkey license.)

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D) Bow and Arrow only

: Nov. 18-19. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide)

: Nov. 23-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Portions of WMUs 3B, 4E and 2G)

: Nov. 30-Dec. 5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. In the following portions:- The portion of WMU 3B, East of Rt. 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Rt. 154 from Canton to Rt. 220 at Laporte, and East of Rt. 42 from Laporteto Rt. 118; and that portion of WMU 4E, East of Rt. 42; and- The portions of WMUs 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and WMU 3B in Lycoming County that liesNorth of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Route 15 to Rt. 220, North of Rt.220 to tto Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001, East of SR 1001 to Croak Hallow Road, South of Croak Hallow Road to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), Southof Rt. 66Sulphur Run Road to Rt. 44, East of Rt. 44 to Rt. 973, South of Rt. 973 to Rt. 87, West of Rt. 87 to Rt. 864, South of Rt. 864 to Rt. 220and West of Rt. 220 to Rt. 405 and West of Rt. 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 4C, 4D, 4E, 5B and 5C)

: Dec. 2-5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless)

: Nov. 2-7. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. The Board gave approval to an allocation of 59 elk licenses for the announced later.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D

: Nov. 16-28 and Dec. 14-23. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide, including WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D

: Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year.One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D

: Nov. 30-Dec. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B

: Nov. 30-Dec. 4. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period in WMUs 2B, 2G, 3C and 4B.)

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B

: Dec. 5-12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each requiredantlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide)

: Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and anadditional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D)

: Dec. 26-Jan. 23. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer andan additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D)

: Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23. 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, FranklinCounty; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with eachrequired antlerless license.

No open season on other wild birds or mammals.Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons will be established in accordance with Federal Regulations.

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