Antler restrictions may not be so restrictive in 2011-12
Hunters in northwestern Pennsylvania could be looking at what figures to be a popular change to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s antler restrictions.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a plan that would allow hunters to kill deer with three antler points to a side, not including brow tines. The existing rules allow hunters to shoot at deer only if they can identify four points on at least one side of a deer’s antlers.
The regulation change, if approved at the next quarterly meeting April 11-12, would affect Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D . Unit 1B includes all of Erie County, most of Crawford County and some of Venango and Warren counties. Unit 1A includes Mercer and Lawrence counties and parts of Crawford, Venango, Butler and Beaver counties. Unit 2D includes southern Clarion and Venango among other counties.
The board gave preliminary approval to a number of other measures as well:
▀ A concurrent antlered-antlerless deer season running Nov. 28 to Dec. 10, among other seasons and limits.
▀ Extension of the late archery and late flintlock muzzleloader seasons, running Dec. 26 through Jan. 16, 2012.
▀ Establishment of a no-limit porcupine hunting season from July 1 to June 30, excluding Sundays and the two-week firearms deer season.
▀ Re-establishing a concurrent bear-deer season Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 in six WMUs.
▀ Allowing all-day hunting May 14- 31 during the final days of spring turkey. From April 28 until May 12, legal shooting hours remain one-half hour before sunrise until noon.
▀ Restoration of habitat for Great Lakes piping plovers, a federally endangered species, and other Pennsylvania species of greatest conservation need, through reimbursement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Here’s the full list of proposed seasons for 2011-12 , minus some federally regulated waterfowl:
PROPOSED 2011-12 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. 8-14 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 15-Nov. 26; Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 4 (6 daily, 12 possession).
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 15–Nov. 26, Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 28 (2 daily, 4 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 8-15 (4 daily, 8 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 22-Nov. 26, Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 25 (4 daily, 8 possession).
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 8-15 (2 daily, 4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 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, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 22-Nov. 26. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 22-Nov. 26, Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 4 (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. 22-Nov. 26 (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. No limit.
PORCUPINES: No closed season, except: Sundays; during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons. No limit.
CROWS: July 1-April 8, 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): Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 24-26; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 24-26; WMU 5A – Nov. 1-3; 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 21, 2012. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 28-May 31, 2012. 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 28-May 12, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 14-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Bow and Arrow only: Nov. 14-18. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 19, and Nov. 21-23. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3D, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5B and 5C): Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (Designated Areas): Nov. 28-Dec. 3. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
– WMUs 3A and 3C;
– Portions 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 Laporte to Rt. 118 and that portion of 4E, East of Rt. 42; and
– Portions of WMUs 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and 3B in Lycoming County that lie North of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 Bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Rt. 15 to Rt. 220, and North of Rt. 220 to the Mill Hall exit, North of SR 2015 to Rt. 150; East of Rt. 150 to Lusk Run Rd. and South of Lusk Run Rd. to Rt. 120, Rt. 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001; East of SR 1001 to Croak Hollow Rd., South of Croak Hollow Rd. to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), South of Rt. 664 to Little Plum Rd. (the intersection of SR 1003), South of SR 1003 to SR 1006, South of SR 1006 to Sulphur Run Rd., South of Sulphur Run Rd. 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. 220 and West of Rt. 220 to Rt. 405 and West of Rt. 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
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. 6, in designated areas.
Elk, Special Conservation Tag (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 1-Nov. 5. One elk tag for one antlered or antlerless elk will be auctioned at the Safari Club International Banquet.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 17-30, and Nov. 14-26. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 26-Jan. 28. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 26-Jan. 16. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 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 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 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 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 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, 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. 16. 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 (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): 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 2011-12 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’s license.
RACCOON and FOXES: Oct. 22–Feb. 18, unlimited.
OPOSSUM, SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E): Dec. 17-Jan. 7. One bobcat per license year, but all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
PROPOSED 2011-12 TRAPPING SEASONS
MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 19–Jan. 8. Unlimited.
COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 23–Feb. 19. No limit.
COYOTE and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 19. 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): Dec. 17-Jan. 8. One bobcat per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
FISHER (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F): Dec. 17-22. One fisher per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
PROPOSED 2011-12 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined), BOBWHITE 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 falconers will be set in accordance with federal regulations in August.)
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.
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