sportsmen newsletter fall 2009

8/14/2019 Sportsmen Newsletter Fall 2009

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District Office:Wayne County Visitors Center

32 Commercial Street

Suite 300

Honesdale, PA 18431

Phone: 570-253-5533

Fax: 570-253-8046

Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Harrisburg Office:

153 A East Wing

PO Box 202139

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2139

717-783-2037

Fax: 717-705-1948

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PA

PERMIT NO. 529MIKE PEIFER

Representative

139thDistrict

Fall Sportsmen Newsletter

Peifer Advocates Participation in Mentored Youth Hunt ProgramThe Mentored Youth Hunting Program (MYHP) was created in 2006 to expand youth hunting opportunities and promote hunt-

ing safety for hunters under the age of 12 years old. The goal is to instill a love of the outdoors, to increase interest in hunting and toprovide hunting experience at an early age.The program has succeeded in introducing hunting to many interested youth under the one-on-one instruction and guidance of a

properly licensed mentor.According to the Game Commission, a mentor is a properly licensed person 21 years of age or older, who serves as a guide to a

mentored youth during hunting, including teaching scouting and firearm skills, hunting safety, and wildlife identification.According to the most recent Game-Take Survey, participation in the MYHP has increased each year since the programs inception

in 2006 when 43,780 youths were mentored by 32,913 adults.In 2008-09, the number of mentored youths grew to 71,232 youth and the number of licensed hunters participating grew to

59,397 adult mentors. According to that survey, mentored youths harvested 60,703 squirrels, 24,067 groundhogs, 6,763 antlereddeer, 3,606 spring gobblers and 833 coyotes.

Mentors must obtain a permit for each youngster they plan to take hunting. The permit will be assigned to the youngster, andcosts $2.70, with $1 going to the Game Commission, $1 for the issuing agent fee plus 70 cents for the PALS fee. A Mentored Youth

who participates in any hunting party must be listed on any required hunting roster and shall count as a member of the hunting partyfor the purposes of maximum allowed numbers.

A mentored youth can hunt only squirrels, groundhogs, coyotes, antlered only deer (youngsters are required to follow the sameantler restrictions as a junior license holder, which is one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points)and turkeys (spring season only).

To ensure safety, a mentored youth must be stationary and within arms reach of the mentor at all times while in possession ofany lawful hunting device while engaged in hunting or related activities. A mentor and mentored youth may not possess more thanone lawful hunting device between them while hunting or conducting related activities. The mentor must carry the gun while in transitto and from the spot.

Participation in the program does not require a youth under age 12 to take a Hunter-Trapper Education class, but the youth mustbe instructed in how to handle a firearm and basic hunting safety by the mentor. However, the courses are required once the mentoredyouth turns 12. As mentored youth approach 11 years of age, the information gathered from the MYHP will assist the Game Com-mission to better schedule Hunter-Trapper Education courses to accommodate demand.

Game Commission Finalizes Crossbow RegulationsThe Pennsylvania Game Commission

is now allowing crossbows to be used byall archers, not just the disabled, duringany 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 game commission,crossbows may be used by hunters par-ticipating in the archery deer and archerybear seasons for the 2009-10 seasons, aswell as turkey seasons and the two-weekfirearms deer seasons.

Under the regulations, a crossbowmust have a minimum drawn weight of at

least 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 ofthe 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 earlyand late archery deer seasons. They canalso participate in the two-day archerybear season, but do not need an archerystamp, just a general hunting license and

bear license.Hunters participating in the October

muzzleloader antlerless deer season orlate flintlock muzzleloader season cannotuse crossbows in place of muzzleloaders.Hunters participating in the overlappingarchery deer seasons may use a cross-bow.

This change also means mentored

youths 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 Commissions Web site atwww.pgc.state.pa.us and click on cross-bow FAQ.


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Legislative UpdateGame Code Violations, Poaching Law Penalties Would Increase Under BillFines and penalties for a number of Game and Wildlife Code violations would significantly increase under House Bill 1859, which

I 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 the

killing of wildlife, illegally selling game or animal parts, and trespassing while hunting are all also increased under the bill. Fines andjail time for violations increase, as does the duration of hunting licenses suspensions, denials and revocations.

Fishers Return to Pennsylvania

New Law Affects SportsmenPennsylvania 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 maintainingthe 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 Pennsylvania

Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the vendor of the computerized system and the Governors 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 SEASONSCOYOTES: No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of any deer or bear season, coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and

without wearing orange. During any archery deer season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or with a furtaker license. During the regular firearmsdeer and any bear seasons, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear, or with a furtaker license while wearing 250 square inches of fluorescentorange. During the spring gobbler season, coyotes may be taken by those with a valid tag who meet fluorescent orange and shot size requirements.

RACCOON and FOXES: Oct. 24Feb. 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 in

possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2009-10 TRAPPING SEASONSMINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 21Jan. 10. Unlimited.COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 25Feb. 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. 26March 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 in

possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2009-10 FALCONRY SEASONSSQUIRRELS (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 falconers are setin accordance with federal regulations.)

Fifteen years ago, Penn State University, Frostburg StateUniversity in Maryland, and the Pennsylvania Game Commissionbegan working together to reintroduce the fisher, a predator in theweasel family, to Pennsylvania.

The Fisher Reintroduction Project sought to re-establish thisnative species in Pennsylvania forests. Fishers, which prey on smallmammals, fish and are the primary predatorof porcupine, had been absent from the state

for nearly 80 years. Habitat destruction iscited as a primary cause of the decline of thefisher population in Pennsylvania, because thefisher is nomadic and depends on large areasof forests.

Release sites targeted state gamelands andstate forests. The first 22 fishers were releasedin 1994 in Sproul State Forest in ClintonCounty. Release sites also included the Quehanna Wild Area andthe Allegheny National Forest. Fishers have expanded their rangefrom Pine Creek Valley to the Pocono Mountains and a quarter ofPennsylvania is now their territory.

Including that initial release, about 190 fishers were reintro-

duced in the Commonwealth at five different release sites. An officialpopulation survey has not been done, but it is suspected that theirnumbers have nearly doubled since then.

In a report called Status and Management of Fishers publishedin Dec. 2008, reports from 2007 indicate the number of incidentalfisher captures at 132 and the number of reported fisher sight-

ings at 481. Fishers have been spotted in 43 ofPennsylvanias 67 counties.

The report does not indicate when fishersmight have sufficient population in Pennsylvaniato establish an open trapping season, but untilthat time, their reintroduction should provideoutdoor enthusiasts who are fortunate enoughto spot one with a rare delight.

The Game Commission is interested in fisherstories. If you spot a fisher in the wild, please

note the details of the sighting: weather, time of year, location,and take some time to report it to [email protected] ormail to: PA Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management,ATTN: Fisher Sighting, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA17110-9797.


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ADOPTED 2009-10 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITSSQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth Oct.

10-16 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).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. 17Nov. 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: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license Oct. 10-17 (2 daily, 4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs2A, 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 WildPheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU.

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. 26Jan. 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, 4D and 4E Oct. 31-Nov. 21; WMUs 5A and5B CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and 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 1spring gobbler 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 pos-sess a valid 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 Laporte to 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 lies North of the West Branch of the SusquehannaRiver from the Rt. 405 bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Route 15 to Rt. 220, North of Rt. 220 to the Mill Hall exit, North of SR 2015 to Rt. 150, East of Rt.150 to Lusk Run Road and south of Lusk Run Road to Rt. 120, Rt. 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001, East of SR 1001 to Croak Hallow Road, South ofCroak Hallow Road to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), South of Rt. 664 to Little Plum Road (the intersection of SR1003, South of SR 1003 to SR 1006, South of SR 1006to Sulphur Run Road, South of 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 toRt. 220 and 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 licensesfor the 2009 season. Further information about allocation of antlered and antlerless licenses, as well as allocations by zone, will be announced later.

ELK (Conservation Tag): Sept. 1-Nov. 7, in any Elk Management Zone. One antlered elk license awarded per Act 101 of 2008.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Oct. 2, Nov. 16-28 and Dec. 14-23. One antlerless deer with each required antler-less license.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide, including WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Oct. 3-Nov. 14 and Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer perhunting 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 deerper 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 deerpermits 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, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 22-24. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvaniaresidents 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 havereached 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. 17-24. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered 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. 23. One antlered 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. 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, Franklin County;

New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required 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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Find Rep. Peifer on the Web atRepPeifer.com

District Office Services

My district office is here to help you. Services my staff and I provide include:Assistance with PennDOT paperworkCopies of birth and death certificatesPACE and PACENET applications for seniors

Property Tax and Rent Rebate applicationsVoter registration forms and absentee ballot applicationsState tax formsFree state maps, state park information, and PA Vacation GuidesCopies of legislationTours of the State CapitolReferrals to agencies to resolve state-related matters

If you need help with any state-related matter, please do not hesitate to call my district office.

Rep. PeifersOffices

HARRISBURG OFFICE:153A East WingPO Box 202139

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2139Phone: (717) 783-2037FAX: (717) 705-1948DISTRICT OFFICE:

32 Commercial Street, Suite 300Honesdale, PA 18431

Phone: (570) 253-5533FAX: (570) 253-8046

EMAIL:[email protected]

WEB:RepPeifer.com

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SPORTSMENS WEB LINKSPennsylvania Game Commission -- www.pgc.state.pa.us

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Sarah Welshs first gobbler.

Kelby Hochreitherwith a buck he bagged

recently.

sportsmen newsletter fall 2009

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