2013/14 Approved hunting seasons and bag limits - todays meeting results

PA Game Commission News Release
2001 Elmerton Avenue · Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9797 www.pgc.state.pa.us



Release #26-13

April 15, 2013





2013-2014 SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS ADOPTED; DOE LICENSE ALLOCATIONS SET

Includes adoption of new Wildlife Management Unit 2H



HARRISBURG – The Board of Pennsylvania Game Commissioners today adopted seasons, bag limits, and elk and antlerless deer license allocations for the 2013-14 license year, which begins July 1. The board also finalized the inclusion of Wildlife Management Unit 2H during its quarterly meeting.



An antlerless deer allocation of 839,000 was approved by the Board for the 2013-14 seasons. Allocations by WMU are as follows: WMU 1A, 49,000; WMU 1B, 31,000; WMU 2A, 49,000; WMU 2B, 62,000; WMU 2C, 43,000; WMU 2D, 61,000; WMU 2E, 22,000; WMU 2F, 29,000; WMU 2G, 28,000; WMU 2H, 6,000; WMU 3A, 23,000; WMU 3B, 39,000; WMU 3C, 35,000; WMU 3D, 32,000; WMU 4A, 28,000; WMU 4B, 24,000; WMU 4C, 27,000; WMU 4D, 35,000; WMU 4E, 26,000; WMU 5A, 19,000; WMU 5B; 50,000; WMU 5C, 103,000; and WMU 5D, 18,000.



The board also approved an elk license allocation of 86; 26 will be antlered elk tags. Allocations by Elk Hunt Zone (EHZ) are as follows: EHZ 2 – 3 antlered, 10 antlerless; EHZ 3 – 2 antlered, 6 antlerless; EHZ 4 – 3 antlered, 2 antlerless; EHZ 5 – 4 antlered, 11 antlerless; EHZ 6 – 3 antlered, 12 antlerless; EHZ 7 – closed; EHZ 8 – 1 antlered, 1 antlerless; EHZ 9 – 1 antlered, 4 antlerless; EHZ 10 – 3 antlered, 5 antlerless; EHZ 11 – 1 antlered, 1 antlerless; and EHZ 12 – 5 antlered, 8 antlerless.



Other highlights of the new slate of seasons and bag limits included subdividing WMU 2G into two WMUs, which are now recognized as WMUs 2G and 2H (they will be featured in the 2013-2014 Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest); allowing qualified adult mentors to transfer one Deer Management Assistance Program antlerless deer permit to a youth they are mentoring as part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program; changes to fall turkey seasons in several Wildlife Management Units to accommodate ongoing research; a return of the statewide snowshoe hare hunting season with a shortened season in WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D; increased daily and season bag limits for beavers in certain WMUs; and the addition of WMUs 3A, 3D and 4E to the list of WMUs open for fisher trapping. Another change eliminates the extended regular firearms season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, except in Special Regulations Area counties – Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, which will retain the extended regular firearms season in these WMUs.



Hunters and trappers – particularly those setting vacations for this fall and winter – also are advised that several seasons will open or run about a week later in the 2013-14 license year to accommodate calendar swings – related to the timing of Thanksgiving – that occur about every seven years.



A listing of most 2013-2014 seasons and daily bag limits is as follows:



SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 12-18 (6 daily).


SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 19-Nov. 30; Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (6 daily).



RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 19–Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 25 (2 daily).



RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 12-19 (4 daily).



RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (4 daily).



PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 12-19 (2 daily). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 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, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb 22. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (2 daily). No open season for pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas.



BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 26-Nov. 30 (4 daily). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)



HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan. 1, in all WMUs except WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D, where season will run from Dec. 26-28 (1 daily).



WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.



PORCUPINES: Sept. 1-Mar. 31 (3 daily with a season limit of 10). Closed during the overlap with the regular firearms deer seasons.



CROWS: July 5-April 6, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.



WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): WMU 1B – Nov. 2-9 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 1A, 2A and 2D – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2F, 2G and 2H – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 5A – Nov. 5-7; 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 26, 2014. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.



SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 3-31, 2014. Daily/season limit is 1; season limit may be expanded to 2 by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license. From May 3-17, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 19-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.



BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 18-22. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 23-27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 4-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 2-14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Dec. 2-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) Archery: Sept. 21-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 5B) Archery: Oct. 5-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) Muzzleloader: Oct. 19-26. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.



BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) Special Firearms: Oct. 24-26, for junior and senior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military.



ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 4-9. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.



ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 11-16. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 9, in designated areas.



Elk, Special Conservation Tag (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 2-Nov. 9. One elk tag for one antlered or antlerless elk that was auctioned at the annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet.



DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 21-Oct. 4, and Nov. 18-30. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Jan. 13-25. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 5-Nov. 16 and Dec. 26-Jan. 11. 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: Dec. 2-14. 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, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 2-6. 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, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 7-14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 24-26. 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.



DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 19-26. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 11. 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 and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 25. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS: (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties): Dec. 26-Jan. 25. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.



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 furtakers license.



RACCOON and FOXES: Oct. 26–Feb. 22, unlimited.



OPOSSUM, SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.



BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 21-Feb. 11. One bobcat per license year, but all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.





2013-14 TRAPPING SEASONS



MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 23–Jan. 5. Unlimited.



COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 27–Feb. 23. No limit.



COYOTE and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 23. 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, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 21-Jan. 12. One bobcat per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.



FISHER (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3D, 4D and 4E): Dec. 21-26. One fisher per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
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---Well....whaddaya think?

Archery season sucks as normal spring turkey is worse and muskrat season needs to stay in way longer x- mas till march its retarded IMO

I see some decent things here, others not so much.
 
First, I support that FINALLY the antlerless allocation was cut somewhat in my unit.   Way overdue.   The herd was declining for years, despite the claims of stabilization, the decline even evident in pgcs data, yet no tweaks were made or suggested.   Apparently a commissioner finally saw through the bs. and lowered the allocation to a level that might actual accomadate the goal of "stabilization".
 
I havent really looked at many other units, but was waiting to see the resulitng allocations in the 2g areas because I wanted to see if the split into two units was going to be mostly for show or to get even more deer killed...or address hunter concerns and permit herd growth.  Thought they were to be managed differently otherwise no use in splitting.   They did not decrease the numbers of tags per square mile in the "new" smallish 2h section, and they actually significantly increased them in 2g.   So neither unit got a reduction, and overall for the entire area that used to be 2g, MANY more tags were allocated over last years allocation.   So I dont see anything beneficial there.
 
I was pleased that they didn't go to sept. squirrel.   Too much foliage and already lots of other seasons overlapping archery season as it is.   I dont think anything will be lost there, there is already tons of time to hunt squirrel anyway.
 
Havent really had the time lately to go over other things, those are the only issues that really caught my eye quickly.
 
 

agree dpms...
 
just another reason for our elected officals to go ahead and combine the two agency and get some real sportsmen in as commissioners..
 
at least I  hope that well be one benefit of combing the two agencies
 
 
too much foliage in the treetops making it too hard to see squirrels to shot at ,,, but we're go to go on shooting does (on the ground) with rifles and muzzleloaders .
 
LOL..LOL..
 
I agree with pathetic !!!!!

too much foliage in the treetops making it too hard to see squirrels to shot at ,,, but we're go to go on shooting does (on the ground) with rifles and muzzleloaders .

 
It was a different board that put the early deer seasons in place doc.    And some that were on that board hated deer so much, and cared for hunters so little that they probably wouldnt have cared if we all shot each other as long as we killed a good chunk of the deer herd off in the process. lmao.   And for the record you don't shoot up in the air at deer.    And there is a big diff. in foliage between then and september.   
 
For me, with the current board, the jury is still out.   I know a couple that dont belong on the board who are pretty extreme deer haters...   But whether they are or will continue to be a "majority" of that board remains to be seen.

Thats what I dont understand... "SQUIRRELS REALLY"?   I now see where some are making a HUGE issue out of this and blowing it WAAY out of proportion, and i think you know exactly those that I am talking about.   It appears that they are REALLY mad that they do not have total say with the current board as they have with recent past boards.   Not saying that is your gripe, but you do seem to do alot of going along to get along with the "group" in question.
 
My intent isnt ever to disagree for the sake of disagreeing.   I simply made some obvious observations for discussion sake.   Frankly the world won't end if the tree rats end up open 24/7 365.   But if I am to give my opinion on it....just like anyone else is welcome to... then I say no, and I understand some of why the commissioners voted as they did is all...    No need to get any of our panties in a bunch over this.  Not worth it.    Any other issues you agree or disagree on?
 

Write this one down in the books folks, something I actually agree with Wayne on. 
 
I do think I have a suitable compromise though, allow Sunday hunting by mentored youth or youth license holders for squirrels only through the entire small game season.  A foot in the door, so to speak.  I assume this would need legislative approval but it would be palatable to me, as a hardcore archery hunter that has to deal with numerous other seasons during archery season.

eyesandgillz

I do think I have a suitable compromise though, allow Sunday hunting by mentored youth or youth license holders for squirrels only through the entire small game season.  A foot in the door, so to speak.  I assume this would need legislative approval but it would be palatable to me, as a hardcore archery hunter that has to deal with numerous other seasons during archery season.

 
As another hard core archery hunter, sometimes we have to look at it from another perspective. There are many small gamers that do not archery hunt. It is us that are interfering with small game season and possible changes.
 
We have to look at fall being hunting season comprised of different periods of time where different game is legal. One season or group shouldn't trump that interests of another.  Archers have it pretty darn good. 
 
It kills me when I hear archery hunters complaining of the early muzzie and rifle season messin up thier archery season.  Like somehow, archers should get alone time in the woods. 
 

wayne c

He he. Seriously??  

 
Yep. Seriously. He he.... 

Ohhhh.   So THAT is that what all those 22 and shotgun blasts I hear every year for 5 weeks of the archery season are all about?
 

 
I see way more archers out there than small gamers.  

Uh, I think that is for the policy makers to take our input and decide.  If most of us want it, fine,if we dont fine.   I certainly wouldn't want one person, or some small "liberal rights" seeking group to dictate something just because thats the way THEY want it.   I thought it was you who constantly preached you wanted pgc to "have the say on any and all game management decisions"   well they have that and they exercised that power.  The legiscritters didn't do it.   And now you complain?

 
Huh? The BOC decided against the early squirrel season. It is them we should complain to or applaud depending on how one feels on this issue. I have always advocated that.
 
Unlike you who complains to the politicians about regulatory affairs as standard operating procedure.

Season lengthwise, even though shorter than many other states,  Id agree.  And last I looked.... So do small game hunters.  100 legal days to pursue bushytails.

 
Point was as good as archers have it in this state, I see no reason to complain about other species being hunted during the same time. As I said, all hunters and their seasons should carry the same weight and one shouldn't trump the other.  Each group has it followers. 
 
I haven't squirrel hunted in ten years but I would welcome a early season for those that wish to participate.  They are under harvested and under hunted. 
 
Have you seen the latest figures on squirrels harvested and hunters participating compared to the nineties? 1/3 of what it used to be. 

Apparently a former WCO that used to post here had his knees taken out form under him yesterday by a sitting commissioner regarding the early squirrel vote. 
 
This former WCO has been calling hunters that supported the early squirrel season selfish and saying that they should be ashamed to call themselves a hunter.  He has been using science and the PGC's concern for the resource as his angle. Well it turns out that the information that was posted by the sitting commissioner does in fact, contradict every point that the former WCO expressed. The issue was well researched by the biologists before the proposal was even made. 
 
Very happy to see some factual info brought to that discussion. 
 
It was also suggested that this proposal may come to life again come January. For those that support it, let your thoughts be known if it does surface during the working group meeting in January.