DEER SEASONS ADOPTED FOR 2007-08
In an effort to balance all public views on the direction of the state's deer management program, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a slate of 2007-08 deer seasons.
Antler restrictions will continue unchanged for the 2007-08 seasons. Specifically:
-- In WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D, hunters will be required to abide by the four points on one side antler restriction;
-- In all other WMUs, hunters will be required to abide by a three points on one side antler restriction; and
-- Statewide, all junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle, mentored youth hunters and active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel may abide by the old antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.
The most significant changes proposed by the Board for the 2007-08 deer seasons focus on implementing portions of the agency's Plan to Reduce Deer-Human Conflicts in Developed Areas, which was developed with public input and adopted by the agency last year. These changes are designed to increase hunter harvest in the state's three most highly developed WMUs - WMU 2B, 5C and 5D - in the state's southwestern and southeastern corners.
Among the changes given approval for WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D are:
* Archery seasons for antlerless deer will be held Sept. 15-28, and Nov. 12-24, in addition to the statewide season dates;
* Archery deer season for antlerless deer in WMU 2B will be Dec. 10-22;
* Antlerless deer hunting with any legal sporting arm in WMU 2B will be Dec. 26-Jan.26; and
* Antlerless deer hunting with any legal sporting arm in WMUs 5C and 5D will be Dec. 10-22 and Dec. 26-Jan. 26.
Following is an overview of the remaining deer seasons that were approved by the Board today:
* A concurrent antlered/antlerless rifle deer season from Nov. 26-Dec. 8. To harvest an antlerless deer during the concurrent seasons, hunters must possess a valid, WMU-specific antlerless deer license for the unit in which they are hunting or a DMAP permit.
* A firearms antlerless deer season from Oct. 18-20, for junior and senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) holders, or Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, who possess the appropriate WMU-specific antlerless deer license or DMAP permit. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach age 65 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 of the Game and Wildlife Code.
* A muzzleloader season for antlerless deer from Oct.13-20. The flintlock muzzleloader season, which is set for Dec. 26-Jan. 12, continues to be an antlered or antlerless season for hunters with primitive flintlock ignition firearms, provided the hunter possesses the appropriate license(s).
In other action, the Board adopted a measure to extend shooting hours for most hunting seasons, including all deer seasons, to one-half hour after sunset.
As part of the 2007-08 deer season frameworks, hunters will continue to be permitted to use crossbows statewide for hunting bear and elk and during any of the firearms deer seasons - including the regular two-week concurrent deer season, the early muzzleloader season and the late flintlock season - and in all deer seasons in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, which are the most urbanized areas in the state.
Statewide, hunters using crossbows during the early muzzleloader season or late flintlock season must have a muzzleloader stamp in addition to their general hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless deer license. Late-season hunters with a muzzleloader stamp, but using a crossbow, are permitted to take an antlered deer or an antlerless deer anywhere in the state with their unused antlered deer tag, just like other late-season flintlock hunters.
In WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, hunters planning to use a crossbow during the archery seasons must purchase an archery stamp in addition to their general hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless deer license.
Disabled hunters must obtain a permanent or temporary disabled hunter permit to use a crossbow during the statewide early archery season outside of WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D.
The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) that addresses landowner deer management objectives within Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) remains in place. "DMAP provides a tool to harvest antlerless deer on specific properties to lessen deer impacts for landowners and the habitat," said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director.
In other action, the Board adopted increasing the fees for DMAP permits from $6 for residents and $26 for nonresidents to $10 for residents and $35 for nonresidents.