BOARD CONTINUES ARCHERY AND EXTENDED BEAR SEASONS The Board of Commissioners today gave final approval to the traditional three-day statewide black bear season (Nov. 19-21) before Thanksgiving, an extended bear season in certain portions of the state that is concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season (Nov. 26-Dec. 1) and a two-day archery bear season (Nov. 14-15) in nine Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
The concurrent bear-deer season will be held Nov. 26-Dec. 1, in WMU 3C and in portions of WMUs 3B, 4E and 2G. The concurrent bear/deer season will be held in that portion of WMU 3B, east of Route 14 from Troy to Canton, east of Route 154 from Canton to Route 220 at Laporte and east of Route 42 from Laporte to Route 118, and that portion of WMU 4E east of Route 42. Also included in the concurrent bear/deer season will be that portion of WMUs 2G and 3B in Lycoming County that lie north of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Route 405 bridge, west to the Route 220 bridge, east of Route 220 to Route 44 and east of Route 44 to Route 973, south of Route 973 to Route 87, west of Route 87 to Route 864, south of Route 864 to Route 220 and west of Route 220 to Route 405 and west of Route 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
However, the Board reduced the extended season for bear in WMU 3D during the first-week of the rifle deer season to Nov. 28-Dec. 1, Wednesday through Saturday, to reduce bear harvest. The action will permit hunters during the overlapping dates to take a bear, provided they are appropriately licensed, but is designed to reduce hunting pressure on bears on the first two days of the rifle deer season, the highest participation days.
The two-day archery bear season for WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D will be held Nov. 14-15.
In addition, the Board gave final approval to continue to allow those hunters who obtain permission to hunt on the State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Centre County to hunt for bear during the first week of the rifle deer season (Nov. 26-Dec.1), provided they have a valid bear license.
Pennsylvania's extended modern-day bear hunting started in 2002, when bear hunters were given the opportunity to fill their tags the first week of the firearms deer season in Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties. With the advent of the state's 22 WMUs, the extended season was held in WMU 3D in 2003. In 2004, the number of WMUs open for the concurrent deer/bear season was expanded.
Bear licenses must be purchased prior to the opening of the two-week firearms deer season.
BOARD EXPANDS SEPTEMBER ELK SEASON
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to Pennsylvania's upcoming elk seasons, and added an extra three weeks for those hunters who participate in the state's September elk hunts in Elk Hunt Zone 1.
The Board set the November 2007 elk hunt to be held Nov. 5-10, which is similar to previous years. In January, the Board approved an allocation of 40 elk licenses (15 antlered and 25 antlerless) for the November 2007 season.
For the September 2007 and 2008 elk hunts, the Board approved extending the season dates. The previously approved September 2007 elk hunt will be held from Sept. 3-29. The Board also set the September 2008 elk hunt for Sept. 1-27. In January, the Board allocated 10 elk licenses (2 either-sex and 8 antlerless) for the September 2008 season. Last year, the Board set the same allocation for the upcoming September 2007 elk season.
"Farmers are suffering severe crop damage, and rather than shoot elk for crop damage, they would like to allow hunters an opportunity to harvest the animals," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.   "Farmers have told us that elk remain in their fields through the fall and do extensive damage to their crops. Only after farmers harvest their crops do the elk leave the area, which generally is before the regular elk season. This early season helps reduce the damage elk are doing to crops, and provides a unique hunting opportunity when bull elk are bugling. This is a win-win situation for farmers and hunters.
"However, the September elk season held in 2006, which was the first ever, resulted in a less-than-anticipated harvest. While we were able to extend the season for those elk hunters, we decided it was important to take immediate action to extend future September seasons for the benefit of hunters, as well as to provide relief to farmers who experience elk-caused crop damage."
Roe noted that, despite this extension, hunters must realize that the September season is a far different season than the November season, which has been held since 2001, and may require more scouting on the part of hunters.
"The nearly 20,000 hunters who continue to apply for our unique elk seasons will need to take into account the challenges they may face if drawn for the September season," Roe said. "Regardless, we hope that this will be a rewarding experience for those who do choose to participate, and that it does meet the expectations of the landowners who requested that we hold this season."
Both antlered and antlerless elk will be legal game in both seasons. Successful applicants will be determined through public drawings to be scheduled in September, where elk licenses will be awarded for the November 2007 and the September 2008 hunts. Hunters for the September 2007 season were selected during the drawing held in 2006.
When the elk license application period opens, hunters will be able to continue to indicate on their application whether they are interested in the November 2007 hunt, the September 2008 hunt or both. However, it still will be unlawful to apply for more than one license in each season.
Interested hunters can make application for the elk seasons through the mail, at Game Commission Harrisburg or region offices or by going to the agency's webpage (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Applications also will soon be accepted via "The Outdoor Shop" on the agency's homepage. All applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable $10 application fee.
BOARD ADOPTS CHANGES TO EXPAND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES The Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a host of other seasons and bag limits designed to expand opportunities for hunters and trappers in 2007-08. Among the changes, the Board approved:
-- extending the 2008 spring gobbler season to enable hunters to take advantage of the Memorial Day weekend Monday holiday many have off from work or school;
-- extending the 2007 fall turkey season in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4D by one week;
-- adding WMUs 5C and 5D to the list of WMUs where hunters may harvest male and female pheasants during the youth pheasant season and general small game seasons;
-- extending the closing date for the third part of the squirrel, rabbit and pheasant seasons by one week -- from Feb. 2, to Feb. 9; and
-- including WMU 2A to the list of WMUs where those who receive one of the limited number of permits to hunt or trap one bobcat.
The Board also reduced the 2007 fall turkey season in WMUs 2A and 2F by five days, to Oct. 27-Nov. 12. However, the season will include the Monday of the Veterans Day weekend, when many hunters have the day off of work and school.
For more details on these seasons, please see the table of 2007-08 seasons and bag limits at the end of this news release.