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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 20-330

PROPOSED RULEMAKING

GAME COMMISSION

[58 PA. CODE CH. 147]

Special Permits; Deer Control

[50 Pa.B. 1387]
[Saturday, March 7, 2020]

 To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission) proposed at its January 25, 2020, meeting to amend § 147.674 (relating to issuance of DMAP harvest permits) to increase the number of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) harvest permits that a person may receive for each DMAP unit or area from two to four, except for those DMAP areas designated by the Commission that will remain at a maximum of two harvest permits per person.

 This proposed rulemaking will not have an adverse impact on the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth.

 The authority for this proposed rulemaking is 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to Game and Wildlife Code) (code).

 This proposed rulemaking was made public at the January 25, 2020, meeting of the Commission. Comments can be sent until April 1, 2020, to the Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

1. Purpose and Authority

 A longstanding provision of the DMAP regulations has limited individual hunters to receiving no more than two DMAP permits for each unit or area enrolled in the program. The Commission has reviewed this limitation and determined that it may be unreasonably limiting private landowners from effectively using the program to harvest enough deer on their lands to meet their deer management goals. This issue has been raised by both DMAP users and Commission staff as part of an ongoing broad review of the DMAP and Red Tag programs. However, the Commission is also equally cautious against moving too far towards privatizing access to antlerless deer harvest under the DMAP program and outside of the standard antlerless deer license allocations. Both external users and Commission staff agree that an increase in the number of DMAP permits per unit is warranted, except in certain areas designated by the Commission. The Commission is proposing to amend § 147.674 to increase the number of DMAP harvest permits that a person may receive for each DMAP unit or area from two to four, except for those DMAP areas designated by the Commission that will remain at a maximum of two harvest permits per person.

 Section 2901(b) of the code (relating to authority to issue permits) provides ''the commission may, as deemed necessary to properly manage the game or wildlife resources, promulgate regulations for the issuance of any permit and promulgate regulations to control the activities which may be performed under authority of any permit issued.'' The amendments to § 147.674 are proposed under this authority.

2. Regulatory Requirements

 This proposed rulemaking will amend § 147.674 to increase the number of DMAP harvest permits that a person may receive for each DMAP unit or area from two to four, except for those DMAP areas designated by the Commission that will remain at a maximum of two harvest permits per person.

3. Persons Affected

 Persons wishing to hunt or take white-tailed deer within this Commonwealth may be affected by this proposed rulemaking.

4. Cost and Paperwork Requirements

 This proposed rulemaking should not result in any additional cost or paperwork.

5. Effective Date

 This proposed rulemaking will be effective upon final-form publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and will remain in effect until changed by the Commission.

6. Contact Person

 For further information regarding this proposed rulemaking, contact Jason L. DeCoskey, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Protection, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, (717) 783-6526.

BRYAN J. BURHANS, 
Executive Director

Fiscal Note: 48-451. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

Annex A

TITLE 58. RECREATION

PART III. GAME COMMISSION

CHAPTER 147. SPECIAL PERMITS

Subchapter R. DEER CONTROL

§ 147.674. Issuance of DMAP harvest permits.

 (a) DMAP harvest permits will be made available without regard to quota limitations and will be issued through the Commission's PALS.

 (b) [Two] Four harvest permits for the DMAP area may be issued each license year to persons who possess a valid Pennsylvania hunting license, except for those DMAP areas designated by the Commission that will remain at a maximum of two harvest permits per person.

 (c) Coupon holders shall submit the completed coupons and remittance as determined by the Director. The fee for the harvest permit is $10 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. A fee of $6 will be assessed for the replacement of any DMAP harvest permit.

 (d) While hunting deer, the DMAP harvest permit shall be possessed by the hunter at all times.

 (e) In DMAP areas designated by the Director, applicants may apply for DMAP harvest permits without possessing a coupon as long as harvest permits remain available for that area.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-330. Filed for public inspection March 6, 2020, 9:00 a.m.]



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