PROPOSED RULEMAKINGS
GAME COMMISSION
[ 58 PA. CODE CH. 141 ]
Hunting and Trapping; Hunting Hours
[43 Pa.B. 1710]
[Saturday, March 30, 2013]To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission) proposed at its January 29, 2013, meeting to amend Chapter 141, Appendix G (relating to hunting hours) by replacing the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2013-2014 hunting license year. The Commission is also proposing to amend § 141.4 (relating to hunting hours) to add feral swine and wild boar to the list of species that may be lawfully taken during the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons and expand references to the seasons during which coyotes may be hunted to ''big game.''
The proposed rulemaking will not have an adverse impact on the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth.
The authority for the proposed rulemaking is 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to Game and Wildlife Code) (code).
The proposed rulemaking was made public at the January 29, 2013, meeting of the Commission. Comments can be sent until April 12, 2013, to the Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.
1. Purpose and Authority
Each year there is a shift in calendar days for each month. As a result of this occurrence, the time tables in Appendix G must be amended and updated on an annual basis to accurately reflect the upcoming year's dates and hours for legal hunting. The Commission is proposing to amend Appendix G to replace the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2013-2014 hunting license year. The Commission is also proposing to amend § 141.4 to add feral swine and wild boar to the list of species that may be lawfully taken during the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons and expand references to the seasons during which coyotes may be hunted to ''big game'' to maintain consistency with § 139.4 (relating to seasons and bag limits for the license year).
Section 322(c)(1) of the code (relating to powers and duties of commission) specifically empowers the Commission to ''fix seasons, daily shooting or taking hours, and any modification thereof, and daily, season and possession limits for any species of game or wildlife.'' Section 2102(a) of the code (relating to regulations) provides that ''The commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this Commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking, and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this Commonwealth.'' The amendments to § 141.4 and Appendix G were proposed under this authority.
2. Regulatory Requirements
The proposed rulemaking will amend Appendix G by replacing the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2013-2014 hunting license year. The proposed rulemaking will also amend § 141.4 by adding feral swine and wild boar to the list of species that may be lawfully taken during the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons and expand references to the seasons during which coyotes may be hunted to ''big game.''
3. Persons Affected
Persons wishing to hunt or trap game or wildlife within this Commonwealth during the 2013-2014 hunting year will be affected by the proposed rulemaking.
4. Cost and Paperwork Requirements
The proposed rulemaking should not result in additional cost or paperwork.
5. Effective Date
The effective dates of the replacement of the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table in Appendix G are July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. The proposed amendments to § 141.4 will be effective upon final-form publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and remain in effect until changed by the Commission.
6. Contact Person
For further information regarding the proposed rulemaking, contact Richard R. Palmer, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Protection, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, (717) 783-6526.
CARL G. ROE,
Executive DirectorFiscal Note: 48-352. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A
TITLE 58. RECREATION
PART III. GAME COMMISSION
CHAPTER 141. HUNTING AND TRAPPING
Subchapter A. GENERAL § 141.4. Hunting hours.
Except as otherwise provided, wild birds and [animals] mammals may be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
(1) During the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take other wild birds or mammals except game birds on regulated hunting grounds, migratory waterfowl, coyotes, feral swine, wild boar and bear. Coyotes may be hunted from the first day to the last day inclusive of any [deer or bear] big game season only by persons who possess a valid furtaker's license, or by persons lawfully engaged in hunting [deer or bear] big game who have a valid tag. Feral swine and wild boar may be taken from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big game season only by persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game who have a valid tag.
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APPENDIX G. HUNTING HOURS (Editor's Note: As part of this proposed rulemaking, the Commission is proposing to delete the text of the tables which appear in 58 Pa. Code pages 141-33—141-35, serial pages (361987)—(361989) and replace them with the following tables.)
HUNTING HOURS TABLE
FOR JUNE 30, 2013 THROUGH JULY 5, 2014
Dates Begin A.M. End P.M. June 30—July 6 5:09 9:02 July 7—13 5:13 8:59 July 14—20 5:19 8:55 July 21—27 5:25 8:49 July 28—Aug. 3 5:31 8:42 Aug. 4—10 5:38 8:33 Aug. 11—17 5:44 8:24 Aug. 18—24 5:51 8:14 Aug. 25—31 5:58 8:03 Sept 1—7 6:04 7:52 Sept. 8—14 6:11 7:41 Sept. 15—21 6:17 7:29 Sept. 22—28 6:24 7:17 Sept. 29—Oct. 5 6:31 7:06 Oct. 6—12 6:38 6:55 Oct. 13—19 6:45 6:45 Oct. 20—26 6:53 6:35 Oct. 27—Nov. 2 7:01 6:27 Nov. 3— 9 *Ends 6:09 5:21 Nov. 10—16 6:17 5:13 Nov. 17—23 6:25 5:09 Nov. 24—30 6:32 5:06 Dec. 1—7 6:39 5:05 Dec. 8—14 6:45 5:04 Dec. 15—21 6:49 5:09 Dec. 22—28 6:52 5:11 Dec. 29—Jan. 4 6:53 5:14 Jan. 5—11 6:53 5:20 Jan. 12—18 6:51 5:27 Jan. 19—25 6:49 5:35 Jan. 26—Feb. 1 6:44 5:43 Feb. 2—8 6:38 5:51 Feb. 9—15 6:31 6:00 Feb. 16—22 6:22 6:08 Feb. 23—Mar. 1 6:13 6:14 Mar. 2—8 6:02 6:24 Mar. 9—15 *Begins 6:52 7:31 Mar. 16—22 6:41 7:38 Mar. 23—29 6:29 7:46 Mar. 30—Apr. 5 6:18 7:53 Apr. 6—12 6:07 8:00 Apr. 13—19 5:56 8:07 Apr. 20—26 5:46 8:14 Apr. 27—May 3 5:36 8:20 May 4—10 5:27 8:28 May 11—17 5:19 8:35 May 18—24 5:13 8:42 May 25—31 5:08 8:48 June 1—7 5:04 8:53 June 8—14 5:02 8:58 June 15—21 5:02 9:01 June 22—28 5:04 9:03 June 29—July 5 5:08 9:02 *Daylight Saving Time
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING HOURS TABLE
Dates Begin A.M. End P.M. Sept. 1—7 6:04 7:22 Sept. 8—14 6:11 7:11 Sept. 15—21 6:17 6:59 Sept. 22—28 6:24 6:47 Sept. 29—Oct. 5 6:31 6:36 Oct. 6—12 6:38 6:25 Oct. 13—19 6:45 6:15 Oct. 20—26 6:53 6:05 Oct. 27—Nov. 2 7:01 5:57 Nov. 3—9 *Ends 6:09 4:51 Nov. 10—16 6:17 4:43 Nov. 17—23 6:25 4:39 Nov. 24—30 6:32 4:36 Dec. 1—7 6:39 4:35 Dec. 8—14 6:45 4:34 Dec. 15—21 6:49 4:39 Dec. 22—28 6:52 4:41 Dec. 29—Jan. 4 6:53 4:44 Jan. 5—11 6:53 4:50 Jan. 12—18 6:51 4:57 Jan. 19—25 6:49 5:05 Jan. 26—Feb. 1 6:44 5:13 Feb. 2—8 6:38 5:21 Feb. 9—15 6:31 5:30 Feb. 16—22 6:22 5:38 Feb. 23—Mar. 1 6:13 5:44 Mar. 2—8 6:02 5:54 Mar. 9—15 *Begins 6:52 7:01 Mar. 16—22 6:41 7:08 Mar. 23—29 6:29 7:16 Mar. 30—Apr. 5 6:18 7:23 Apr. 6—12 6:07 7:30 Apr. 13—19 5:56 7:37 *Daylight Saving Time
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 13-561. Filed for public inspection March 29, 2013, 9:00 a.m.]
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