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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-1826

NOTICES

GAME COMMISSION

Extension of Archery and Flintlock Muzzleloader Deer Seasons at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

[47 Pa.B. 6898]
[Saturday, November 4, 2017]

Order

 Whereas, The Pennsylvania Game Commission (Commission) owns and manages a 6,000 acre property in Lancaster and Lebanon counties known as the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (Middle Creek WMA) (State Game Land No. 46); and

 Whereas, Access to controlled areas and propagation areas of the Middle Creek WMA are normally restricted and closed to annual hunting and trapping seasons without a permit or written authorization issued by the Commission; and

 Whereas, The Commission has determined that the permitting and extension of archery and flintlock muzzleloader seasons within the controlled areas and propagation areas of the Middle Creek WMA is necessary to address elevated populations of white-tailed deer; and

 Whereas, The Game and Wildlife Code (Code) (34 Pa.C.S. §§ 101 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder (58 Pa. Code §§ 131.1 et seq.) collectively provide broad authority to the Commission to regulate activities relating to the protection, preservation, and management of game and wildlife, including white-tailed deer; and

 Whereas, 58 Pa. Code § 139.3 (relating to authority to alter seasons and bag limits) authorizes the Executive Director of the Commission to extend hunting or trapping seasons in designated areas when a certain species is available in sufficient number the designated area or it is determined that inclement weather conditions or other factors resulted in an underharvest of certain species of wildlife in the designated area; and

 Whereas, 58 Pa. Code § 135.107 (relating to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) authorizes the Executive Director to authorize hunting activities within the controlled hunting areas of the Middle Creek WMA by permit only.

 Whereas, 58 Pa. Code § 135.161 (relating to Commission-owned or leased) authorizes the Executive Director to authorize hunting activities within the propagation areas of the Middle Creek WMA.

 Now Therefore, I, BRYAN J. BURHANS, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, do hereby order and direct the following:

 1. Seasons Extended: Archery and flintlock muzzleloader deer seasons within the controlled areas and propagation areas of the Middle Creek WMA are extended to authorize a one-day special deer hunt on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

 2. Controlled Areas and Propagation Areas Open: This limited special deer hunt will occur within the designated controlled areas and propagation areas of the Middle Creek WMA, as is more graphically illustrated on the map titled ''Middle Creek Special Deer Hunt'' attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 3. Hunting by Permit Only: This limited special deer hunt will occur outside of regular white-tailed deer hunting seasons and requires participants to acquire and be in possession of a special deer hunt permit.

 4. Permit Eligibility: Participation in the special deer hunt will be limited to persons in possession of a valid: 1) general hunting license; 2) archery and/or muzzleloader license (whichever applicable); and 3) Wildlife Management Unit 5B antlerless deer license and unused harvest tag (if archery or muzzleloader hunting) or an unused flintlock harvest tag (if muzzleloader hunting). Applicants that were successfully drawn for an archery hunt permit in August are not eligible to apply for the December special deer hunt.

 5. Application: Applications for the special deer hunt shall be submitted on a standard postcard which may be obtained at local U.S. Post Offices. Applications shall contain the following applicant information: 1) name; 2) mailing address; 3) phone number, 4) CID number; 5) Wildlife Management Unit 5B antlerless deer harvest tag number (if archery or muzzleloader hunting) or flintlock harvest tag number (if muzzleloader hunting) and 6) a reference that application is for the ''SPECIAL DEER HUNT''. Only one application may be submitted per person. Applications shall be submitted by first-class mail only, and must be mailed to the following address: Pennsylvania Game Commission MCWMA; P.O. Box 110; Kleinfeltersville, PA 17039. Failure to submit an application by November 3, 2017 or in compliance with the requirements of this order will result in a rejection of the application.

 6. Public Drawing: The Commission will hold a public drawing to select a total of 100 applications for antlerless deer hunting permits at the Middle Creek WMA Visitors Center at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2017. Successful applicants will be notified by first-class mail and need not be in attendance at the public drawing. There will be no provisions or supplemental drawings to fill vacancies created by permit holders who do not participate on the day of the special deer hunt.

 7. Additional Drawing: The Commission will also hold a drawing of a total of 10 applications for antlered deer hunting permits at the Middle Creek WMA Visitors Center at 6 a.m. on the morning of the special deer hunt. This permit will authorize its holder to harvest an antlered deer within the parameters of the special deer hunt. Applicants are required to have been successfully drawn for an antlerless deer permit and be in possession of a valid, unused antlered deer harvest tag to be eligible for this additional drawing.

 8. General hunting requirements:

 a. Check-in and Check-out: Participants in the special deer hunt shall report to the Middle Creek WMA Visitor's Center no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of the hunt to check-in and receive important pre-hunt instructions. Participants shall present all deer harvested during the special deer hunt to the Commission for examination at the Visitor's Center. Participants shall check-out at the conclusion of the special deer hunt at the Visitor's Center no later than 3:00 p.m.

 b. Fluorescent Orange: Participants in the special deer hunt shall comply with the fluorescent orange requirements applicable to the regular firearms deer season as set forth in 58 Pa. Code § 141.20(a) (relating to protective material required).

 c. Hunting Hours: Participants in the special deer hunt deer are only authorized to hunt and take deer from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on the day of the hunt.

 d. Arms, Ammunition and Method of Hunt: Participants in the special deer hunt shall comply with all other requirements and limitations concerning deer hunting activities during archery and/or flintlock muzzleloaders seasons (whichever applicable) as set forth in the Code and attendant regulations.

 9. Effective Date: This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until it reaches its natural expiration at the close of Wednesday, December 13, 2017 or it is otherwise rescinded or modified by subsequent order.

 Given under my hand and seal of the Pennsylvania Game Commission on this 20th day of October, 2017.

BRYAN J. BURHANS, 
Executive Director

 

 
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1826. Filed for public inspection November 3, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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