PROPOSED RULEMAKING

GAME COMMISSION

[58 PA. CODE CH. 139]

Seasons and Bag Limits

[54 Pa.B. 1321]
[Saturday, March 16, 2024]

 To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission) proposed at its January 27, 2024, meeting to amend § 139.4 (relating to seasons and bag limits for the license year) to provide updated seasons and bag limits for the 2024-2025 license year.

 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 27, 2024, meeting of the Commission. Comments may be sent until April 3, 2024, to the Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

1. Purpose and Authority

 To effectively manage the wildlife resources and provide hunting and trapping opportunities in this Commonwealth during the upcoming license year, the Commission is proposing to amend § 139.4 to provide updated seasons and bag limits for the 2024-2025 license year. The 2024-2025 seasons and bag limits have been amended to reflect current available scientific data, population and harvest records, field surveys and professional staff observations, as well as recommendations received from staff, organized sporting groups, members of the agricultural community and others interested in the management of the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth.

 For small game, eligibility to participate in the early October pheasant season segment would be expanded to include mentored hunters of all ages, and the Executive Director would be provided with increased flexibility to authorize pheasant hunting within Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas.

 For wild turkey, fall season length changes are proposed for numerous Wildlife Management Units (WMU) based on analysis of long-term turkey population trends and results of turkey hunter surveys. Season length would be increased in 11 WMUs and WMU 5A (previously closed to fall hunting) would be opened for a 3-day season. Season length would be reduced in 2 WMUs (3D and 4C).

 For black bear, the October muzzleloader season is proposed to be shortened to 3 days to reduce harvest rates on female bears and thereby promote stabilization of the bear population.

 For furbearers, WMU 2D is proposed to be opened to bobcat hunting and trapping because habitat and population data indicate that this unit can support sustainable bobcat harvest. Also, the fisher trapping season is proposed to be increased by 1 week in all WMUs open to fisher harvest to provide additional opportunity and to make fisher and bobcat trapping seasons concurrent.

 No changes are proposed for elk or white-tailed deer seasons. However, it is likely that analysis of license sales and harvest data following the January meeting will indicate a need for additional antlerless deer hunting opportunity in Chronic Wasting Disease WMUs where antlerless license allocations did not sell out and/or antlerless harvest goals were not met in 2023-2024.

 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(b)(1) of the code (relating to regulations) authorizes the Commission to ''promulgate regulations relating to seasons and bag limits for hunting or furtaking. . . .'' The amendments to § 139.4 are proposed under this authority.

2. Regulatory Requirements

 This proposed rulemaking will amend § 139.4 to provide updated seasons and bag limits for the 2024-2025 hunting/furtaking license year.

3. Persons Affected

 Persons wishing to hunt or trap game or wildlife within this Commonwealth during the 2024-2025 hunting/furtaking license year will 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

 The effective dates of this proposed rulemaking are July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

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: 48-506. No fiscal impact; recommends adoption.

Annex A

TITLE 58. RECREATION

PART III. GAME COMMISSION

CHAPTER 139. SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

 (Editor's Note: As part of this proposed rulemaking, the Commission is proposing to replace the table which appears in 58 Pa. Code § 139.4, pages 139-3—139-23, serial pages (414497)—(414517), with the following table.)

§ 139.4 Seasons and bag limits for the license year.

2024-2025 OPEN HUNTING AND FURTAKING SEASONS, DAILY LIMIT, FIELD POSSESSION LIMIT AND SEASON LIMIT OPEN SEASON INCLUDES FIRST AND LAST DATES LISTED

Species	First Day		Last Day	Daily Limit	Field Possession Limit After Second day
Squirrel—(Combined species)1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the required junior license	Sept. 14		Sept. 28	6	18
Squirrel—(Combined species)2	Sept. 14		Nov. 16	6	18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 28, 2025
Ruffed Grouse2	Oct. 19		Nov. 16	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
Rabbit, Cottontail1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the required junior license	Oct. 5		Oct. 19	4	12
Rabbit, Cottontail2	Oct. 19		Nov. 16	4	12
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 28, 2025
Ring-necked Pheasant Central Susquehanna and Franklin County Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas Male only1	As authorized by the Executive Order
Ring-necked Pheasant—Male or Female1 Junior License Holders and Mentored Permit Holders9	Oct. 12		Oct. 19	2	6
Ring-necked Pheasant—Male or Female2	Oct. 26		Nov. 16	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 28, 2025
Bobwhite Quail—There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the area surrounding the Letterkenny Bobwhite Quail Focus Area, as designated in § 141.30 (relating to bobwhite quail recovery area).
Bobwhite Quail2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Mar. 31, 2025
Snowshoe or Varying Hare1	Dec. 26		Jan. 1, 2025	1	3
Woodchuck (Groundhog)2	July 1		Nov. 16	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		June 30, 2025
Crow3 (Hunting permitted on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)	Aug. 22		Mar. 23, 2025	Unlimited
Starling and English Sparrow3	No closed season, except season closed during the regular firearms deer seasons.			Unlimited

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS

 Except as further restricted by this chapter, the seasons, bag limits, hunting hours and hunting regulations for migratory game birds shall conform to regulations adopted by the United States Secretary of the Interior under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 703—712) as published in the Federal Register on or about February 28 of each year. Exceptions:

 (a) Hunting hours in § 141.4 (relating to hunting hours).

 (b) Nontoxic shot as approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is required for use Statewide in hunting and taking of migratory waterfowl.

 (c) Hunting on Sunday not authorized.¹

WILD TURKEY

Species	First Day		Last Day	Daily Limit	Season Limit
Turkey, Fall—Male or Female1				1	1
WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D	Nov. 2		Nov. 16
WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E	Nov. 2		Nov. 9
WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C	Nov. 2		Nov. 16
		and
	Nov. 27		Nov. 29
WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E	Nov. 2		Nov. 22
		and
	Nov. 27		Nov. 29
WMUs 5A and 5B	Nov. 2		Nov. 5
WMUs 5C and 5D	Closed to fall turkey hunting
Turkey, Spring1 Bearded Bird only, Eligible Junior Hunters only, with the required junior license	Apr. 26, 2025		Apr. 26, 2025	1	1
Turkey, Spring1, 4 Bearded Bird only				1	2
	May 3, 2025		May 17, 2025	May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 12 noon
		and
	May 19, 2024		May 31, 2025	May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset

FALCONRY

Species	First Day		Last Day	Daily Limit	Field Possession Limit After Second day
Squirrel—(Combined species)2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	6	18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Quail2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Ruffed Grouse2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Cottontail Rabbits2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	4	12
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Snowshoe or Varying Hare2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	1	3
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Ring-necked Pheasant—Male2 and Female (Combined)	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Mink, Muskrat, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk and Weasel2	Sept. 2		Nov. 16	Unlimited
	and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Mar. 31, 2025
Migratory Game Bird1—Seasons and bag limits shall be in accordance with Federal regulations.

WHITE-TAILED DEER

Species	First Day		Last Day	Season Limit
Deer, Archery (Antlered and Antlerless)2, 5 With the required archery license WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D	Sept. 21		Nov. 16	One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each required anterless license.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 26		Jan. 25, 2025
Deer, Archery (Antlered and Antlerless)2, 5 With the required archery license WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B	Oct. 5		Nov. 16	One antlered deer, and an anterless deer with each required antlerless license.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 22
		and
	Dec. 26		Jan. 20, 2025
Deer, Muzzleloading (Antlerless only)1 With the required muzzleloading license	Oct. 19		Oct. 26	An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Special firearms (Antlerless only) Only Junior and Senior License Holders6 Mentored Permit Holders9, Commission Disabled Person Permit Holders (to use a vehicle as a blind), and Residents serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces or United States Coast Guard	Oct. 24		Oct. 26	An anterless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Regular Firearms (Antlered and Antlerless)2, 5 Statewide	Nov. 30		Nov. 30	One antlered deer, and an
		and		anterless deer with each required anterless license.
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Dec. 14
Deer, Flintlock (Antlered or Antlerless)1, 5 With the required muzzleloading license WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B	Dec. 26		Jan. 20, 2025	One antlered or one antlerless deer, plus an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Flintlock (Antlered or Antlerless)1, 5 With the required muzzleloading license WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D	Dec. 26		Jan. 25, 2025	One antlered or one antlerless deer, plus an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Extended Regular firearms (Antlerless)1 WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D	Dec. 26		Jan. 25, 2025	An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Antlerless1 (Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County and New Cumberland Army Depot, York County and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County)	Hunting is permitted on days established by the United States Department of the Army.			An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

BLACK BEAR

Species	First Day		Last Day	Season Limit
Bear, Archery2, 7 WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D	Sept. 21		Nov. 16	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
Bear, Archery2, 7 WMU 5B	Oct. 5		Nov. 16	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 22
Bear, Archery1, 7 WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A	Oct. 19		Nov. 9	1
Bear, Muzzleloader1, 7 (Statewide )	Oct. 24		Oct. 26	1
Bear, Special firearms7 Only Junior and Senior License Holders6, Mentored Permit Holders9, Commission Disabled Person Permit Holders (to use a vehicle as a blind), and Residents serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, or in the United States Coast Guard (Statewide)	Oct. 24		Oct. 26	1
Bear, Regular Firearms2, 7 (Statewide)	Nov. 23		Nov. 23	1
	and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 26
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D	Nov. 30		Nov. 30	1
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Dec. 14
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A	Nov. 30		Nov. 30	1
	and		.
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
	Dec. 2		Dec. 7

ELK

Species	First Day		Last Day	Season Limit
Elk, Special Conservation Tag1, 8 and Special-License Tag1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Sept. 2		Nov. 9	1
Elk, Archery1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Sept. 14		Sept. 28	1
Elk, Regular1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Nov. 4		Nov. 9	1
Elk, Late1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Dec. 28		Jan. 4, 2025	1

FURTAKING—TRAPPING

Species	First Day		Last Day	Daily Limit	Season Limit
Mink and Muskrat	Nov. 23		Jan. 12, 2025	Unlimited
Beaver	Dec. 21		Mar. 31, 2025
WMUs 1A and 1B (Combined)				20	60
WMUs 2A, 2B and 3C (Combined)				20	40
WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 5C and 5D (Combined)				20	20
WMUs 2G, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B (Combined)				5	5

Species	First Day		Last Day	Season Limit
Coyote, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk and Weasel	Oct. 26		Feb. 23, 2025	Unlimited
Coyote and Fox Use of cable restraint devices authorized with required certification	Dec. 26		Feb. 23, 2025	Unlimited
Bobcat, with required bobcat permit WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Dec. 21		Jan. 12, 2025	1
Fisher, with required fisher permit WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Dec. 21		Jan. 12, 2025	1
River Otter, with required otter permit WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E	Feb. 15, 2025		Feb. 22, 2025	1

FURTAKING—HUNTING

Species	First Day		Last Day	Daily Limit	Season Limit
Coyote—(Outside of any big game season)3	May be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker's license.			Unlimited
Coyote—(During any big game season)	May be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker's license.			Unlimited
Opossum, Striped Skunk, Weasel2	July 1		Nov. 16	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates from July 1—Nov. 29 and Dec. 15—June 30, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30—Dec. 14.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3 Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		June 30, 2025
Fox3	Oct. 26		Feb. 22, 2025	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 26—Nov. 29 and Dec. 15—Feb. 22, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30—Dec. 14.
Raccoon2	Oct. 26		Nov. 16	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates from Oct. 26—Nov. 29 and Dec. 15—Feb. 22, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30—Dec. 14.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 30
		and
	Sun.3, Dec. 1		Sun.3, Dec. 1
		and
	Dec. 2		Feb. 22, 2025
Bobcat, with required bobcat permit1 WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Jan. 11, 2025		Feb. 5, 2025	1	1
Porcupine2	Oct. 12		Nov. 16	3	10
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 17		Sun.3, Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 18		Nov. 23
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 24		Sun.3, Nov. 24
		and
	Nov. 25		Nov. 29
		and
	Dec. 16		Dec. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 1, 2025

 No open seasons on other wild birds or wild mammals.

 ¹ No hunting on Sunday authorized. See 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303 (relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited).

 ² Hunting on Sunday authorized on separately delineated Sunday dates only. See 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303.

 ³ Hunting on Sunday is authorized. See 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303.

 ⁴ Only persons who possess a special wild turkey license as provided for in 34 Pa.C.S. § 2709 (relating to license costs and fees) may take a second spring gobbler during the hunting license year; all other persons, including mentored youth hunters, may take only one spring gobbler. A maximum of 2 spring gobblers per license year may be taken by any combination of licenses or exceptions for mentored youth.

 ⁵ Only one antlered deer (buck) may be taken during the hunting license year.

 ⁶ Includes resident and nonresident license holders who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for the license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under 34 Pa.C.S. § 2706 (relating to resident license and fee exemptions).

 ⁷ Only one bear may be taken during the hunting license year with the required bear license.

 ⁸ Only one elk may be taken during the hunting license year with the required elk license.

 ⁹ Includes mentored youth and mentored adults with a valid mentored hunter permit issued under Chapter 147, Subchapter X (relating to Mentored Hunting Program permit).

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-340. Filed for public inspection March 15, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]

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