§ 139.3. Authority to alter seasons and bag limits.
(a) Alteration of hunting seasons. If it is determined following review of wildlife surveys and inventory data, that certain wildlife species are available in sufficient number throughout this Commonwealth or in specific areas, or it is determined that inclement weather conditions or other factors resulted in an underharvest of certain species of wildlife, the Director has authority by order to:
(1) Extend hunting or trapping seasons set forth in this chapter.
(2) Designate specific areas where hunting and trapping seasons may be extended.
(3) Increase the bag limits for those species of wildlife listed in this chapter.
(b) Emergency authority of Director. The Director has emergency authority to remove protection on wildlife Statewide, or in a designated area and prohibit its possession alive and order the method of disposal, if he determines the spread of a disease poses a threat to human safety, farm animals, pets and wildlife within or adjacent to this Commonwealth.
(c) Removal of protection on wildlife.
(1) If the Director removes the protection on wildlife in designated areas, except for animals or their parts submitted for laboratory analysis, it is unlawful to:
(i) Remove the wildlife or their carcasses from the areas.
(ii) Possess the wildlife alive.
(2) Nothing in this subsection prevents removal of dried or cured skins of wildlife from the areas where the protection has been removed, if removal poses no threat to other areas of this Commonwealth.
(d) Restrictions. If it is determined due to drought, storm, cold, heat or other uncontrollable circumstances that a specific wildlife population is not at a sufficient level to permit the seasons or bag limits established, the Director may shorten seasons or further restrict bag limits until the conditions improve.
Source The provisions of this § 139.3 adopted July 1, 1948; amended June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended August 24, 1990, effective September 24, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 4488; amended July 15, 2005, effective July 16, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3927; amended June 16, 2006, effective June 17, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 2971. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (312309) to (312310).
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