Subchapter V. AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE
DEPREDATION PERMIT
Sec.
147.761. Purpose and scope.
147.762. Application.
147.763. Permit.
147.764. Subpermittee.
147.765. Violations.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter V adopted under the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. § § 2121 and 2901.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter V adopted March 28, 2008, effective March 29, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 1473, unless otherwise noted.
§ 147.761. Purpose and scope.
The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for depredation permits to be issued to qualified agricultural landowners to authorize them to secure the assistance of subpermittees, not otherwise individually qualified by section 2121 of the act (relating to killing game or wildlife to protect property) themselves, to destroy game or wildlife causing agricultural damage on lands owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the agricultural landowners.
§ 147.762. Application.
(a) Applications for depredation permits issued under this subchapter shall be made through the district wildlife conservation officer on the appropriate form provided by the Commission.
(b) Applications must identify the name and contact information of the permit applicant, the names and contact information of the subpermittees, the specific location of the subject property owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the applicant, the species of game or wildlife causing damage, the specific nature and extent of the damage caused by the game or wildlife and any additional information the Commission may require.
(c) Applications will only be accepted from persons meeting the following criteria:
(1) The permit applicant meets the definition of a qualified ‘‘person,’’ as defined in section 2121(c) of the act (relating to killing game or wildlife to protect property).
(2) Except in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D, the permit applicant is currently enrolled in one of the Commission public access programs (Farm Game or Safety Zone) for a minimum of 2 years.
(3) The permit applicant possesses a valid agriculture deer control permit if the species sought to be destroyed is white-tailed deer.
(d) Applications shall be accompanied by a copy of the deed, lease or other legal document evidencing the permit applicant to be the owner, lessor or the person in control of the lands to be permitted, including the hunting rights thereon.
§ 147.763. Permit.
A depredation permit issued under this subchapter authorizes the permittee to enlist the aid of a limited number of subpermittees for the purpose of destroying game or wildlife causing agricultural damage on lands owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the permittee.
(1) The maximum number of subpermittees listed may not exceed two per permit, unless the district wildlife conservation officer recommends an increase due to warranted circumstances.
(2) A depredation permit issued under this subchapter is valid at any hour, day or night, but only for the duration of the current permit year.
(3) An annual report shall be submitted on forms supplied by the Commission by July 31 of each permit year.
§ 147.764. Subpermittees.
A depredation permit issued under this subchapter authorizes a limited number of subpermittees, selected by the permittee, to act on behalf of the permittee by destroying game or wildlife causing agricultural damage on lands owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the permittee.
(1) Qualifications. A subpermittee shall be a resident of this Commonwealth, possess a valid resident hunting license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706 of the act (relating to resident license and fee exemptions) and have no prior record of violations of the act or related license revocations within the previous 10 years.
(2) Eligibility. A subpermittee may destroy game or wildlife upon lands owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the permittee only when the game or wildlife is either actually engaged in the material destruction of cultivated crops, fruit trees, vegetables, livestock, poultry or beehives, immediately following the destruction or when there is just cause for reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction.
(3) Lawful devices and methods. A subpermittee shall comply with the arms, ammunition and method restrictions located in section 2126 of the act (relating to unlawful activities) and § 141.19 (relating to killing game or wildlife to protect property). A permittee may further restrict or limit the usage of specific arms, ammunition or methods of destruction as deemed appropriate.
(4) Reporting. A subpermittee shall report all wildlife destroyed within 24 hours to the Commission in the manner required by section 2122 of the act (relating to report to commission officer).
(5) Surrender of carcass. The allowances of section 2124 of the act (relating to retention of edible carcass for food) do not extend to subpermittees. A subpermittee shall surrender the entire carcass, including the head and hide, of all game or wildlife destroyed under this subchapter to the Commission in the manner provided by sections 2123 and 2125 of the act (relating to safekeeping edible carcass pending disposition; and surrender of carcass to commission officer). A subpermittee who surrenders the entire carcass of any game or wildlife destroyed under this subchapter to a food bank or a butcher operating on behalf of a food bank, at the express direction of the district wildlife conservation officer, shall be deemed to have met the surrender requirement.
§ 147.765. Violations.
The Director may deny, revoke or suspend any permit for any violation of this subchapter, specifically including violations of the conditions of the permit or reporting requirements, upon written notice to the permittee.
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