§ 141.44. Bear seasons.
(a) Archery bear season.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt bear during the archery bear season with any of the following devices:
(i) A bow and arrow. A bow must have a peak draw weight of at least 35 pounds. An arrow must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.
(ii) A crossbow and bolt. A crossbow must have a peak draw weight of at least 125 pounds. A bolt must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting bear during the archery bear season, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess a firearm. Exceptions:
(A) A person may possess certain firearms during the archery bear season under the authorizations of section 2525 of the act (relating to possession of firearm for protection of self or others).
(B) A person may possess and use both a bow or crossbow and a muzzleloading firearm during the overlaps of the archery and muzzleloader bear seasons if that person is in possession of a valid bear license and meets the greater protective material requirements for the muzzleloader bear season, if applicable.
(C) A person may possess and use both a bow or crossbow and a muzzleloading firearm during the overlaps of the archery bear season and muzzleloader deer season if that person is in possession of both a valid bear license and a valid muzzleloader deer license and meets the greater protective material requirements for the muzzleloader deer season, if applicable.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(iii) Disturb, wound or kill a bear in a den.
(iv) Assist, conspire or use a device to locate a bear to which a transmitter has been attached.
(b) Muzzleloading bear season.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt bear during the muzzleloading bear season with any of the following devices:
(i) A muzzleloading firearm. The firearm must be a .44 caliber or larger single-barrel long gun or a .50 caliber or larger single-barrel handgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(ii) A bow and arrow as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(i).
(iii) A crossbow and bolt as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(ii).
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting bear during the muzzleloading bear season, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess multiple projectile ammunition or ammunition other than required under section 2322(a)(4) of the act (relating to prohibited devices and methods), except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(iii) Disturb, wound or kill a bear in a den.
(iv) Assist, conspire or use a device to locate a bear to which a transmitter has been attached.
(c) Regular and extended firearms bear seasons.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt bear during the regular and extended firearms bear seasons with any of the following devices:
(i) A manually operated, centerfire rifle or handgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(ii) A manually operated or semiautomatic, centerfire shotgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(iii) A bow and arrow as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(i).
(iv) A crossbow and bolt as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(ii).
(v) A muzzleloading firearm as permitted under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting for bear during the regular and extended firearms bear seasons, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess multiple projectile ammunition or ammunition other than required under section 2322(a)(4) of the act, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(iii) Disturb, wound or kill a bear in a den.
(iv) Assist, conspire or use a device to locate a bear to which a transmitter has been attached.
Authority The provisions of this § 141.44 amended under 34 Pa.C.S. § 2102(a) and (d).
Source The provisions of this § 141.44 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended February 27, 2009, effective February 28, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 1110; amended June 5, 2009, effective June 6, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2801; amended June 22, 2012, effective June 23, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 3591; amended May 23, 2014, effective May 24, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 3091; amended May 12, 2017, effective May 13, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 2710; amended June 1, 2018, effective June 2, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 3325; amended May 1, 2020, effective May 2, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 2265. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (302104) to (302106).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 141.1 (relating to special regulations areas).
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