Deer and bear at the same hunt–racked bucks only

As the 2001/2002 hunting season winds down, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is making plans for next year. And if this year’s season format has left you saying, “I never thought I’d live to see the day,” you certainly have some big surprises waiting next year. Along with other changes, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has given preliminary approval to antler restrictions and an expanded bear-hunting season in the Pocono Mountains for the 2002-2003 seasons.

Next year’s deer season will run the same as this past year, concurrent deer seasons and all, but with two notable additions: antler restrictions and bears are being added to the bag.

Deer hunters in the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland will be required to abide by a “four or more points to one antler” restriction. In all other counties, hunters will have a “three or more points to one antler” restriction. That’s it folks, racked-buck-only hunting is here.

An antlerless deer will remain defined as “a deer without antlers, or a deer with antlers both of which are less than three inches in length.” 

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners also gave preliminary approval to create a second bear-hunting season that would run from December 2-7 (first week of concurrent rifle deer seasons) in Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties. This season would be in addition to the regular statewide bear season, which was preliminarily set for November 25-27.

“This new approach in bear management aims to resolve bear problems at the source,” said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. “It’s a logical progression for our program, one that should provide relief to the people in some sections of the Poconos who have endured almost intolerable bear problems for years.”

In 2001, bear hunters in Pike, Carbon and Monroe counties took 303 bears, reduced from the 345 bears hunters took in the same three counties in 2000.

The proposal to establish a second bear season in Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties was developed by the Game Commission’s Nuisance Black Bear Management Committee, which was created in response to growing complaints about bear conflicts with residents.

Officials at the commission say they expect all proposed changes and additions to be adopted at the spring meeting.

Upper Delaware Field Notes

• Pennsylvania’s second modern-day elk season will pretty much mirror the format used for the historic and successful hunt last November, when 27 of 30 elk license holders filled their tags. The 2001 elk season, the state’s first in 70 years, attracted widespread interest with more than 50,000 applicants for the 30 available licenses.
• The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners also gave preliminary approval to a slate of 2002-2003 seasons and bag limits for small game and wild turkey hunting seasons, including a new youth pheasant-hunting season.
• The new youth pheasant season will be held concurrently with the annual junior squirrel hunt on October 12 and 14.

Until next time, be safe and good luck!