New hunting season brings high hopes

By CONNIE MERTZ

October ushers in not only a change of seasons with the woodlands and vistas a spectrum of rich oranges, crimsons and yellows; it also signals the start of Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons.

Archers are well aware their fall season opens October 4 and runs to November 15. Hunters can harvest one antlered and one antlerless deer with the proper licensing during the 2003 season. Muzzleloaders need a muzzle-loading license to hunt antlerless deer from October 18 to 25. For junior and senior license holders, disabled persons, people serving active duty in the armed forces and those who possess an antlerless deer hunting license, an antlerless deer hunt will be held from October 23 to 25.

This year, hunters in Pennsylvania need to be aware of new Wildlife Management Units. Rather than have an antlerless license per county, it is now divided into specific segments, which offers hunters more opportunities. “The new units are being used to manage all game except for elk, waterfowl and other migratory game birds,” according to Hunting Digest, which each hunter receives upon purchasing a hunting license. The new units are based on land use and habitat, human density, private and public lands, and recognizable physical features, such as major highways and rivers. Ranging from 1A to 5D, the Hunting Digest gives explicit boundaries of each unit.

Not to be forgotten are unique hunting seasons for youth. Last year, Pennsylvania offered its first youth pheasant hunt. This year, the state has scheduled the hunt for October 11 and 13. More than 18,000 pheasants will be released at specific sites. It is open to licensed and unlicensed junior hunters from 12 to 16 years old, but each youth must have previously completed the Hunter-Trapper Education Course. An adult must accompany the youth hunters, and all bag limits and other regulations must be followed. The youth squirrel hunt is also scheduled for October 11 and 13.

Obviously, deer hunting remains the state’s most popular big game season. Last year, new antler restrictions, forcing hunters to harvest three or four point antlered deer to one side, will again be in effect. Dr. Gary Alt—as familiar to PA hunters as the whitetail itself—tells hunters that passing up the younger bucks last year sets the stage for trophy-size bucks this year. The game biologist also said, “In the long term, hunters will likely see more and larger bucks than they have ever seen before. By increasing the number and age of bucks in the deer population, a more natural breeding ecology will be established.”

Alt comments that last year’s new restrictions were successful. He said that they did increase the doe harvest and lower the buck harvest, which was the goal. While it is reported that most hunters accepted the new regulations without complaint, there were hunters who found it difficult to determine if the bucks they were seeing had at least three or four points to one side. The three or four antler point restrictions depend on the specific location deer hunting is taking place.

There is a clause in the game law that allows for mistaken kills, however. Hunters at fault still pay $25 for each mistaken deer kill as long as they adhere to the specific instruction of reporting mistakes to the local WCO. If it is believed the deer or game was taken by negligence or carelessness, hunters are subject to a $500 fine plus loss of a PA hunting license. I received complaints about this procedure last year; for if hunters are honest, they may still be accused of not identifying the deer before shooting and end up paying a hefty fine.

Mentored pheasant hunts are also available by sportsmen’s organizations. It is advised that junior hunters check the PA Game Commission’s website for a listing of mentored youth pheasant hunts. Visit pgc.state.pa.us.

Despite any misgivings about PA’s new deer hunting regulations, hunters will enjoy another exciting year, whether a youth or senior hunter, whether an archer, muzzleloader or rifle hunter—it’s all here in Pennsylvania.