Hunting licenses will go on sale in mid-June and become effective July 1.
Here are some highlights of the seasons approved Tuesday. They are listed by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU):
- Wild turkey (male or female): WMU 1B – Oct. 29-Nov. 5; WMUs 1A and 2A – Oct. 29-Nov. 5 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 24-26.
- Spring gobbler (bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 22, 2017. Only one spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
- Spring gobbler (bearded bird only): April 29-May 31, 2017. Daily limit is one and season limit is 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From April 29-May 13, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 15-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
- Black bear (statewide) Archery: Nov. 14-18. Only one bear may be taken during the license year.
- Black bear (statewide): Nov. 19-23. Only one bear may be taken during the license year.
- Black bear (WMUs 1B, 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Only one bear may be taken during the license year.
- Elk, extended (antlered and antlerless): Nov. 7-12. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 5, in designated areas.
- Deer, archery (antlered and antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 26-Jan. 14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
- Deer (antlered only) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Nov. 28-Dec. 2. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.)
- Deer (antlered and antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Dec. 3-10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
- Deer (antlerless) (statewide): Oct. 20-22. Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Youth Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
- Deer (antlerless muzzleloader) (statewide): Oct. 15-22. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
- Deer (antlered or antlerless flintlock) (statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 14. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
- Waterfowl and migratory game bird seasons to be established in accordance with federal regulations this summer.
- Trapping seasons
- Minks and muskrats: Nov. 19-Jan. 8. Unlimited.
- Coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons, striped skunks and weasels: Oct. 23-Feb. 19. No limit.
- Coyotes and foxes (statewide). Cable restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 19. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
- Beavers (statewide): Dec. 26-March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
- Bobcats (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 17-Jan. 8. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
- Fishers (WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4D and 4E): Dec. 17-28. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
The commissioners also set the number of antlerless deer and elk licenses to be allocated for the coming license year.
The board voted to allocate 748,000 antlerless deer licenses statewide. Allocations by WMU are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses: WMU 1A – 46,000 (46,000); WMU 1B – 29,000 (29,000); WMU 2D – 55,000 (55,000); WMU 2F – 22,000 (22,000).
The board voted to issue 124 elk licenses (25 antlered, 99 antlerless) for the 2016 hunt.
The licenses again will be awarded by lottery, and the deadline to enter the drawing is July 31.
Elk applications cost $10.70 and only one application may be submitted each license year.
After hunters purchase a general hunting license, they may apply for antlerless deer licenses based on staggered timelines, which will be outlined in the 2016-17 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest presented to each license buyer.
Additional information and a full listing of the approved seasons is available at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
