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Ok, the GC has gotten final approval on the seasons and limits. I isnt as bad as we made it out to be but nonetheless it is still a big change, pay attention the the dates for Jrs and seniors also the Muzzleloaders in october, right in the middle of archery season. This was taken right from the PGC web page.
ANTLER RESTRICTIONS FOR DEER SEASONS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL
Following a lengthy debate, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to new deer hunting seasons and bag limits for 2002-2003 that include a modified version of statewide antler restrictions. In approving the 2002-2003 antlerless license allocations, the Board also revived a requirement that unsold tags - those not sold after the first round of resident and nonresident applications are filled - must be used on private land only.
Under the plan approved by a vote of 4-3, antler restrictions would be broken down into four categories:
-- In a 10-county area of western Pennsylvania, hunters will be required to abide by a four-point on one side antler restriction. Those counties are: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland;
-- In the six Special Regulations Areas counties of Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia, hunters will be able to abide by the previous antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points;
-- In all other counties, hunters will be required to abide by a three-point on one side antler restriction; and
-- Statewide, all junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle and active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel will be able to abide by the previous antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.
On Monday, the Board received the results of a survey conducted by Penn State University for the Game Commission, and funded by Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance. The survey showed that 57 percent of Pennsylvania resident deer hunters polled supported antler restrictions. The scientifically-valid, statistically-valid survey was completed by 736 individuals.
Also, a proposal given preliminary approval in January to allow junior hunters to use their general license tag to take an antlerless deer in any county of the state was rejected.
"Of all the things that could improve our deer breeding ecology and increase the number and size of bucks in the herd, nothing would do it as quickly and dramatically - and be accepted by hunters - as changing our antler restrictions," said Dr. Gary Alt, Game Commission Deer Management Section supervisor. "Our traditional antler restriction required bucks to have two or more points on one antler or a spike three or more inches in length. By increasing the number of points required to be legal, we will protect a significant percentage of younger bucks by allowing them to live longer. This should increase enormously the number of bucks living at least one more year, and, in the long term, hunters will likely see more and larger bucks than they have ever seen before.
"To suggest that antler restrictions are just about 'trophy hunting,' is unfair and less than accurate. In fact, the issue is much more important than that. By increasing the number and the age of bucks in the deer population, a much more natural breeding ecology than we have ever seen in our entire lives will be established; one where dominant bucks compete for breeding rights rather than any buck, regardless of age, being able to breed."
The Board also gave final approval to define a "point" as "an antler projection at least one inch in length from base to tip, the brow tine and main beam tip shall be counted as points regardless of length." Also, the Board gave final approval to define "protected deer" as "a deer not defined as an antlered deer or antlerless deer."
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."
Alt stressed that over the past 70 years, hunters have overharvested bucks and underharvested does, which has led to an imbalance in the ratio of bucks in prime breeding age (between 4 and 8 years of age) to does. In fact, in some areas, the ratio between bucks age 3.5 years or older to does age 1.5 years or older is 1-to-22.
The remaining deer seasons and bag limits for 2002-2003 are the same as last year.
Following is an overview of the preliminarily approved seasons.
A concurrent rifle deer season from Dec. 2-14. In order to harvest a doe during the concurrent seasons, all hunters must possess a valid county-specific antlerless deer license for the county in which they are hunting.
A firearms antlerless deer season from Oct. 24-26, for junior or senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) holders, or Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, who possess the appropriate county-specific antlerless deer license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach age 65 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.
A muzzleloader season for antlerless deer from Oct.19-26, with the required county-specific antlerless deer license. The flintlock muzzleloader season, which is set for Dec. 26-Jan. 11, continues to be an antlered or antlerless season, provided the hunter possesses the appropriate licenses.
Archery seasons will be Oct. 5-Nov. 16, and from Dec. 26-Jan. 11.
In addition to the statewide concurrent rifle deer season, an antlerless deer hunting season in the Special Regulations Areas counties (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia) will be Dec. 26-Jan.11.
Based on the need to increase the antlerless harvest to make room for the roughly 85,000 antlered deer that are expected to be protected by the new antler restrictions, Commissioners approved a statewide antlerless license allocation of 922,600. (These figures do not include the six Special Regulation Area counties. The statewide total, including the Special Regulation Area counties, is 1,029,350. For details, please see regional breakdown of county-by-county allocations at the end of the release.)
In his presentation, Dr. Alt noted that this was a one-year increase in antlerless licenses, which may be decreased in the 2003-2004 season. With the goal of implementing new deer management units in 2003-2004, Dr. Alt noted that agency will be able to more appropriately direct hunter pressure to those areas in most need.
The Board today also gave preliminary approval to re-establish the category of antlerless deer licenses for use on privately-owned lands only. Private land only tags will become available in any county with unsold antlerless licenses as of Aug. 26. First created for the 2000-2001 deer season, then defeated for the 2001-2002 deer seasons, private land only tags also may be used on publicly-owned lands with a deer management plan that has been approved by the Game Commission. This provision must be given final approval at the June meeting before taking effect
I read that in a magazine article recently, but it might have been propaganda for all I know. Before I miss state fact, I will look it up, and get back to you on where I read it.
7mm nut,
So you're the reason why there are no more UNICORNS left? (LOL)
What scares me folks is that PA as always been on the leading edge of progressive conservation methods. The East Coast almost always eventually goes along with what PA does. I have always felt that there were state biologist in Albany NY that were egging on PA to do something first so they could be the field test sight for what NY wanted to do. And I know there is a strong desire by some here in NY to do QDM.
Heck, most the small bucks where I live will not live past two years old anyway. They are ether going to get hit by a car, eaten by a coyote, or harvested by a hunter, and in that order too. I fear you can soon add disease to that list.
QDM, It's coming, I can just feel it.
Trinity+++
"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."(Proverbs 22:6)
Any "good" buck 1-1/2 years and up should have at least 8 points. Even these youngins have little 8 point basket racks. I like to shoot any buck that has 7 or less points, don't shoot anything with 8 or better until it a fully mature (5-1/2 year or better) and then judge on age, rack, etc. Lot of people don't agree with this but then a lot do. If you're hunting for meat, take the does that need to be harvested and the 6 point or less bucks. Leave the others to grow good racks for the trophy hunters. KG
Comments
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/PGC/newsroom/2002/nr027-02.htm
ANTLER RESTRICTIONS FOR DEER SEASONS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL
Following a lengthy debate, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to new deer hunting seasons and bag limits for 2002-2003 that include a modified version of statewide antler restrictions. In approving the 2002-2003 antlerless license allocations, the Board also revived a requirement that unsold tags - those not sold after the first round of resident and nonresident applications are filled - must be used on private land only.
Under the plan approved by a vote of 4-3, antler restrictions would be broken down into four categories:
-- In a 10-county area of western Pennsylvania, hunters will be required to abide by a four-point on one side antler restriction. Those counties are: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland;
-- In the six Special Regulations Areas counties of Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia, hunters will be able to abide by the previous antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points;
-- In all other counties, hunters will be required to abide by a three-point on one side antler restriction; and
-- Statewide, all junior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle and active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel will be able to abide by the previous antler restrictions of one antler of three or more inches in length or one antler with at least two points.
On Monday, the Board received the results of a survey conducted by Penn State University for the Game Commission, and funded by Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance. The survey showed that 57 percent of Pennsylvania resident deer hunters polled supported antler restrictions. The scientifically-valid, statistically-valid survey was completed by 736 individuals.
Also, a proposal given preliminary approval in January to allow junior hunters to use their general license tag to take an antlerless deer in any county of the state was rejected.
"Of all the things that could improve our deer breeding ecology and increase the number and size of bucks in the herd, nothing would do it as quickly and dramatically - and be accepted by hunters - as changing our antler restrictions," said Dr. Gary Alt, Game Commission Deer Management Section supervisor. "Our traditional antler restriction required bucks to have two or more points on one antler or a spike three or more inches in length. By increasing the number of points required to be legal, we will protect a significant percentage of younger bucks by allowing them to live longer. This should increase enormously the number of bucks living at least one more year, and, in the long term, hunters will likely see more and larger bucks than they have ever seen before.
"To suggest that antler restrictions are just about 'trophy hunting,' is unfair and less than accurate. In fact, the issue is much more important than that. By increasing the number and the age of bucks in the deer population, a much more natural breeding ecology than we have ever seen in our entire lives will be established; one where dominant bucks compete for breeding rights rather than any buck, regardless of age, being able to breed."
The Board also gave final approval to define a "point" as "an antler projection at least one inch in length from base to tip, the brow tine and main beam tip shall be counted as points regardless of length." Also, the Board gave final approval to define "protected deer" as "a deer not defined as an antlered deer or antlerless deer."
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."
Alt stressed that over the past 70 years, hunters have overharvested bucks and underharvested does, which has led to an imbalance in the ratio of bucks in prime breeding age (between 4 and 8 years of age) to does. In fact, in some areas, the ratio between bucks age 3.5 years or older to does age 1.5 years or older is 1-to-22.
The remaining deer seasons and bag limits for 2002-2003 are the same as last year.
Following is an overview of the preliminarily approved seasons.
A concurrent rifle deer season from Dec. 2-14. In order to harvest a doe during the concurrent seasons, all hunters must possess a valid county-specific antlerless deer license for the county in which they are hunting.
A firearms antlerless deer season from Oct. 24-26, for junior or senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) holders, or Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, who possess the appropriate county-specific antlerless deer license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach age 65 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.
A muzzleloader season for antlerless deer from Oct.19-26, with the required county-specific antlerless deer license. The flintlock muzzleloader season, which is set for Dec. 26-Jan. 11, continues to be an antlered or antlerless season, provided the hunter possesses the appropriate licenses.
Archery seasons will be Oct. 5-Nov. 16, and from Dec. 26-Jan. 11.
In addition to the statewide concurrent rifle deer season, an antlerless deer hunting season in the Special Regulations Areas counties (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia) will be Dec. 26-Jan.11.
Based on the need to increase the antlerless harvest to make room for the roughly 85,000 antlered deer that are expected to be protected by the new antler restrictions, Commissioners approved a statewide antlerless license allocation of 922,600. (These figures do not include the six Special Regulation Area counties. The statewide total, including the Special Regulation Area counties, is 1,029,350. For details, please see regional breakdown of county-by-county allocations at the end of the release.)
In his presentation, Dr. Alt noted that this was a one-year increase in antlerless licenses, which may be decreased in the 2003-2004 season. With the goal of implementing new deer management units in 2003-2004, Dr. Alt noted that agency will be able to more appropriately direct hunter pressure to those areas in most need.
The Board today also gave preliminary approval to re-establish the category of antlerless deer licenses for use on privately-owned lands only. Private land only tags will become available in any county with unsold antlerless licenses as of Aug. 26. First created for the 2000-2001 deer season, then defeated for the 2001-2002 deer seasons, private land only tags also may be used on publicly-owned lands with a deer management plan that has been approved by the Game Commission. This provision must be given final approval at the June meeting before taking effect
I read that in a magazine article recently, but it might have been propaganda for all I know. Before I miss state fact, I will look it up, and get back to you on where I read it.
7mm nut,
So you're the reason why there are no more UNICORNS left? (LOL)
What scares me folks is that PA as always been on the leading edge of progressive conservation methods. The East Coast almost always eventually goes along with what PA does. I have always felt that there were state biologist in Albany NY that were egging on PA to do something first so they could be the field test sight for what NY wanted to do. And I know there is a strong desire by some here in NY to do QDM.
Heck, most the small bucks where I live will not live past two years old anyway. They are ether going to get hit by a car, eaten by a coyote, or harvested by a hunter, and in that order too. I fear you can soon add disease to that list.
QDM, It's coming, I can just feel it.
Trinity+++
"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."(Proverbs 22:6)