Hunting & Trapping Digest 2008-2009 - (Page 32) BIG GAME REGULATIONS Lawful Arms & Ammunition: Deer and Bear: Regular Seasons - 1) Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all lead bullet or ball, or bullet designed to expand on impact; 2) muzzleloading long guns of any type, 44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun 50 caliber or larger; and 3) long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with broadheads of cutting edge design. The use of buckshot is not legal, except in the Southeast Special Regulations Area. Elk: 1) Manually operated centerfire rifles and handguns at least 27 caliber using all lead projectiles or bullets of at least 130 grains designed to expand on impact; 2) shotguns at least 12-gauge; 3) muzzleloading firearms (including handguns) at least 50 caliber propelling a single projectile weighing at least 210 grains; 4) bow with a minimum draw weight of 45 pounds; 5) any arrow with a broadhead with an outside diameter or width of at least one inch and at least two fixed, steel cutting edges with each cutting edge on the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface, and legal crossbows. Deer - Archery Seasons: Long, recurve and compound bows and broadheads of cutting edge design. Persons hunting deer in the archery seasons may not possess a firearm, except those individuals who have a License to Carry Firearms permit, and then only those firearms authorized by the permit (most sporting arms are not authorized). Muzzleloading firearms can also be carried by bowhunters during any muzzleloading season, providing the hunter has an archery license and a muzzleloader license and meets the fluorescent orange requirements of the muzzleloader season. Crossbows permitted during archery season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D by hunters who possess an archery stamp in addition to their general hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless deer license. seasons. Hunters using crossbows during the early muzzleloader season or late flintlock season would need to have a muzzleloader stamp in addition to their general hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless deer license. However, late season flintlock hunters using a crossbow would be permitted to take an antlered deer or an antlerless deer anywhere in the state with their unused antlered deer tag, just like other late season flintlock hunters. Fall Turkey Season: 1) Manually operated rifles and handguns, including rimfires; 2) manually operated and autoloading shotguns limited to no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined; 3) muzzleloading shotguns, rifles and handguns; and 4) long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with broadheads of cutting edge design. Single projectile ammunition or shotshell pellets no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin and tungsten-iron, and No. 2 steel. During the fall season in WMU 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5C and 5D, only shotguns and long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with broadheads of cutting edge design are permitted. Spring Gobbler Season: 1) Manually operated and autoloading shotguns limited to no more than three rounds in the chamber and magazine combined; 2) muzzleloading shotguns of all types and gauges; and 3) long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with broadheads of cutting edge design. Shotgun fine shot pellets only, no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin, and tungsten-iron, or No. 2 steel. Rifle/shotgun combinations may be used if ammunition is confined to shotgun shells. Carrying or using single projectile ammunition, rifles, handguns, dogs, electronic callers, drives and live decoys is unlawful. Hunting by calling only. Noon is closing time and hunters should be out of the woods by 1 p.m. Restrictions: Bow & Arrow Equipment Definitions: Arrow - A projectile shot from a bow with an overall length exceeding the brace height of the bow with fletching designed only for guidance at the aft end and a broadhead mounted on the fore-end. No electronic tracking device shall be part of or attached to the arrow. No device, material or system capable of causing damage or injury to the animal in excess of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead shall be part of or attached to any arrow. Bow - A device for launching an arrow, which derives its propulsive energy solely from the bending and recovery of two limbs. The energy used to propel the arrow may not be derived from another source. These limitations shall not exclude the mechanical leverage advantage provided by eccentric wheels or cams so long as the energy stored in the bend limbs of the bow is the sole result of a single, continuous and direct pulling effort by the shooter. No track, trough, channel or other device capable of mechanically holding the bow at full or partial draw shall be attached to the bow. The bowstring must be drawn, held and released as a direct and conscious action by the shooter. Release shall be accomplished by either relaxing the tension of the fingers or triggering the release action of a manually held release aid. Bow shall have a peak draw weight not less than 35 pounds. Broadhead - Shall have an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8-inch with no less than two cutting edges. Cutting edges shall be in the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface. Broadheads shall not exceed three inches in length measured from the tip of the broadhead to the point that fits against the arrow shaft. Crossbow - Must have a draw weight not less than 125 pounds and not more than 200 pounds. Muzzleloader Seasons: October Antlerless Deer Season - Any single-barrel muzzleloading long gun with flintlock, in-line or percussion ignition 44 caliber or larger, or 50 caliber or larger handgun. Scope sights permitted. Late Flintlock Season - Flintlock ignition, single-barrel long guns manufactured prior to 1800, or a similar reproduction of an original muzzleloading single-barrel long gun 44 caliber or larger, or 50 caliber or larger handgun, using a single projectile. It is unlawful to use telescopic sights. Crossbows are permitted during the muzzleloader Hunting Parties: It is unlawful to hunt deer, elk or bears in a party of more than 25 persons. Bear Season: It is unlawful to 1) kill a bear in a den; 2) use a radio to locate a bear to which a radio transmitter has been attached. Organized Drives: It is unlawful to drive or herd elk. For deer and bear an unlicensed person who has never held a hunting license in Pennsylvania or any other state may participate in a drive for a properly licensed hunter providing the following requirements are met: The person remains in sight and close to a hunter at least 18 years of age; the unlicensed person does not possess any firearm, bow or other hunting device; the person complies with requirements for wearing fluorescent orange; and the person is listed, if mandated, on a hunting roster as a member of the hunting party. The ratio of licensed hunters to non-licensed hunters must not exceed 1:1. Dogs: It is unlawful to use dogs to hunt elk, bears or deer. Permanent Camp Rosters: If five or more persons hunt together from a permanent camp and cooperate to drive deer or bears, they must maintain a roster in duplicate. A copy must be carried by the drive leader and the other posted at the headquarters for 30 days following close of season. Roster must include license year, name of camp or party, location, township, county, name of each member, all required hunting license numbers, date of arrival and departure, firearm caliber, game harvested, including sex, date, weight and number of points if applicable. Treestands: It is unlawful while hunting or preparing to hunt to 1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a treestand or using a portable treestand or device to climb a tree; and 2) use or occupy a treestand which, when constructed, damages a tree. This does not apply to landowners constructing stands on their own property, or persons who have received written permission from a landowner to build or use a treestand. Shooting at Random: During the open seasons for deer and bears, it is unlawful to shoot at any target other than legal game. Target shooting is lawful only when done: 1) on property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner; 2) within 200 yards of a camp or headquarters where the shooter is either quartered or an invited guest; 3) at an established shooting range. The target must be protected by a natural or artificial barrier so that the bullet or arrow cannot travel more than 15 yards beyond the target. Blinds: Blinds can be used for big game (see turkey section for specifics for blinds while turkey hunting), however, the required amount of fluorescent orange must be worn while in the blind, or a minimum of 100 square inches of fluorescent orange material (orange alert band will suffice) must be displayed within 15 feet of the blind and visible in a 360-degree arc.
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.