Pennsylvania Game News - September 2015 - 49

JUNE COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Rabbits, doves could open to Mentored Youth
Change up for final vote in September, would become effective in 2016-17.
Mentored youth hunters could see
expanded opportunities in the 201617 license year, to begin about a year
from now.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game
Commissioners in June gave preliminary approval to a measure that would
add rabbits and mourning doves to the
list of species mentored youth hunters
may pursue.
The Mentored Youth Hunting Program was established in 2006 as a way
to give youth under the age of 12 an
opportunity to experience hunting in
a tightly controlled setting under the
close supervision of an adult mentor.
The program has been successful and
safe, and the list of species that can be
pursued by mentored youth hunters has
been expanded over the years.
In casting their preliminary vote, the

commissioners pointed out that sporting organizations and other interested
groups have continued to encourage the
Game Commission to expand mentored
youth hunting opportunities and, particularly, to add rabbits and mourning
doves to the list.
"This action to further expand mentored youth hunting is being championed by the Board of Game Commissioners in response to direction from
our hunting community to do more for
young hunters," noted David Putnam,
Board president.
If the measure gains final approval,
mentored youth hunters still would
need a migratory game bird license to
hunt and harvest mourning doves.
The measure will be up for final
approval at the Sept. 29 meeting in
DuBois.

Middle Creek hunters could be limited to 1 goose

Proposal aims to improve hunter success rates in the controlled goose hunting area.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Com- claimed blind later that same season, abiding
missioners in June gave preliminary approval by the controlled area's daily bag limit of
to a one-per-season limit on geese within one goose.
Hunter success rates in recent years have
the controlled goose hunting area at Middle
Creek Wildlife Management Area, in the declined within the controlled goose hunting
area due in part to declining resident goose
southeastern part of the state.
If given final approval in September, the populations, fewer migrant geese and higher
change would take effect in the 2015-16 harvest rates on geese in areas surrounding
Middle Creek.
hunting season.
Implementing a season limit is among the
Hunters still would be selected by lottery
to hunt from blinds within the controlled changes aimed at increasing hunter success
goose hunting area and, has been the case, and resident goose populations. September
season hunting is closed on State Game Lands
each can harvest only one goose per day.
Previously, however, hunters who had 46, which includes Middle Creek.
The final vote is scheduled to take place
been successful from a Middle Creek blind
were able to reapply to hunt from an un- at the Sept. 29 meeting.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - September 2015