2006-07 Hunting Seasons

The preliminary 2006-07 hunting seasons have been approved.

Looks like we might get a chance to shoot a bear during archery season.

The Board also added a two-day archery bear season for WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D for Nov. 15-16.

Deer seasons remain practically the same:

The framework nearly mirrors that of the previous four years.
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Antler restrictions will continue for the 2006-07 seasons.

More opportunities to kill an elk in PA will exist:

The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to Pennsylvania’s upcoming elk seasons, including the added opportunity for hunters to take part in a late-September hunt in 2007, which has been requested by farmers around St. Marys, Elk County.

Turkeys face more threats too:

[C]rossbows would be legal to use as early as the 2006 spring gobbler season.

The Board also gave preliminary approval to a slate of 2006-07 turkey seasons, including: a one-bird fall turkey season that varies depending on WMU; a two-bird statewide spring gobbler season; and a one-day youth only spring gobbler season.

Here are the proposed hunting seasons (visit the PGC site for the trapping seasons):

PROPOSED 2006-07 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 7-13 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Fall Season – Oct. 14-Nov. 25; Late Seasons – Dec. 11-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 3 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 14-Nov. 25, Dec. 11-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 27 (2 daily, 4 possession). There is no open season for taking ruffed grouse in that portion of State Game Lands No. 176 in Centre County which is posted “RESEARCH AREA – NO GROUSE HUNTING.”

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 21-Nov. 25, Dec. 11-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 3 (4 daily, 8 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 7-13 (2 daily, 4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. Male and female pheasants may be taken in all other WMUs.

PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D – Oct. 21-Nov. 25. Male and female in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D – Oct. 21- Nov. 25, Dec. 11-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 3 (2 daily, 4 in possession).

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 21-Nov. 25 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26-Jan. 1 (1 daily, 2 possession).

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except: Sundays, during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons; and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season.

CROWS: July 1-Nov. 25 and Dec. 29-April 1, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): Wildlife Management Units 1A and 1B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 28-Nov. 11; WMU 2A and 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 28-Nov. 18; WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, 4B, and 4D – Oct. 28-Nov. 11; WMUs 2D, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 28-Nov. 18; WMUs 5A and 5B – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 28-Nov. 3. (1 bird limit, either sex).

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license – April 21, 2006. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during the license year.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 28-May 26, 2007. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may only be taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.)

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D) Bow and Arrow only: Nov. 15-16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 20-22. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E): Nov. 27-Dec. 2. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Rockview State Correctional Institution): Nov. 27-Dec. 2. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. Prior approval must be obtained from prison to hunt.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 6-11. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 17-22, 2007. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Sept. 30-Nov. 11 and Dec. 26-Jan. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Nov. 27-Dec. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

ANTLERLESS DEER (Statewide): Oct. 19-21. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the 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. 14-21. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 13. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, Antlerless (WMUs 2B): Dec. 26-Jan. 13. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, Antlerless (WMUs 5C and 5D): Dec. 11-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 27. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.