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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-1274

NOTICES

GAME COMMISSION

Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area; Wild Pheasant Youth Hunt

[47 Pa.B. 4231]
[Saturday, July 29, 2017]

Executive Order

Whereas, On March 28, 2017, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (Commission) amended 58 Pa. Code § 141.28 (relating to wild pheasant recovery areas) to allow the Director to authorize permit based, youth-only pheasant hunting opportunities in the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area (WPRA); and

Whereas, Section 141.28 authorizes the Director to establish the number of hunting access permits to be issued, the manner of distribution for the hunting access permits to be raffled off by an eligible organization, the application deadline, the date, time and location for the random drawing, and the designation of one or more pheasant hunt zones within the WPRA prior to the opening of the earliest established youth pheasant season; and

Whereas, Commission staff, in consultation with national and local representatives of Pheasants Forever, have determined that a youth wild pheasant hunt is feasible for the 2017/2018 hunting license year after review of wild pheasant population levels and pertinent logistical considerations.

Now Therefore, I, Bryan J. Burhans, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Game and Wildlife Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, do hereby order and direct the following:

 1. Permit Quota: The limited youth pheasant hunting opportunity within the Central Susquehanna WPRA will consist of a total of 48 hunting access permits. Distribution of these permits will be as follows:

 a. A total of 5 Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits will be made available to the Pennsylvania Pheasants Forever Chapters (1 each) currently supporting a WPRA within this Commonwealth for further distribution to eligible youth hunters. This will include the Cumberland Valley Chapter, Somerset Chapter, Schuylkill County Chapter, Tri-County Chapter and the Central Susquehanna Chapter. These permits shall be made available by each authorized Chapter through a random drawing process.

 b. A total of 9 Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits will be made available to a random selection of supporting landowners within the Central Susquehanna WPRA for further distribution to eligible youth hunters of their designation.

 c. A total of 34 Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits will be made available to eligible youth hunters selected from the general public through a random drawing process more fully described in paragraph 2 below.

 2. Public Drawing:

 a. Eligibility: Applicants for the Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits must be between the ages of 12 and 16 years of age and possess a valid junior hunting license.

 b. Application: Applications for the Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits shall be made on a form provided by the Commission and received by the Commission's Bureau of Wildlife Management at 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110 by the close of business on Friday, August 11, 2017.

 c. Drawing: The Commission will conduct the random drawing of successful applicants for the Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits at its Harrisburg headquarters at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 18, 2017.

 d. Fee: Participation in the public drawing and acquisition of Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permits by successful applicants will be free of charge.

 3. Pheasant Hunt:

 a. Hunt Zone: The Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunt zone will consist of the current Central Susquehanna WPRA boundary set forth in 58 Pa. Code § 141.28(a)(2).

 b. Hunt Dates: The Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunt will be open to properly permitted youth hunters only on their assigned hunting date. The available dates are either Saturday, November 4, 2017 or Saturday, November 11, 2017.

 c. Bag Limit: Each Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunting access permit authorizes its holder to harvest 1 male ring-necked pheasant within the Central Susquehanna WPRA hunt zone on the permitted youth hunter's assigned hunting date.

 d. Hunt locations: Distribution and assignment of hunting locations for permitted youth hunters within the Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunt zone will be facilitated by the Central Susquehanna Chapter of Pheasants Forever in coordination with participating landowners.

 e. Accompaniment: Each permitted youth hunter shall be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian throughout the Central Susquehanna WPRA pheasant hunt as set forth in 34 Pa.C.S. § 2711(a)(8) (relating to unlawful acts concerning licenses).

 f. Mentorship: Each permitted youth hunter will be paired with another permitted youth hunter and assigned to a mentor designated by the Central Susquehanna Chapter of Pheasants Forever. Hunt mentors are intended to serve as a guide to the youth hunters during their hunting activities as well as ensure safety during the hunt.

 g. Party Limit: Each combined group of permitted youth hunters, parents/guardians and mentor shall not exceed the 6 person limit for small game hunting parties as set forth in 58 Pa. Code § 141.22(b)(5) (relating to small game).

 4. This Order is effective immediately and shall expire on June 30, 2018. Given under my hand and seal of the Pennsylvania Game Commission on this 18th day of July, 2017.

BRYAN J. BURHANS, 
Executive Director

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1274. Filed for public inspection July 28, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]



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