Game Commission Offers Tips for Those Planning to Head Afield

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each hunting season offers new opportunities.  However, in some cases, there are changes that may raise questions in hunters' minds. In an effort to answer some recent questions, Carl G. Roe, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director, offered the following advice.

"With the PALS license sale system providing a different look and feel to hunting licenses issued prior to 2009, there have been a lot of questions about whether these licenses still need to be displayed in the middle of the back, as has been required in the past," Roe said.  "The short answer is, yes, state law still requires that hunting and furtaker licenses be displayed, but it can be pinned to any outer garment, including your sleeve, coat or hat.  

"We continue to support legislation that would remove the requirement from law and allow hunters and trappers to carry their licenses in their pockets or wallets, with the other form of identification hunters and trappers are required to have while afield."

Roe also cautioned hunters and trappers to not mistakenly place their licenses in the dryer or near any source of heat, as it will cause the material to shrivel and turn black.

"Hunters and trappers who venture out in the rain should be extra careful to take their licenses off of their jackets and simply wipe them off with a towel and let them air dry," Roe said. "The new material is made of thermal paper, and will become illegible if placed in the dryer or left near a heat source for any length of time.  Similarly, don't leave licenses lay on the dashboard of your car, as this will cause them to turn black as well."

This year's license is printed on the same color material – yellow – as the 2009-10 licenses, so hunters and trappers should be certain to remove last year's licenses from their hunting equipment before heading afield this year.

"By removing last year's license from your hunting equipment, you will avoid misusing last year's tags for game harvested this year," Roe said. "Make sure that your licenses and tags have '10/11' noted on them, and leave all those with '09/10' at home.

"Also, when tagging harvested game, make sure you use the harvest tag and keep the license with you, as you will need that information when reporting deer and turkey harvests.  This is most critical for antlerless deer licenses, which are processed by county treasurers and include two panels; the top portion, which is the antlerless deer license, and the bottom portion, which is the harvest tag."

Hunters who go out hunting for deer, turkey or bear should also add a ball-point pen to the list of equipment they plan to take out with them.

"Ball-point pens work best when filling in the harvest field tags that must be attached to harvested big game," Roe said. "Felt tip pens will smear, pencils will wipe off easily, and other sharp implements used in the past, such as the pin tip of most back-tag holders, will not work on the new license material.

"Each field harvest tag – whether for deer, bear or turkey – has two pre-punched holes to make it easier to attach the tag to the animal carcass. And, one last tip on harvest tags: make sure that you use the correct tag.  Not only is each harvest tag pre-printed with the hunter's name, address and license number, but each harvest tag is identified by species name as well as an icon to depict the species."

For archery hunters, another recent change made by the General Assembly, in 2008, allows for the possession of a handgun if they have a permit to carry, which is issued by a county sheriff.  This change, however, does not allow archery hunters to use the handgun to hunt other species while participating in archery seasons.

Lastly, as part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, Roe noted that those adult hunters who already harvested an antlered deer still may serve as an adult mentor for a youth hunting antlered deer.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission