HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met today in Harrisburg, hearing public comment and conducting official business. The commissioners gave preliminary approval to the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, which are outlined in a separate news release. Other highlights from today’s meeting follow.
ELK LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS COULD CHANGE
A number of changes meant to update and improve Pennsylvania’s elk license application system could be coming, if measures given preliminary approval by the Board of Commissioners get final approval in April.
First, the Game Commission is proposing to require hunters to first buy a hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Current regulations allow anyone to submit an elk license application, but only require applicants to buy a license if drawn.
Second, the agency is looking to simplify the elk license application process, removing the requirement to include a hunter’s Social Security number or hunter ID. If the measure requiring hunters to buy a general hunting license before applying for an elk tag is approved, the license-issuing system will have already captured that information, making another request for it redundant.
Third, the Game Commission is proposing to change the language describing how the drawing is conducted. When the description first was written, paper applications were literally drawn by hand from a rotating barrel. Now, tags are drawn electronically. The proposal better reflects the existing drawing process.
Fourth, the agency is proposing to eliminate the requirement that hunters who draw an elk tag participate in an orientation program, given such a program no longer is conducted.
Fifth, the Game Commission is proposing to cap at 10% the number of elk licenses that can be awarded to nonresidents in any given year. Currently there is no limit, and while the percentage of tags going to nonresidents typically had fallen at 10%, it has increased in recent years to as high as 13%, which has drawn concern from residents.
And finally, the Game Commission is proposing to limit hunters to drawing one bull elk tag, total, in a lifetime.
Right now, a hunter who draws a Pennsylvania bull elk license can, after five years, enter the bull tag drawing again, in hopes of getting selected a second time. Under the proposal preliminarily approved by the board, beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, any applicant that successfully draws a tag good for an antlered elk would be ineligible to apply for a bull ever again.
Those who drew a bull tag prior to Jan. 1, 2026, are still eligible to draw a second bull tag using the bonus points they’ve already accumulated. They can’t enter any new bull elk applications after that date, however. And those who draw a bull tag after Jan. 1, 2026, would retain their bonus points, but they would be applied only to drawings for a cow tag going forward.
AGRICULTURAL DEER PROGRAM CHANGES VIEWED
The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to four changes to the agency’s agricultural deer control permit program. None will go into effect unless adopted at the April meeting.
The agricultural deer control permit program allows farmers to address deer damage by allowing hunters to harvest additional antlerless deer on their properties, and in longer hunting seasons.
The first of the changes would require applicants only to certify they are the owner or lessee of both the agricultural interest adversely affected by deer damage and the hunting rights to be covered by the permit. Previously, to be eligible, applicants had to supply a deed or a lease agreement.
The second change would eliminate the rule limiting hunters to getting four “ag tag” permits to harvest antlerless deer for any particular property. Instead, there would be no limit.
The third change would lengthen the time period when hunters could harvest antlerless deer with an ag tag, while maintaining a brief closure during the peak of fawning season in spring and early summer. Presently, ag tags only can be used in established periods, all of which are outside deer hunting seasons. The new framework would allow tags to be used during deer seasons as well. That would more than double the number of days on which tags could be used.
That relates to the fourth change dealing with sporting arms. While lawful rifles could be used at many times of year, during overlaps with established hunting seasons, hunters would be limited to using the sporting arms allowed in those seasons. When archery season opens, for example, only bows and crossbows could be used until the overlap with muzzleloader season.
CERTAIN PGC RANGES COULD ADD STEEL TARGETS
Shooters at certain Game Commission ranges might start hearing a new sound ringing out aside from gunshots: the accuracy-confirming sound of a bullet hitting a steel target downrange.
Under a proposal the Board of Commissioners preliminarily approved today, the Game Commission could add steel targets to some of its rifle and handgun rages in the future. That would provide shooters with the benefit of a near-instant, audible responses to confirm accurate hits. At the same time, the Game Commission expects the addition of steel targets at designated ranges, especially long-distance ranges, would eliminate or substantially reduce safety risks and range downtime associated with a shooter traveling downrange to check targets for hits.
The installation of steel targets could save money in the long run, too. While the targets will be more expensive than the permanent backboard-style targets in place now, they would reduce target maintenance and cleanup costs associated with paper targets and backboards.
Only steel targets placed and mounted by the Game Commission would be allowed. Shooters would not be permitted to bring their own steel targets to ranges.
The measure must still get final approval at the board’s April meeting.
SOME HUNTERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO HOLD MORE TAGS
Hunters in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D might be able to hold more antlerless licenses at the same time.
The Board of Commissioners today preliminarily agreed to increase the number of antlerless licenses a hunter simultaneously can hold for those WMUs.
Hunters statewide now have a personal limit that allows them to hold six active antlerless licenses at a time. Under the proposal moved forward today, that number would increase to 15 in WMUs 5C and 5D.
In all WMUs, hunters still will have the opportunity to obtain additional antlerless licenses, if they remain available, to return to their personal limit as they fill and report harvests.
The change that was given preliminary approval today would give hunters more freedom to harvest additional antlerless deer when opportunity presents in areas of the state where it is needed the most.
The measure must still get final approval at the board’s April meeting.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS APPROVED BY BOARD
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved 11 land acquisitions – two donations, nine new purchases and one right-of-way exchange – that would add more than 1,800 acres to state game lands. One additional purchase was approved via notational vote on Sept. 20, 2024.
The first donation involves 62 acres in Elk Township, Chester County. This donation will create State Game Lands 340. The property lies within the Serpentine Barrens, which contain some of the last major remnants of serpentine grassland in eastern North America.
The second donation is one-eighteenth interest in 115 acres of subsurface rights under State Games Lands 12 in Bradford and Sullivan counties, as well as some adjacent private land.
The purchases are:
- Roughly 33 acres in Summit Township, Erie County, adjacent to State Game Lands 109. This property contains critical and unique wetland and stream habitat within the Trout Run watershed.
- Roughly 195 acres in Coolspring Township, Mercer County, adjoining State Game Lands 294.
- Roughly 93 acres in Plunketts Creek Township, Lycoming County, adjacent to State Game Lands 134. This property will provide access to the existing game lands.
- Roughly 985 acres in Huston Township, Clearfield County, adjacent to State Game Lands 331. This property provides important habitat for elk.
- Roughly 9 acres in Haycock Township, Bucks County, adjacent to State Game Lands 157.
- Roughly 6.6 acres in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, which is an indenture to State Game Lands 56
- Roughly 119 acres in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, adjacent to State Game Lands 229. This property meets a strategic priority of being near a populated area of the state. About 791,000 people live within 30 miles of it. It contains grassland habitat suitable for pheasant stocking.
- Roughly 2 acres in Rockdale Township, Crawford County, adjacent to State Game Lands 85. This property improves manageability and integrity of the existing game lands.
- Roughly 199 acres in Pocono Township, Monroe County, adjacent to State Game Lands 38. This property provides critical access to the existing game lands.
The right-of-way exchange involves giving $3,700 from the Game Fund in exchange for a 30-foot-wide access road right-of-way encompassing roughly 2 acres in Licking Creek Township, Fulton County, adjacent to State Game Lands 53. The right-of-way will reconnect this portion of the game lands to Creek Road.
By notational vote on Sept. 20, 2024, the Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of roughly 280 acres in Indiana Township, Allegheny County, near State Game Lands 203. This property meets a strategic priority of being near a large city. It runs along Deer Creek, a stocked trout tributary of the Allegheny River, and contains several species of greatest conservation need. It will preserve and provide a buffer for the Rachel Carson Trail.
Hunters and other users of the game lands system should be aware that none of these additions are yet final. Some are contingent upon third parties receiving funding through grants or other means. What’s more, the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the agreements is but one step in the land transfer process.
When that process is completed, and the properties are officially game lands, the Game Commission will post signs to that effect, stating that they’re now available for public use.
ADDITIONAL MENTORED OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXPLORED
In new business at today’s meeting, District 1 Game Commissioner Kristen Koppenhafer asked Game Commission staff to investigate the possibility of affording mentored hunters further opportunities.
Before the April meeting, staff will evaluate the possibility of including mentored hunters in the in the “Ag Tag” program, as well as providing them opportunities to participate in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), and potentially secure more than one antlerless license per year.
Right now, for example, mentored hunters younger than 7 can only harvest one antlerless deer per year through DMAP, and then only using a tag transferred from their adult mentor.
Agency staff will report back on possible changes, though increasing the number of antlerless licenses mentored hunters can get might require legislative action.
LIVESTREAM INTERRUPTED
The livestream of today’s Board of Commissioners meeting was briefly interrupted during public comment.
Unfortunately, the missing content could not be recovered. The Game Commission apologizes to those viewing online for this disruption.
BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today selected a new slate of officers to serve in 2025-26.
Commissioner Stanley Knick Jr. of Dupont in Luzerne County was elected President of the board. He represents District 7, which includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
Commissioner Haley Sankey of Tyrone in Blair County was elected as Vice President. She represents District 4, which includes Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties.
Commissioner Allen DiMarco was re-elected as board secretary. DiMarco lives in Lycoming County and represents District 5, which includes Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties.
Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith thanked outgoing board President Scott Foradora for his service in leading the board. Smith said Foradora is focused on advancing the agency into the future, and always encouraged staff to think long-term and strategically.
“And that was very valuable to me,” Smith said.
Foradora, of District 3 including Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties, returned thanks to Smith, as well as fellow commissioners and Game Commission staff.
“I’m in awe of the passion you have for our wildlife resources,” he said.
HPAI UPDATE DETAILED
First detected in Pennsylvania in 2022, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has resurged across Pennsylvania in recent weeks, causing significant bird mortality – particularly in wild geese – that appears on the rise.
At Friday’s meeting, the Game Commission’s Wildlife Veterinarian, Dr. Andrew DiSalvo, provided the agency’s Board of Commissioners with a thorough update about the ongoing situation. The meeting is available on the Game Commission’s YouTube channel, but those wishing to view the presentation can directly access it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/RwQpoB0VESE?si=CXVBZvqARRCePD77&t=2435.
HPAI poses risks not only to wildlife, but to domestic animals and humans. People should always view wildlife from a safe distance, avoid wildlife feces and should never handle sick or dead birds.
Those encountering sick or dead wild birds can report them to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, preferably by phone, by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453).
FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED
The Board of Commissioners will meet next on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for July 11 and 12, and Sept. 12 and 13.