HARRISBURG - For the first time ever, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's board of game commissioners has created a limited muzzleloader bear season.
The season - which will be held in specified wildlife management units during the statewide eight-day antlerless muzzleloader season Oct. 13 through 20 - was created to address urban bear management in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.
In addition, archery hunters participating in the special antlerless hunt in 2B, 5C and 5D on Sept. 15 through 28 may take a bear, and archery hunters in 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D make take a bear during the statewide season Sept. 29 through Nov. 10.
This and several other expanded hunting opportunities were created by the PGC board at Tuesday's quarterly meeting to adopt and finalize seasons and bag limits for the 2012-13 hunting and trapping license year. In adopting antlerless allocations for the upcoming deer seasons, however, the board focused on stabilizing the deer herd in most WMUs.
In WMU 4C, which contains the majority of Schuylkill County and portions of Berks, Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lehigh and Luzerne counties, 35,000 antlerless licenses - the same as last year - have been allocated. In WMU 4E, which contains all of Northumberland County and portions of Columbia, Dauphin, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Schuylkill, Snyder and Union counties, 28,000 antlerless licenses - a reduction of 1,000 - have been allocated.
Currently, neither WMU 4C nor 4E have direct representation on the board, as the terms of former commissioners Greg Isabella of Philadelphia and Tom Boop of Sunbury have expired, and no replacements have been selected.
Commissioner Jay Delaney of Wilkes-Barre recommended the board follow the allotment suggestions of the PGC deer management team for the two WMUs, which are to produce similar hunter success of the past year of 7,400 antlerless deer in 4C - a reduction of 1,000 from the previous year - and 6,100 in 4E - an increase 200 from the previous year.
A total of 65 elk licenses, 19 for antlered and 46 for antlerless, was approved for the upcoming year. Not included in the total is the one Conservation Elk Tag for an antlered elk that has been donated to the Safari Club International Banquet to be auctioned in June to benefit the PGC and SCI.
For the second year in a row, the PGC board approved the transfer of a tag by a licensed adult hunter to a participant in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which is designed for those younger than 12 years of age and not eligible to take hunter-trapper education in order to purchase a junior license.
This year, hunter's may transfer their fall turkey tag to a mentored youth, which are limited to taking one bird.
This year's statewide regular archery deer season has been expanded an addition day to Nov. 12 in order to give those off from work and school for Veteran's Day an added day to hunt. Additional days were added to some small game seasons before Christmas for those who are off from work and school.
Final approval was given by the board to include the use of crossbows in all archery seasons, thus eliminating the need to specify the difference between vertical and horizontal archery tackle.
Additionally, recent antler restrictions and split seasons in specific WMUs will remain in effect for the upcoming deer seasons.