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Legislature approves game law changes, considers more
By Tom DiStefano, CLARION NEWS Writer
HARRISBURG - Cartridges ejected during hunting are not litter, identification must be provided to game law enforcement personnel, and active-duty military personnel can buy a hunting license for a dollar.
These are some of the provisions contained in new game law legislation approved in Harrisburg in a little more than six months.
And with another 36 bills involving game law and the game commission pending in the state legislature, there could be more changes in the Game Code before the 2003-04 legislative session ends.
lSenate Bill 586, signed by Gov. Ed Rendell on Dec. 30, 2003 , as Act 63, lowers the hunting license fee for resident military personnel from $10 to $1.
The bill also sets penalties for various classes of game law violations, and allows the denial, suspension or revocation of hunting licenses for people accused, though not necessarily convicted, of game law violations relating to shooting at or causing injury to humans, damage to property, safety zones, rendering assistance after incidents and hunting or trapping while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Another part of the bill adds a new violation, “deer killed as a result of negligence or careless ness is a summary violation punishable by fines between $100 and $500.
lHouse Bill 514, signed by the governor on March 24 as Act 20, changes the game law involving littering. The offense of littering no longer includes spent rifle or shotgun shells ejected during normal hunting activities.
The law then redefines normal hunting activities to exclude circumstances where someone has fired more than six rounds from a stationary position.
lHouse Bill 1972, signed by the governor on June 23 as Act 42 makes it a summary offense to interfere with or resist an arrest, inspection or investigation by game commission officer through threat, force, ménage, flight or obstruction.
It also makes it an offense to refuse to provide identification upon request of a game officer, after being told by the officer the person is the subject of an investigation.
Providing false identification for the purpose of avoiding prosecution, hindering apprehension or obstructing an investigation is a more serious summary offense.
lHouse Bill 565, signed by the governor on June 23 as Act 43, changes the rules on safety zones so a 50-yard safety zone applies to anyone licensed to hunt with a bow and arrow or crossbow, instead of only for licensed archery deer hunters.
lHouse Bill 659, signed by the governor on June 28 as Act 48, allows unlicensed people to assist licensed hunters in hunting activities.
A person who has never held a hunting license in Pennsylvania or other state may participate in hunting or trapping activities if that person wears the proper amount of orange, is listed on any required hunting roster, does not carry any firearm, bow or other device used to harvest game or fur bearers, and who stays within sight and earshot of a properly licensed hunter who is 18 or older.
A licensed hunter may not accompany more than one unlicensed person.
lHouse Bill 2042, signed by the governor on July 2 as Act 53, authorizes the issuance of special wild turkey licenses when the Game commission authorizes the harvest of more turkeys than the number of turkey tags.
The special turkey license can be used in conjunction with an adult or junior resident or non-resident license, a senior resident or senior resident lifetime license, a lifetime resident combination hunting and furtaking license, and a junior resident and nonresident combination hunting and furtaking license.
The fee for a resident special wild turkey license is $20; a nonresident special wild turkey license is $40.
Bills pending
Most bills introduced in the state legislature are immediately referred to a committee and are never seen or heard about again.
Of the more-than 30 bills relating to game laws now pending, many were referred to the house or senate game and fisheries committees in early 2003 and have seen no activity since.
There are more than a dozen, however, still showing signs of life. They include:
lHB 2779 introduced and referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee (HGFC) on June 30, would repeal all bans on Sunday hunting.
lHB 2768, introduced and referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee June 28 would require a report on the finances not disbursed from the Game Fund of any studies, programs, donations or expenditures involving the members, staff and employees of the Game Commission.
lHB 2145, passed by the house June 16 and referred to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee (SGFC) June 22, changes the rules on using lights while hunting.
lHB 2667, introduced and referred to the HGFC June 7, would raise the fee on antlerless deer licenses from $5 to $7 for residents and $25 to $27 for non-residents
lHB 2643, introduced and referred to the HGFC May 26, would allow the use of decoys in the trapping and hunting of furbearers.
lHB 2570, introduced and referred to the HGFC April 13, authorizes Game Commission officers to enforce trespassing laws.
lHB 847, laid on the table in the House on March 22, would empower the Game Commission to revoke suspend or deny hunting privileges to anyone accused, though not convicted, of violating games laws involving safety zones, rendering assistance, damage to property, shooting at or harming humans, or hunting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
lHB 2458, introduced and referred to the HGFC March 18, would define as residents any military personnel on full-time, active duty if they are residents of any state, not just Pennsylvania .
lHB 2326, introduced and referred to the HGFC Feb. 3, requires the reporting of big game kills in a manner set by Game Commission regulation.
lHB 523, laid on the table in the House on Feb. 2, would authorize and set rules for the erection of fences to deter bear and elk from causing certain kinds of damage. Co-sponsored by state Rep. Fred McIlhattan (R-63).
lHB 2002, introduced and referred to the HGFC Sept. 29, 2003 , would authorize Game Commission officers to enforce the state criminal and vehicle code.
lHB 1448, passed by the House Dec. 15, 2003 and referred to the SGFC Dec. 24, 2003 , establishes permits, fees and rules for foxhound training grounds.
The legislature is on break now, but will go back into session in September.
More information on pending and enacted legislation, including the full text of the bill and a record of actions taken, can be found on the web at www.legis.state.pa.us.
Legislature approves game law changes, considers more
By Tom DiStefano, CLARION NEWS Writer
HARRISBURG - Cartridges ejected during hunting are not litter, identification must be provided to game law enforcement personnel, and active-duty military personnel can buy a hunting license for a dollar.
These are some of the provisions contained in new game law legislation approved in Harrisburg in a little more than six months.
And with another 36 bills involving game law and the game commission pending in the state legislature, there could be more changes in the Game Code before the 2003-04 legislative session ends.
lSenate Bill 586, signed by Gov. Ed Rendell on Dec. 30, 2003 , as Act 63, lowers the hunting license fee for resident military personnel from $10 to $1.
The bill also sets penalties for various classes of game law violations, and allows the denial, suspension or revocation of hunting licenses for people accused, though not necessarily convicted, of game law violations relating to shooting at or causing injury to humans, damage to property, safety zones, rendering assistance after incidents and hunting or trapping while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Another part of the bill adds a new violation, “deer killed as a result of negligence or careless ness is a summary violation punishable by fines between $100 and $500.
lHouse Bill 514, signed by the governor on March 24 as Act 20, changes the game law involving littering. The offense of littering no longer includes spent rifle or shotgun shells ejected during normal hunting activities.
The law then redefines normal hunting activities to exclude circumstances where someone has fired more than six rounds from a stationary position.
lHouse Bill 1972, signed by the governor on June 23 as Act 42 makes it a summary offense to interfere with or resist an arrest, inspection or investigation by game commission officer through threat, force, ménage, flight or obstruction.
It also makes it an offense to refuse to provide identification upon request of a game officer, after being told by the officer the person is the subject of an investigation.
Providing false identification for the purpose of avoiding prosecution, hindering apprehension or obstructing an investigation is a more serious summary offense.
lHouse Bill 565, signed by the governor on June 23 as Act 43, changes the rules on safety zones so a 50-yard safety zone applies to anyone licensed to hunt with a bow and arrow or crossbow, instead of only for licensed archery deer hunters.
lHouse Bill 659, signed by the governor on June 28 as Act 48, allows unlicensed people to assist licensed hunters in hunting activities.
A person who has never held a hunting license in Pennsylvania or other state may participate in hunting or trapping activities if that person wears the proper amount of orange, is listed on any required hunting roster, does not carry any firearm, bow or other device used to harvest game or fur bearers, and who stays within sight and earshot of a properly licensed hunter who is 18 or older.
A licensed hunter may not accompany more than one unlicensed person.
lHouse Bill 2042, signed by the governor on July 2 as Act 53, authorizes the issuance of special wild turkey licenses when the Game commission authorizes the harvest of more turkeys than the number of turkey tags.
The special turkey license can be used in conjunction with an adult or junior resident or non-resident license, a senior resident or senior resident lifetime license, a lifetime resident combination hunting and furtaking license, and a junior resident and nonresident combination hunting and furtaking license.
The fee for a resident special wild turkey license is $20; a nonresident special wild turkey license is $40.
Bills pending
Most bills introduced in the state legislature are immediately referred to a committee and are never seen or heard about again.
Of the more-than 30 bills relating to game laws now pending, many were referred to the house or senate game and fisheries committees in early 2003 and have seen no activity since.
There are more than a dozen, however, still showing signs of life. They include:
lHB 2779 introduced and referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee (HGFC) on June 30, would repeal all bans on Sunday hunting.
lHB 2768, introduced and referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee June 28 would require a report on the finances not disbursed from the Game Fund of any studies, programs, donations or expenditures involving the members, staff and employees of the Game Commission.
lHB 2145, passed by the house June 16 and referred to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee (SGFC) June 22, changes the rules on using lights while hunting.
lHB 2667, introduced and referred to the HGFC June 7, would raise the fee on antlerless deer licenses from $5 to $7 for residents and $25 to $27 for non-residents
lHB 2643, introduced and referred to the HGFC May 26, would allow the use of decoys in the trapping and hunting of furbearers.
lHB 2570, introduced and referred to the HGFC April 13, authorizes Game Commission officers to enforce trespassing laws.
lHB 847, laid on the table in the House on March 22, would empower the Game Commission to revoke suspend or deny hunting privileges to anyone accused, though not convicted, of violating games laws involving safety zones, rendering assistance, damage to property, shooting at or harming humans, or hunting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
lHB 2458, introduced and referred to the HGFC March 18, would define as residents any military personnel on full-time, active duty if they are residents of any state, not just Pennsylvania .
lHB 2326, introduced and referred to the HGFC Feb. 3, requires the reporting of big game kills in a manner set by Game Commission regulation.
lHB 523, laid on the table in the House on Feb. 2, would authorize and set rules for the erection of fences to deter bear and elk from causing certain kinds of damage. Co-sponsored by state Rep. Fred McIlhattan (R-63).
lHB 2002, introduced and referred to the HGFC Sept. 29, 2003 , would authorize Game Commission officers to enforce the state criminal and vehicle code.
lHB 1448, passed by the House Dec. 15, 2003 and referred to the SGFC Dec. 24, 2003 , establishes permits, fees and rules for foxhound training grounds.
The legislature is on break now, but will go back into session in September.
More information on pending and enacted legislation, including the full text of the bill and a record of actions taken, can be found on the web at www.legis.state.pa.us.
