How can I become a Hunter-Trapper Education instructor? The Game Commission occasionally hears about cougar sightings too, but agency officials are skeptical about their origins. There are three ways hunters can report their deer or turkey harvests: Online at HuntFishPA, by phone at the NEW toll-free number 1-800-838-4431 or by mail (using the postcard in the Hunting & Trapping Digest). Hunters overwhelmingly pass on jakes, further enhancing their survival to fill the place of older toms removed after breeding each year with minimal impact to the population. During early exploration and settlement in Pennsylvania and other states, many furbearing species were trapped to the point of extirpation. Consumption permits for deer and turkey only: Residents can pick up deer and turkey only for consumption purposes and must obtain a permit within 24 hours. Here are a few ways to limit human-bear interactions: Bring pet food containers and bird feeders inside overnight, or completely if bears continually return; keep trash cans inside, if possible, until the morning of collection day; and regularly clean and remove grease from outside grills. On average, more mature birds are taken than jakes (first-year males), even with the second tag, and those older gobblers have a lower natural survival of living until next spring. Who conducts burns on State Game Lands? A training certificate, which is recognized throughout North America, is awarded when you pass a test at the end of the course. Human foods do not offer a healthy diet for animals. There are geese everywhere, why does the Atlantic Population (AP) Zone have a one bird daily limit for the 2021-22 season? It also allows hunters who submitted their deer for CWD testing to directly access results online. Wildlife crimes affect everyone. Call the Pennsylvania Game Commission region office that serves the county in question for the best local, on-the-ground, information and faster response times. Visit www.bearwise.org for more ways to prevent human-bear conflicts. If you encounter a dead or injured animal that you suspect is a victim of a wildlife crime, please report the instance to the Operation Game Thiefs toll-free hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out an online form at The primary goal of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Pheasant Propagation Program is to provide a quality game bird for regulated hunting opportunities. Learn more. A successful bear hunter must take the bear, along with his or her hunting license and bear license, to a Pennsylvania Game Commission check station within 24 hours of the harvest. As of 2019 the population in Pine Ridge was estimated at 34. 13 Different Owls in New Mexico (Pictures), 7 Types of Tarantulas in Texas (Pictures), Black Bear Population by State (Recent Reports), Deer Population by State (Estimates and Info), Hawks in Wyoming (9 Species With Pictures), 20 Interesting Facts About Burmese Pythons, 10 Types of Turtles in Michigan (With Pictures), 22 Types of Turtles in Alabama (Pictures), 9 Types of Turtles in Minnesota (Pictures), 14 Types of Turtles in Texas (With Pictures), 13 Types of Turtles in North Carolina (Pictures), 0, thought to be a few free-ranging cougars, 0, confirmed presence, no large population. To learn more on the history and ecology of American martens in Pennsylvania visit American Marten (pa.gov). Regularly cleaning and removing grease, fat, and food particles from outside grills. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer The Hunting and Trapping Digest serves as a great resource when it comes to questions about hunting seasons, bag limits and regulations. Spring hen disturbance and mortality can never be fully eliminated, but by giving them time to begin incubating their nest, were greatly decreasing the risk. Where can I learn more about Pennsylvanias state game lands? Click here to learn more about CWD in Pennsylvania. To read more about their efforts and mountain lions in Nebraska visit their page here. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. Please remember and take note, it is unlawful to take the antlers that are found still attached to a skull. However there are confirmed sightings, so it is likely the big cats do occasionally move through the state. Why arent fall turkey seasons the same throughout the state? Black bears eat a diet consisting of plants and meats. An important goal of the propagation program is to maximize recreational opportunities and harvest rates on stocked pheasants (return on hunter investment). Occasional sightings persist, but rarely is there confirmation. Our agency is passionate about our states wild birds and wild mammals. They also engage in harvesting specific numbers of cougars each year to control the population. Although mourning doves are considered a migratory game bird species, many of the doves we have in Pennsylvania reside here throughout the winter and provide an excellent opportunity late into the season. Certainly, wild pheasants are preferred; however, our stocked pheasants provide countless hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available. Mountain lions have been an important part of the Colorado ecosystem for a long time. It would be difficult for a mountain lion to avoid detection. In many places, the habitat hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. Yes. Of the deer harvested in the 2020-21 hunting seasons approximately 174,780 were antlered and 260,400 were antlerless deer. Occasional sightings are made, but nothing confirmed. For example, a cougar confirmed on a trail cam in 2016 was the first confirmed mountain lion in the state in over five years. "We have seen zero credible evidence about mountain lions in Pennsylvania," states co-founder Mark Dowling flat out. So it's possible that cougars survive. Keystone State. Over the years, there even have been a few mountain lions documented in central Oklahoma. What is the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission? The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners voted in April 2021 to prohibit the use of centerfire rimfire rifles and handguns during the fall turkey season in response to concerns about spring harvest density being below goal in 15 of the states 23 Wildlife Management Units. Between 1994 and early 2020, there have been 82 confirmed reports. Support increased financial assistance for wildlife and agricultural agencies to combat CWD. Isnt that what happened to beaver and river otter in Pennsylvania? Its the success of these nests that dictate the future of the turkey population. Fortunately, with the advent of the Game Commission, over time trapping became much more regulated with strict seasons placed on each species. "Over the years, I've received a number of cougar reports, some pretty factual, such as a partly devoured calf left up in a tree, but nobody has ever provided clear proof. There is currently no breeding population and I couldnt find many reports of sightings either. Mountain lions are considered to be a transient species in the state of Oklahoma. Because turkeys eat a variety of foods, large populations won't damage their habitat. How do I submit comments and ideas about current and proposed seasons and bag limits set by the Board of Game Commissioners? Return of the Eastern Mountain Lion The Game Commission has various wildlife management plans, for many game and nongame species, to ensure long-term sustainability of the resource. Bowhunters accounted for over a third of Pennsylvanias 2020-21 overall deer harvest taking 160,480 deer (80,130 antlered and 80,350 antlerless deer) with either bows or crossbows. Their coloration ranges from tan to black. They cover large areas of the state; in fact, many counties only have one game warden assigned. Rather than restrict opportunity and reduce harvest rates by reducing the amount of information provided, the Game Commission prefers to give each individual hunter the freedom to include their personal preferences on density of other hunters when deciding when and where to hunt stocked pheasants. They are considered to be rare in the state, with only a few confirmed sightings. Annual migratory game bird seasons are selected by states from frameworks established by the U.S. An Associated Press article from 2019 lists the mountain lion population at about 4,353. Texas Parks and Wildlife put together a nice PDF about the states mountain lions here. In February 2021, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission launched HuntFishPA, a new user-friendly licensing platform for hunters, anglers and boaters. Reducing the fall season in some WMUs and prohibiting rifles should allow turkey populations to reach harvest density goals without further decreasing season lengths in the future. The increased light provided from knocking back small saplings and brush coupled with reduction in leaf litter or grass thatch will greatly enhance opportunities for new species to grow, particularly native grasses and forbs. Just like their neighbor Virginia, there is no breeding population of mountain lions in West Virginia. On average, one antlerless deer is harvested for every four antlerless deer licenses allocated. WebThe mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Having said that, through conservation efforts these big cats are making a comeback in many areas with their ranges and populations growing. There is no breeding population of mountain lions in Louisiana. Animals infected with CWD may not show signs of infection for 12 or more months. That's not to say that there is not a mountain lion in the wild," he explains. What are the 2022-23 Hunting Season and Bag Limits? What are the benefits of having a concurrent antlered and antlerless deer hunting season? The permission slip should be signed by the landowner, and should include the hunter's name, address and CID license number, and the landowner's name, address and phone number. The last catamount / mountain lion in Vermont was killed in 1881. As of 2020 the state does not estimate population numbers, but rather looks at overall trends, and feels the population has been fairly stable. This can lead to property damage, or worse, dangerous human-bear interactions. With more than half of the state having prime habitat (foothills and mountains), California has a large population of Mountain Lions. In recent years the population of certain areas has decreased dramatically, due to a perfect storm of reintroduction of gray wolves, increased hunting of elk, and increased hunting of the mountain lions. Taking hunting out of the equation, the nature of mature birds in spring (gobbling and displaying) makes them more susceptible to natural predation. pgccomments@pa.gov for their messages to be shared with the Board of Game Commissioners and appropriate staff. Wildlife diseases are usually transferred from animal to animal by nose-to-nose contact, saliva, feces and urine. How is the Pennsylvania Game Commission organized? The majority of U.S. states do not have any population of breeding cougars. This is a question that resounds with many Pennsylvanians whether they are outdoor enthusiasts or not. Can an adult mentor take more than one JUNIOR hunter hunting at a time? With proper management, trapping allows for sustainable use of this valuable wildlife resource. According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game page, there continues to be no evidence of any mountain lions in the state. Can I use a metal detector on state game lands? The state has begun to use more high tech methods for tracking the secretive lions, including motion-capture cameras, mathematical models and GPS collaring. To date, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has not taken up any proposals to include inline muzzleloaders in the late season flintlock season. Isnt trapping inhumane and indiscriminate? The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking knowledgeable and experienced individuals to pass on the tradition and teach both basic and advanced hunter education training programs. Thank you in advance for helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife. In the United States, they was extirpated from most of the states east of the Mississippi River in the 200 years after European colonization. Callers anywhere in the state can now dial 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Centralized Dispatch Center and be directed appropriately. It is legal to use trail cameras on state game lands. Smoke will be visible during the burn and might be seen for many miles. WebThe Wampus Cat In 2020, residents of Halifax, Pennsylvania, a small Appalachian Valley town, were buzzing about a potential sighting of a mountain lion. Wildlife need varied, natural food as part of their normal diet. Office of Open Records: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225.