§ 135.103. Controlled hunting and trapping area access permit procedures.
(a) Authority to establish and cancel dates and quotas. The Director will establish the dates and number of available access permits each year for any authorized hunting or trapping activities approved for an established controlled hunting or trapping area. The Director may treat any area designated as a propagation area within a special wildlife management area in the same manner as a controlled hunting or trapping area as it relates to the authorization of hunting and trapping by access permit. The Director may cancel or suspend any authorized hunting or trapping dates for an established controlled hunting or trapping area when the Commission determines that an adequate number of the respective game or wildlife has been taken, a game or wildlife health or disease concern has been identified, or some other circumstance warrants suspension or closure.
(b) Notice. The Commission will provide notice of the opening or closure of limited hunting or trapping opportunities for designated game and wildlife within an established controlled hunting or trapping area through a public announcement, web site or other means reasonably intended to reach the widest audience. Notice of the opening of limited hunting or trapping opportunities within an established controlled hunting or trapping area will also include information concerning the application process.
(c) Application.
(1) Eligibility. An applicant must possess a valid and current hunting or trapping license, whichever is applicable, plus any other license, stamp or permit that is required for the designated game or wildlife, to be eligible to make application for an access permit. An applicant is eligible to submit only one application per drawing for an access permit to participate in a controlled hunting or trapping activity on any established special wildlife management area.
(2) Timeliness, form and content. Applications for a controlled hunting or trapping permit shall be submitted on a form, in the manner and by the deadline established by the Commission. Applications must include the applicant’s name, Commission-issued Customer Identification Number and any other information required by the Commission. Incomplete, illegible, duplicate or late applications will be rejected.
(d) Drawing.
(1) The Commission will conduct a random drawing of applications to select participants for each authorized hunting or trapping activity approved for an established controlled hunting or trapping area. Successful applicants will be issued an access permit specifying the date(s) and the authorized species for the applicable hunting or trapping activity. Access permits are not transferable. The Commission may conduct special random drawings prior to scheduled regular drawings for controlled hunting or trapping area access permits that are reserved for:
(i) Junior license holders and persons in possession of a valid mentored youth permit issued under Chapter 147, Subchapter X (relating to Mentored Hunting Program Permit). An adult who accompanies a junior license holder or mentored youth permit holder on an established special youth day may participate in the hunt by calling, but may not harvest any game or wildlife.
(ii) Persons in possession of a disabled person permit issued under section 2923(a) of the act (relating to disabled person permits).
(iii) Persons in possession of a resident disabled veteran license, a reduced fee resident disabled veteran license or persons who possess a senior lifetime resident license or senior lifetime resident combination hunting license who can provide documentation evidencing their eligibility for the resident disabled veteran license or a reduced fee resident disabled veteran license.
(iv) Persons in possession of a resident general hunting license, senior lifetime resident license or senior lifetime resident combination hunting license who can provide documentation evidencing their veteran status.
(2) The Commission will include all unsuccessful applications from special random drawings with all other standard applications awaiting the regular drawings.
(e) Unclaimed permits. If one or more successful applicants cancels or fails to appear for check-in by 1/2 hour prior to open hunting hours on the scheduled date and time for their hunting or trapping opportunity for any controlled hunt that requires in-person check-in, the Commission may void the issued access permits and conduct a random drawing to reassign unclaimed access permits. If the Commission determines that a drawing to reassign unclaimed access permits is necessary, a drawing will be conducted using the same or substantially equivalent random selection process used in the original drawing until all openings are filled. The Commission will conduct unclaimed access permit drawings immediately prior to the opening of lawful hunting hours on the day of the scheduled hunt.
Authority The provisions of this § 135.103 amended under 34 Pa.C.S. § § 322(c)(6), 721(a), 2102(a) and 2722(g).
Source The provisions of this § 135.103 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended August 19, 1994, effective August 20, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 4197; corrected December 1, 1995, effective January 7, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 5508; amended August 13, 1999, effective August 14, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 4351; amended August 11, 2000, effective August 12, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 4250; amended July 15, 2005, effective July 16, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3926; amended August 28, 2009, effective August 29, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 5119; amended August 19, 2016, effective August 20, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 5085; amended August 25, 2017, effective August 26, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 4982; amended March 22, 2019, effective March 23, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 1363; amended June 9, 2023, effective June 10, 2023, 53 Pa.B. 3085. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (388068) and (395961) to (395962).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 135.102 (relating to designation of areas within an established special wildlife management area); 58 Pa. Code § 135.104 (relating to controlled hunting and trapping area access requirements and limitations); 58 Pa. Code § 141.26 (relating to early Canada goose hunting season on Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area); and 58 Pa. Code § 141.27 (relating to early Canada goose hunting season on Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area).
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