Game Committee       07-12-07

 

 

 

 

PA Senate Action

 

HB 13 Readshaw:  Amending the act of February 2, 1965 (P.L.1860, No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make 
land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing 
certain acts," further providing for liability of landowners toward recreational users, persons or property for acts or acts of 
omission by recreational users.

Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (01-30-07)

Reported as Amended (04-25-07), Re-Reported (05-08-07) P.N. 1536

š     When amended, the entire bill was gutted and rewritten, making it pertinent to hunting only, to make it less controversial and ensure passage before the next hunting season.  The key provision limits landowner liability to “assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to persons or property, wherever such persons or property are located, caused while hunting as defined in 34 PA.C.S. Sec 102 (Relating to definitions).”

Passed House (06-23-07), Vote 199 – 0, Sent to Senate.

Passed Senate (06-26-07), vote 50 – 0,

Signed by Governor (06-30-07), Act 11

š     This bill passed without further amendment.

 

HB 881 Haluska: Amending Title 34 (Game), further providing for exceptions to unlawful use of lights while hunting.  Allows a person who uses a flashlight or spotlight held in hand or worn on the head to take furbearers.  Presently, the Game Code only allows a hand held light to take raccoons, skunks, opossum or foxes.  This would expand to all furbearers, although the penalty for hunting bobcat with a flashlight or spotlight remains intact.

Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (03-22-07)  Reported as Committed (04-27-07)

Passed House (06-21-07), Vote 195 – 2, Sent to Senate.

š     It has been commented that “all furbearers” includes bobcats, and that it would be legal to take a bobcat with a flashlight while possessing the proper bobcat license.  However, the legislation does not spell that out.

 Passed Senate (06-27-07), Vote 50 – 0

š     Amended to allow flashlight to be mounted on a firearm, and to exclude laser sights.  Also to allow the killing of game for crop protection.

Signed by Governor (07-03-07), Act 27                                                                                                                                  

 

PA House Action

 

HB 69 Keller:  Amending Title 34, defining “mounted specimen”; and further providing for buying and selling game.

Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (01-30-07)

Passed House (06-18-07), Vote 200 – 0, Sent to Senate.

 

                                                                                                                                                                         Game Committee 07-12-07 (2)

 

SB 580 Madigan: Amending Title 34, permitting use of dogs in hunting for wild turkey.  Makes lawful the use of a dog to
 pursue, chase, scatter, and track wild turkeys during the fall season.
Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (03-20-07). Reported as committed (04-24-07)
Passed Senate (05-01-07), Vote 48 – 1, Sent to House.
Passed House (06-26-07), Vote 187 – 14
Signed by Governor (06-30-07), Act 18
 

HB 1116 Kortz:  Amending Title 34 (Game), providing for gift vouchers for hunting licenses, purchased by third parties.

Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (04-18-07), Passed over (05-09-07)

Reported as amended (06-06-07)
š     Amendment removed purchaser’s name from the voucher, and removed refunds.
Passed House (06-26-07), Vote 200 – 0, Sent to Senate
 
HB 1667 Mahoney:  Amending Title 34, establishing citizen task forces for wildlife management units, providing for
regulations of the Game Commission, providing for deer population on Game Lands, and for mandatory harvest report 
cards.  Read below.
Referred to Game & Fisheries Committee (06-28-07)
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Rep. Tim Mahoney: Mahoney introduces bill to increase deer herd on Pa. game lands.   Press release 06-29-07  
 Contact: Roseann R. Cadau, 717-787-7895                                          

HARRISBURG, June 29 -- State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, has introduced legislation aimed at increasing the deer population on game lands in Pennsylvania. The bill would require the state Game Commission to implement new policies and procedures for sports enthusiasts.

“The tradition of hunting on state game lands is popular in Pennsylvania,” said Mahoney, a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. “My proposal would increase the deer population so more deer would be available for hunters to harvest.”   Mahoney said the legislation (H.B. 1667) has four major features. It would:

• Establish citizen task forces for every wildlife management unit across the state. The game warden in each unit would be required to hold biannual town meetings where interested sports enthusiasts would be able to meet and discuss the deer population in their area. The warden would then forward suggestions and recommendations to the Game Commission.

• Return the antler requirements to pre-2003 status by requiring that a buck would only have to have two points on an antler or a spike at least three inches long to be harvested.

• Require the Game Commission to adopt policies to increase the deer population on game lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies.

• Require the Game Commission to collect mandatory harvest report cards from hunters.

The Fayette County lawmaker said Pennsylvania has more than 3.6 million acres of public land, which accounts for about 25 percent of all forested land in the state. Mahoney’s legislation has been referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee for consideration.