They haven't been . How can I buy a bear hunting license? How can I apply for a Pennsylvania elk hunting license? Elk harvests should be reported to the Pennsylvania Game Commissions Elk Check Station, located at the Elk Country Visitors Center, located at 134 Homestead Drive, PA 15821, within 24 hours of the harvest. It appears proportionately longer, and more pantherish. Click here to learn more about deer warts. Check out the tails of the two! On the second night, a mountain lion passed by, apparently drawn by the smell but put off by the stench, as the cat did not visit the kill. How do I submit a Right-to-Know request? That may be true, or was once true, but even a declawed puma, if it can survive off rabbits and squirrels, and breeds, its offspring would be fully equipted to survive. Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. Habitat changes that can result in lower turkey populations include, a lower variety of habitat types, lower habitat quality (particularly due to exotic species replacing native species), lower number of mast-producing trees (particularly oaks and cherry), lower percentage of younger age-class forests, and less nesting brood cover for turkeys. At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. My house is in a heavily-wooded area. Let me explain this. Fish and Wildlife Service learn more about migratory bird movements, and survival and harvest rates, which are critical to population management and setting of hunting regulations. Have your animal processed in the area in which it was harvested so high-risk parts can be disposed of properly; 5. Based on the available imagery, its impossible for me to say with confidence whether were looking at a huge bobcat or a small cougar/mountain lion. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Is it lawful to use an inline during the late flintlock season? Allowing inline muzzleloader hunters to use their unused buck tag would add additional harvest outside of the antlerless allocation framework. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. No electronic versions of these documents will be issued or authorized for use, and durable-stock harvest tags still need to be carried in the field when hunting in big-game seasons or trapping seasons when harvest tags are used. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? For information about local game lands, please reach out to the Game Commission region office that serves the county in which the lands are located. The agency is focused on putting wildlife first, improving wildlife habitat, following sound business practices, serving the Pennsylvania public and improving support for hunting and trapping. How many state game lands are in Pennsylvania and how many acres do they span? Can so many people be wrong? If the test fire achieves expected results, and weather conditions remain within the prescription, crews will begin burning along the firebreak on the downwind or uphill side of the unit to widen the control line, which helps to ensure that the remainder of the burn will stay contained. Click here to read the Pennsylvania Game Code. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania The most popular time of year to view elk is during the rut, which typically begins in September and carries through October. Currently, due to the lesser effectiveness of the flintlock rifle and the relatively few deer harvested by flintlock hunters, allowing them to use their unused buck tag has not been an issue in meeting the agencys deer management goals. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Ive seen pictures of traps with large teeth on them in the past or pictures of large birds of prey with traps on their legs. This can lead to property damage, or worse, dangerous human-bear interactions. I don't know if a Game Commission authority has actually said this or not, but people I've spoken to have reported this. Let us know. In some areas, entire populations of a species exhibit this trait, for unlike albinism, which results in a conspicuous white color and light-sensitive pink eyes, there are no ill effects with melanism. The application period for elk hunting licenses opens when general hunting licenses go on sale on Monday, June 16, 2021, and closes July 31. Volunteers help with brood surveys and flushing surveys. Bear harvest data is available on a map on the Game Commissions website. Except there's one big problem, at least for East Coasters: cougars don't really live here. Bear check stations are open on each day of the regular firearms bear season, and on select days of the extended seasons. Those licenses remain available and 2. Why cant Pennsylvanias Spring Gobbler season open earlier? Yes. Can so many people be so wrong? Things to consider panting are mast-producing trees for food, conifer trees for cover and native plants for seed and nectar. However, my friend and I discussed this, and agreed, we saw what we saw, and had it been 40 years ago or four months ago, we knew we saw a coyote. The 'look' is from my How do I report my elk harvest? Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. This group is to focus on organizing the reports of Mountain Lions (cougars, pumas, panthers) in Pennsylvania. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. Cougars had long been targeted by early American settlers paranoid over livestock losses, the agency found, with some states going so far as to offer bounties for dead cougars. The goal of a WPRA is to establish a sustainable wild pheasant population that can be hunted. "In one sense you would return a missing ecological community member back to the forest system," Keller said. At headquarters, there is an executive staff and seven bureaus: Wildlife Habitat Management, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Protection, Administrative Services, Marketing and Strategic Communications, Information and Education and Automated Technology Services. It probably wasnt; it was more likely 1-3 feet away, in which case my estimates will need to be scaled up a bit. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? Predominantly staying out of sight, when it is seen the bobcat is sometimes mistaken for the common housecat or a mountain lion. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. What are the benefits of having a concurrent antlered and antlerless deer hunting season? Last year, the commission recommended reintroducing the pine marten, a much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to Pennsylvania. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? To learn more about this action, and for an update on the status of turkey management in the Commonwealth, please review the wild turkey biologist's January 2021 report to the board. It would be difficult for a mountain lion to avoid detection. Trapping provides relief from property damage for example from livestock predation or agricultural crops. We raise pheasants because people like to hunt them. Because the neck bothered me, I decided to do some Photoshop on the puma in the lower left, moving his head higher up and changing the image to a contrasty black and white - to give a silhouette for comparision. Little is known of the wolf in Pennsylvania, or if indeed the same animal now called the Eastern coyote in fact might have been similar to the wolf of the past. However, if you've seen a mountain lion, or other mystery creature, or evidence of either, in Pennsylvania, contact outdoor writer Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.). To be fair, I've also spoken with people who, at first, thought they'd seen a puma only to find, to their embarassment, that they were looking at a house cat! All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. So, this is a fairly accurate comparison, with the caveat that I am, once again, assuming the cat was right near the step. Flying over the area, I've looked down and commented upon the amount of habitat that would be available for a puma, if only they existed. Support increased financial assistance for wildlife and agricultural agencies to combat CWD. We encourage everyone to continue to take precautionary measures during this time and to continue to be safe and responsible during these unprecedented times. Two different people told me that they, or a close relative, had seen pumas on more than one occasion. How can I become a Hunter-Trapper Education instructor? Immediately after the burn, the ground will be black until regrowth occurs, which typically takes place within a few days, in some cases several weeks, depending on the time of year. In January, the U.S. Theories include the Nittany Lion, Mountain Lion, Puma, Cougar, Bobcat and even an actual black eastern Panther . How do I report a road-killed deer? Effective July 1, 2013; a $16 fee is charged for issuing a hunter education replacement certificate. Why not work to establish a wild population in Pennsylvania? Hes fairly lean and well-muscled, as hes a dainty eater and play-brawls constantly with his larger brother, so hes hardly obese. The interaction of these factors, such as a high fall harvest rate coupled with poor poult production due to adverse spring weather with poor habitat quality, predation and minor disease, impact populations. The story behind our new web site. How can I tell if an animal has CWD? contact information is available here. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. Once a bear finds easy access to those kids of food, they are likely to come back for more. As part of the American Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment the Game Commission conducted extensive diet research from across the marten's range and found that marten eat primarily rodents, followed by a high percentage of insects and plants. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners adopted a measure in April 2021 that removed the three-license limit for antlerless deer hunters. The Nittany Lion at State College wasn't just created out of thin air. Click here for more information. SUNDAY HUNTING:It is unlawful to hunt on Sundays except foxes, crows and coyotes. Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids. Mary saw the photo, too, and she immediately agreed, it was a puma. For mentored hunters ages 7 and older, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags. Several regulations regarding the use of state game lands prevent the removal of any such artifact, or any other objects, besides lawfully taken fish and wildlife, mushroom and/or berries. Delivery: Estimated between Sat, Mar 4 and Wed, Mar 8 to 98837. Time is of the essence when it comes to reporting the location of a wild animal, so it's best to call, as opposed to report via email or social media. The current estimate is 2,000 - 2,700 throughout Arizona. How do I report my deer or turkey harvest(s)? However, jakes have high probability of natural survival to the next year. Since turkey restoration efforts 5 environmental factors have changed and the interactions of these five factors can negatively affect turkey populations. On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. Well, right behind our property lies a mountain ridge, one of several that makes a continuous forest that extends, with little interruption, for scores of miles in three directions. Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt This reduction likely will be more in the central part of the state where rifle harvest is highest. "Cougars are hunting deer year-round. And it likely will result in the collateral benefit of increasing harvest reporting. Disease Management Areas are found in all or parts of Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Cumberland, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Somerset, Snyder, Union and Westmoreland counties. Please remember and take note, it is unlawful to take the antlers that are found still attached to a skull. How would mountain lions impact the entire trophic scale underneath them? 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). View our annual reports, which include the Game Fund Revenues, Expenditures and Reserve Funds. *Please note: Since the Game Commission does not receive funding from the state budget, the agency must maintain a healthy reserve fund balance to continue to operate and fund long-term infrastructure projects. Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. I have not spoken with a Game Commission officer personally, so I don't know whether anyone killing a puma in Pennsylvania could do so without legal repercussions. Note the long, usually thick tail. Yes. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? Most of the recent cougar sightings east of the Rocky Mountains were confirmed due to some kind of crash with a train or vehicle and as any Angeleno could tell you, some of them even reside in cities. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. How do I report suspected wildlife crimes? But a mix of bounty hunting . Follow these guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease: 1. California state law requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits to kill mountain lions that attack domestic animals. Finally, it is important to note that the agency's prescribed fires are purposely conducted on a very small percentage of the overall land base, (less than 1 percent annually), providing significant amounts of refuge for animals that may be temporarily displaced. Cutaneous fibromas, more commonly known as deer warts, are a relatively common skin ailment of deer. The Hunting and Trapping Digest serves as a great resource when it comes to questions about hunting seasons, bag limits and regulations. . It was discovered when it was killed by a vehicle while crossing a highway. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Junior hunters, ages 14-15, must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. The burns are conducted under precise weather conditions (i.e., the prescription) by trained crews. I have three observations here: 1. There is no known cure. Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the eastern cougar extinct, but said the subspecies had probably been stamped out in the 1930s. Closing stocked properties on the day of stocking would reduce overall opportunity and simply shift the initial surge of hunting pressure to first light the following morning. While a greater number of turkeys are harvested each spring than fall, the fall harvest is what really matters. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. For many decades, cougars confined themselves to prowling the wooded and mountainous areas of the western U.S. All of these forests are, with few exceptions, open to hunting, and hunting is a very important industry in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. Please remember to be respectful of private property while visiting. A mentored hunter can only hunt deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, hare, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant, crow, dove, porcupine, woodchuck and coyote in any of their respective seasons, and must follow daily and season bag limits for each species, (one antlered deer, one fall turkey and one bearded turkey in the spring, per license year). At least one made it to Chicago;another wound up inConnecticut. Given the cougar's effectiveness as a deer population control, some biologists think this eastern push is a good thing one that should even be encouraged or helped along. Wildlife crimes affect everyone. If its further back, it could be a far larger specimen and could conceivably weigh twice that. In 2020, more than 6,000 migratory game birds, including more than 5,000 waterfowl, were banded in Pennsylvania. This could cause them to approach people looking for more. Is it the New Best Pack? The animal could not be a wild mountain lion, because "there are no wild mountain lions in Pennsylvania." This was the approach of the PGC until a farmer named Roger saw a mountain lion, along with several other people on his remote farm, during a large outdoor party -- a party which included a big roast pig barbeque, near the edge of a forest. By requiring the tag in an ear, the antlers can be removed, but the deer head, at a minimum, and carcass remain identifiable. Commissioners are appointed from various geographical districts of the state to ensure uniform representation for all residents. The same thing applies here. Antlerless deer hunting season to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been or! People, cars and/or homes with food each day of the extended seasons the prescription ) by trained crews tolerance... Please remember to be safe and responsible during these unprecedented times escaped to make for viable! 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