Legislators from 49 states who are interested in conservation and responsible use of the outdoors have found Pennsylvania to be notable — in good ways or not — for its public access to private lands, youth engagement, sporting arms safety zones, ATV riding locations and Sunday hunting opportunities.
Some of the state’s policies on outdoor recreation and conservation were included in the 2021 State Issue Brief, published last week by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, an organization of state lawmakers who work with Congress, governors and states other than their own on issues related to hunting, fishing, recreational shooting and trapping.
Access is the most cited reason given by lapsed hunters and anglers when asked why they no longer participate. Pennsylvania offers incentives to private landowners who open their properties for public hunting or fishing.
“Several states have adopted programs designed to provide public access to private lands for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation, including Pennsylvania,” the brief says. “Currently, more than 13,000 landowners and tenants are participating in Pennsylvania’s Hunter Access Program. The properties span across most of the 67 counties, opening up nearly 2.2 million acres for public access.”
The use of off-highway motor vehicles including dirt bikes, ATVs, dune buggies and amphibious vehicles is increasing exponentially, but many states provide few areas where they can be legally and safely ridden. Pennsylvania has taken up the issue.
“[Off-highway vehicle] access can be a great opportunity for those with physical disabilities to enjoy the outdoors,” says the publication. “Four states — Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — already offer permits for ATV access on public lands for disabled individuals who meet specified criteria.”
A 2011 study conducted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation calculated that if Sunday hunting restrictions were loosened in the six states with the most severe restrictions at the time, including Pennsylvania, an additional 117,500 hunters would likely be recruited or retained by 2016. That would be enough to result in “substantial increases” in funding for the fish and wildlife agencies within those states.
In 2020, the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus spearheaded the passage of a Sunday hunting bill that was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf, who at the time served as co-chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus. The brief notes that “the law authorizes one day of deer hunting on Sundays during the archery season, one day of deer hunting during the firearm season and one day left to the discretion of the Pennsylvania Game Commission for species and season determined by them, which through rulemaking was selected to be bear hunting during the bear firearms season.”
Foundation President Jeff Crane said in a statement that the organization provides decision makers and the public with “credible information about policy proposals that impact America's sportsmen and women.”
"Our 2021 State Issue Briefs provide essential background that will help inform the decisions that impact not only hunters, anglers, recreational shooters and trappers, but also conservation funding and the economy."
Wild turkey study
Three months before Pennsylvania’s spring gobbler season, the National Wild Turkey Federation is planning a statewide leg-banding survey of male turkeys. The goal is to help the Game Commission to more precisely set turkey hunting regulations.
NWTF is looking for properties with known flocks of male turkeys where net trapping can be conducted from January through March. Hunters who own or have access to properties that would allow trapping, or who see flocks of male turkeys this winter, are asked to contact the foundation at mblake@NWTF.net.
First Published: January 14, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
