Be safe and stay healthy! Yes. When are prescribed fires scheduled? On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a . Cougar Ecology and Dispersal Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. More than half of the Game Commissions annual revenue comes from license sales, a relatively fixed income source. Can I shoot a mountain lion in self defense? Brown apparently still has beef with Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster. 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. Current harvest success of inline muzzleloaders is approximately 17 percent, compared to a harvest success rate of 10 percent by flintlock hunters. I've worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I love helping them unlock their full potential. How do I report my bear harvest? There is one significant change to Pennsylvania waterfowl seasons for the upcoming season which drops the bag limit during the regular season in the Atlantic Population (AP) goose zone to one Canada goose a day. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. Can so many people be wrong? Why is the Game Commission considering the reintroduction of American Martens? By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. The wild turkey feeds primarily on acorns, waste grain, insects and grasses, which are unlikely to be depleted at the same time. Feeding also promotes the spread of infectious diseases by having them unnaturally congregate into small areas. Reporting is mandatory, regardless of harvest, for DMAP (Deep Management Assistance Permits) and second spring turkey licenses. Click here to learn more. I asked our Game officials about evidence, and they cite no road kills. Yes. I am bothered by the constricted neck of the cat on the game camera; 2. the tail is curved down, rather than up, but it may have been in mid-swing; 3. the goldenrod-appearing flower, and the background of cars, gives a sense of scale and location. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not Click here for full harvest reporting details. In 2011, a mountain lion migrated from South Dakota to Connecticut, a journey of some 1,500 miles. With lots of hens breeding in the spring, turkey populations can rise quickly. Why is there no post-Christmas grouse hunting season? 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. Hunters Sharing the Harvest is Pennsylvanias venison donation program that coordinates the distribution of donated venison to a statewide network of meat processors and food banks. Hunters will be requested to provide information on where, when and what species of migratory birds were taken, in addition to the band number. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Encourage officials at all levels of government to support the steps necessary to slow the spread of CWD across Pennsylvania. By expanding concurrent seasons statewide, hunters are provided with more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. Seal open areas under structures like porches, sheds and decks that can provide shelter for cougars or their prey. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? Wildlife crimes affect everyone. Eating African lion meat is unusual around the worldincluding on the predators home continent, where the meat is not considered palatable, Hunter said. Recently, on our Arizona Hummingbird and Bat Photo Shoot, I found a deer that had been hit by a car and had moved off to die beside a stream just 200 yards upstream from our lodge. Who should I call with a wildlife-related question in my local area? And a quiet, snowy covert makes a grouse flush all-the-more dramatic. Before feeding wildlife, please consider the following: What is the increased risk of disease spread? Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. The current estimate is 2,000 - 2,700 throughout Arizona. An important goal of the propagation program is to maximize recreational opportunities and harvest rates on stocked pheasants (return on hunter investment). Animals like coyotes and black bears can become a potential threat and cause harm to both humans and pets. The Nittany Lion at State College wasn't just created out of thin air. 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 http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. Fall seasons differ according to the wild turkey population density in each Wildlife Management Unit, varying from closed to 3 weeks + a 3-day Thanksgiving holiday season. Thank you for your interest in Pennsylvania wildlife. *Please note: Comments posted on social media sites are always not shared with the commissioners or staff due to the high volume received. Smoke will be visible during the burn and might be seen for many miles. 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! Is it the New Best Pack? At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. Based on the image below, wherein I have used red dots to outline the cats body, I am a bit hard pressed to say that it is a bobcat. Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education courses take place across the state throughout the year. As many as 1,300 elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties. Right-to-know requests must be submitted in writing to the Open Records Officer. One spotted in the Delaware Water Gap 25 years ago this week was believed to be the first in over a century. There are many benefits to regulated trapping, but here are just a few examples: Trapping is used to protect endangered and threatened species during critical times of the year such as sea turtle nests or ground nesting birds like the piping plover. Mountain lions in Pennsylvania, and other eastern states, account for more reports of undiscovered animals than all the other cryptids put together. Isnt that what happened to beaver and river otter in Pennsylvania? When traps are used properly and following the BMPs, they are very selective in what they catch, and along with state regulations, avoid non-targets like birds of prey. It probably wasnt; it was more likely 1-3 feet away, in which case my estimates will need to be scaled up a bit. Who conducts burns on State Game Lands? Sign up to be the firstto know the latest news, release dates, signings & more. If a cow is not bred in her first estrus cycle, she will recycle approximately every 21 days, providing additional opportunities for conception. However, evidence of attempt to tag would be harder to prove if the tag was placed around the antler. This framework represents an effort to proactively revise Pennsylvanias season-setting process to respond to declines, while we still have a functional statewide population. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. The Pennsylvania Game Commission updated the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System in early 2021 which provides hunters with more convenient and efficient ways to apply for an receive hunting licenses. 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. 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. Certainly, wild pheasants are preferred; however, our stocked pheasants provide countless hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available. The elks weight and several biological samples will be collected by Game Commission wildlife biologists. At this time, there were no regulations in place to prevent that, nor was there anyone responsible for managing the wildlife. How will I know where and when burns are planned? Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. Thousands of deer scamper onto American streets each year, colliding with startled drivers and causing roughly 200 deaths. Once hunted to extinction, Pennsylvanias resurgent elk herd now numbers 1,400. Consumption permits are issued from region offices. Unfortunately, just like any tool, they can be used inappropriately and result with negative impact. Through rigorous scientific process, biologists manage and track population trends and harvest very closely each year to inform management decisions while game wardens work tirelessly to enforce the laws and regulations on trapping. A 100-year survey of cougar attacks in the U.S. and Canada found only 10 deaths and 48 injuries. Things to consider panting are mast-producing trees for food, conifer trees for cover and native plants for seed and nectar. Contact your Game Commission region office for additional information on how to create, preserve, or enhance wildlife habitat. There is no known cure. They reduce deadly deer-vehicle collisions and help maintain the health and viability of prey species by removing sick individuals and by reducing the spread of deadly diseases such as chronic wasting disease, an epidemic plaguing deer and elk herds throughout the country. It could, of course, also be an exceptionally big house cat, but how to find out? In 2020, more than 6,000 migratory game birds, including more than 5,000 waterfowl, were banded in Pennsylvania. Penn's Woods is our state's nickname due to our forests, which blanket more than 60 percent of our state, and more than 92 percent of our state game lands. The fall harvest is additive mortality, since most of those birds would otherwise survive into the spring, and on average about 60 percent are hens. What do I think of the Canon 1D Mark IV? I measured them and they were a solid 4+ inches across. The gobbler population in a given area is directly related to the reproductive success of hens in the population. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. The abundance of wildlife that thrives in Pennsylvania makes sightings of interesting animals fairly commonplacebears, foxes, coywolves and elk are. Where can I find a local hunting license vendor? After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. A moose is a very rare sight in Pennsylvania. You be the judge. Secondary recreational uses are also permitted in accordance with the Game Commission's regulations. Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. Are hunters OK with fewer deer?". Trappers assist biologists by providing important biological samples that inform managers on the health of the population. Thats outside the maximum known range for a bobcat, and way beyond the size of any healthy house cat that isnt built like a sausage. This is a game regulation that has been around for many years and predates most people currently working for the Game Commission. We will get through this pandemic together and the Game Commission appreciates the publics compliance and support. 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. I was stupid to not take pics of the tracks. Crews will then continue burning into the wind and downslope, sending fire into the previously burned or blackened area. He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. Click here to learn more about the board. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! Hunters will continue to mail antlerless-license applications to county treasurers, as required by law. Each hunting license comes with one fall turkey tag (and one spring tag), so we regulate fall harvest by season length. However, allowing the inline muzzleloader hunters to use their unused buck tag to harvest a doe would have negative implications from a deer management perspective for two reasons. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. They cover large areas of the state; in fact, many counties only have one game warden assigned. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. We do not currently know the effects of disease turkey populations. Quick and easy replacement is available online at www.ilostmycard.com. There have been no confirmed reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. The elk rut is triggered by photoperiod (day length) and generally begins around the middle of September and carries through early- to mid-October. So what? Reporting leg-bands helps the Game Commission and the U.S. Refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation. NEW! Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. Do not feed deer. Cougars also called mountain lions or pumas are uniquely suited to hunt and kill deer, who not only cause traffic accidents but overgraze to the point of endangering native species and eliminating habitats for smaller animals. | @thePhillyVoiceLike us on Facebook: PhillyVoiceHave a news tip? If a bear on your property becomes a nuisance by being destructive or dangerous, you can report it to the Game Commission region office that serves the county in which its located. Cougar or Bobcat? 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, feline predators such as the eastern cougar, which is also known as the mountain lion, are " extirpated ," meaning they're all but wiped out in. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Comments for the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners regarding current and/or proposed seasons and bag limits may be submitted to pgccomments@pa.gov. The post-Christmas grouse season, (hereafter late season), is well-loved by many grouse hunters. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? We encourage everyone to continue to take precautionary measures during this time and to continue to be safe and responsible during these unprecedented times. The agency employs more than 200 habitat management staff, which includes foresters and land managers, many of whom participate on burn crews as one of their many duties. This information is crucial to the successful management of migratory birds. Adult mentors, (21 years of age or older), may take out more than one junior hunter at a time as long as each junior hunter under the age of 16 is within sight and verbal control of the mentor. The virus is species-specific and poses no known threat to people or other animals. Yet, again, were assuming that our mystery cat is right up against the steps. Note the long, usually thick tail. Visit www.legis.state.pa.us for contact and bill information. 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. 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. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the Keystone state? Traps are a tool that can be used for a variety of reasons. What is the Kiboko backpack? Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? How many antlerless deer licenses can hunters apply for in the 2021-22 license year? Where is Pennsylvanias elk herd located? Its a matter of perspective. This is the most asked turkey hunting question the Game Commission receives. 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