PENNSYLVANIA Game bird seasons set
HARRISBURG -- Dove season will open Sept. 1 as part of Pennsylvania's 2001 migratory bird seasons and bag limits announced recently by Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross.
Dove hunters will once again be able to participate in a triple-split season.
The first season (Sept. 1-Oct.5), hunting will run from noon through sunset daily. The second and third splits will be Oct. 27-Nov. 24, and Dec. 26-Dec. 31, with hunting hours a half-hour before sunrise until sunset. In all three seasons the daily bag limit will be 12 and the possession limit after opening day 24.
The early statewide season for resident Canada geese will open Sept. 1, and continue through Sept. 25. This year, statewide bag limits have been increased to five daily and 10 in possession.
No goose season: There will be no September goose season hunting on the controlled areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon-Lancaster counties, as well as the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area in Crawford County. In addition, there will be no September goose season hunting in Crawford County within the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio line to the intersection of SR 18, to the intersection of US Route 322/SR18, to the intersection of SR 3013, south to the Crawford/Mercer County line.
Pennsylvania's woodcock season will open Saturday, Oct. 20, and continue through Saturday, Nov. 17, a marked increase over recent years when a conservative approach was taken in selecting seasons within the Keystone State.
The daily limit of three birds and six in possession after opening day remains unchanged for the 2001 woodcock season.
Virginia and sora rails and moorhen hunting will run Sept. 1 to Nov. 9. A season for common snipe will run from Oct. 20 to Nov. 24.
Young hunters: Young Pennsylvania hunters will be provided with a special day of waterfowl hunting Sept. 22. Youth Waterfowl Day will be open to holders of junior licenses ages 12-15. To participate, a youngster must be accompanied by an adult, who may assist the youth in calling, duck identification and other aspects of the hunt. Adults accompanying a youngster on the Youth Waterfowl Day hunt may not attempt to harvest ducks, but may legally harvest geese as part of the early season, provided they are properly licensed.
All migratory game bird hunters, including those afield for doves and woodcock, are required to obtain and carry a migratory game bird license ($3 for residents, $6 for nonresidents) in addition to a general hunting license. This applies to all resident, nonresident, junior, senior and lifetime license holders. All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must possess a federal migratory game bird (duck) stamp.