[ 58 PA. CODE CH. 141 ] Hunting and Trapping; Hunting Hours [42 Pa.B. 1233]
[Saturday, March 10, 2012]To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission) proposed at its January 24, 2012, meeting to amend Chapter 141, Appendix G (relating to hunting hours) by updating the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2012-2013 hunting license year.
The proposed rulemaking will not have an adverse impact on the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth.
The authority for the proposed rulemaking is 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to Game and Wildlife Code) (code).
The proposed rulemaking was made public at the January 24, 2012, meeting of the Commission. Comments can be sent, until April 20, 2012, to the Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.
1. Purpose and Authority
Each year there is a shift in calendar days for each month. As a result of this occurrence, the tables of hunting hours in Appendix G are amended and updated each year to reflect the current year's hunting dates and corresponding legal hunting hours. The Commission is proposing to amend Appendix G to update the tables of hunting hours for the 2012-2013 hunting year to reflect the annual change in days and subsequent hunting times.
Section 322(c)(1) of the code (relating to powers and duties of commission) specifically empowers the Commission to ''fix seasons, daily shooting or taking hours, and any modification thereof, and daily, season and possession limits for any species of game or wildlife.'' Section 2102(a) of the code (relating to regulations) provides that ''The commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this Commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking, and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this Commonwealth.'' The amendments to Appendix G are proposed under this authority.
2. Regulatory Requirements
The proposed rulemaking will amend Appendix G to update the tables of hunting hours for the 2012-2013 hunting year to reflect the annual change in days and subsequent hunting times.
3. Persons Affected
Persons wishing to hunt or trap game or wildlife within this Commonwealth during the 2012-2013 hunting year will be affected by the proposed rulemaking.
4. Cost and Paperwork Requirements
The proposed rulemaking should not result in additional cost or paperwork.
5. Effective Date
The effective dates of the proposed rulemaking are July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.
6. Contact Person
For further information regarding the proposed rulemaking, contact Richard R. Palmer, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Protection, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, (717) 783-6526.
CARL G. ROE,
Executive DirectorFiscal Note: 48-338. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A TITLE 58. RECREATION PART III. GAME COMMISSION CHAPTER 141. HUNTING AND TRAPPING APPENDIX G. HUNTING HOURS (Editor's Note: As part of this proposed rulemaking, the Commission is proposing to delete the text of the tables which appear in 58 Pa. Code pages 141-33—141-35, serial pages (357031)—(357033) and replace them with the following tables.)
HUNTING HOURS TABLE
FOR JULY 1, 2012 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2013Dates Begin A.M. End P.M. July 1—7 5:09 9:02 July 8—14 5:14 8:59 July 15—21 5:20 8:54 July 22—28 5:26 8:48 July 29—Aug. 4 5:32 8:40 Aug. 5—11 5:39 8:32 Aug. 12—18 5:46 8:22 Aug. 19—25 5:52 8:12 Aug. 26—Sept. 1 5:59 8:01 Sept 2—8 6:05 8:00 Sept. 9—15 6:12 7:39 Sept. 16—22 6:19 7:27 Sept. 23—29 6:25 7:15 Sept. 30—Oct. 6 6:32 7:04 Oct. 7—13 6:39 6:53 Oct. 14—20 6:47 6:43 Oct. 21—27 6:54 6:34 Oct. 28—Nov. 3 7:02 6:25 Nov. 4—Nov. 10* ends 6:10 5:18 Nov. 11—17 6:18 5:12 Nov. 18—24 6:26 5:08 Nov. 25—Dec. 1 6:34 5:06 Dec. 2—8 6:40 5:05 Dec. 9—15 6:45 5:05 Dec. 16—22 6:49 5:07 Dec. 23—29 6:52 5:10 Dec. 30—Jan. 5 6:53 5:09 Jan. 6—12 6:52 5:21 Jan. 13—19 6:51 5:28 Jan. 20—26 6:48 5:36 Jan. 27—Feb. 2 6:43 5:44 Feb. 3—9 6:37 5:53 Feb. 10—16 6:29 6:01 Feb. 17—23 6:21 6:09 Feb. 24—Mar. 2 6:11 6:17 Mar. 3—9 6:01 6:25 Mar. 10—16* begins 6:50 7:32 Mar. 17—23 6:39 7:40 Mar. 24—30 6:27 7:47 Mar. 31—Apr. 6 6:16 7:54 Apr. 7—13 6:05 8:01 Apr. 14—20 5:54 8:08 Apr. 21—27 5:44 8:15 Apr. 28—May 4 5:34 8:22 May 5—11 5:26 8:29 May 12—18 5:18 8:36 May 19—25 5:12 8:43 May 26—June 1 5:07 8:49 June 2—8 5:04 8:54 June 9—15 5:02 8:58 June 16—22 5:02 9:01 June 23—30 5:05 9:03 * Daylight Saving Time MIGRATORY GAME
BIRD HUNTING HOURS TABLEDates Begin A.M. End P.M. Aug. 26—Sept. 1 5:59 7:31 Sept. 2—8 6:05 7:30 Sept. 9—15 6:12 7:09 Sept. 16—22 6:19 6:57 Sept. 23—29 6:25 6:45 Sept. 30—Oct. 6 6:32 6:34 Oct. 7—13 6:39 6:23 Oct. 14—20 6:47 6:13 Oct. 21—27 6:54 6:04 Oct. 28—Nov. 3 7:02 5:55 Nov. 4—10* ends 6:10 4:48 Nov. 11—17 6:18 4:42 Nov. 18—24 6:26 4:38 Nov. 25—Dec. 1 6:34 4:36 Dec. 2—8 6:40 4:35 Dec. 9—15 6:45 4:35 Dec. 16—22 6:49 4:37 Dec. 23—29 6:52 4:40 Dec. 30—Jan. 5 6:53 4:39 Jan. 6—12 6:52 4:51 Jan. 13—19 6:51 4:58 Jan. 20—26 6:48 5:06 Jan. 27—Feb. 2 6:43 5:14 Feb. 3—9 6:37 5:23 Feb. 10—16 6:29 5:31 Feb. 17—23 6:21 5:39 Feb. 24—Mar. 2 6:11 5:47 Mar. 3—9 6:01 5:55 Mar. 10—16* begins 6:50 7:02 Mar. 17—23 6:39 7:10 Mar. 24—30 6:27 7:17 Mar. 31—Apr. 6 6:16 7:24 Apr. 7—13 6:05 7:31 * Daylight Saving Time [Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-397. Filed for public inspection March 9, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]
