503 Hunting and trapping; hunting hours

[ 58 PA. CODE CH. 141 ]

Hunting and Trapping; Hunting Hours

[45 Pa.B. 1369]
[Saturday, March 21, 2015]

 To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission), at its January 27, 2015, meeting proposed to amend Chapter 141, Appendix G (relating to hunting hours) to replace the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2015-2016 hunting/trapping 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 27, 2015, meeting of the Commission. Comments can be sent until April 6, 2015, 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 time tables in Appendix G must be amended and updated on an annual basis to accurately reflect the upcoming year's dates andhours for legal hunting. The Commission is proposing to amend Appendix G to replace the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2015-2016 hunting/trapping license year.

 Section 2102(a) of the code (relating to regulations) provides that ''[t]he 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 by replacing the current hunting hours table and migratory bird hunting hours table to accurately reflect the dates and hours of legal hunting for the 2015-2016 hunting/trapping license year.

3. Persons Affected

 Persons wishing to hunt or trap game or wildlife within this Commonwealth during the 2015-2016 hunting/trapping license 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, 2015, to June 30, 2016.

6. Contact Person

 For further information regarding the proposed rulemaking, contact Thomas P. Grohol, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Protection, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, [phone].

R. MATTHEW HOUGH, 
Executive Director

 Fiscal Note: 48-382. 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 (372015)—(372017) and replace them with the following tables.)

HUNTING HOURS TABLE
FOR JUNE 28, 2015 THROUGH JULY 2, 2016

Dates	Begin A.M.	End P.M.
June 28—July 4	5:07	9:03
July 5—11	5:11	9:00
July 12—18	5:17	8:57
July 19—25	5:23	8:51
July 26—Aug. 1	5:29	8:44
Aug. 2—8	5:35	8:36
Aug. 9—15	5:42	8:27
Aug. 16—22	5:49	8:18
Aug. 23—29	5:55	8:07
Aug. 30—Sept. 5	6:02	7:56
Sept. 6—12	6:09	7:45
Sept. 13—19	6:15	7:33
Sept. 20—26	6:22	7:22
Sept. 27—Oct. 3	6:29	7:10
Oct. 4—10	6:36	6:59
Oct. 11—17	6:43	6:48
Oct. 18—24	6:50	6:39
Oct. 25—31	6:58	6:30
Nov. 1—7 *Ends	6:06	5:22
Nov. 8—14	6:14	5:15
Nov. 15—21	6:22	5:10
Nov. 22—28	6:30	5:07
Nov. 29—Dec. 5	6:37	5:05
Dec. 6—12	6:43	5:06
Dec. 13—19	6:48	5:08
Dec. 20—26	6:51	5:11
Dec. 27—Jan. 2	6:52	5:17
Jan. 3—9	6:52	5:23
Jan. 10—16	6:50	5:31
Jan. 17—23	6:47	5:39
Jan. 24—Jan. 30	6:41	5:47
Jan. 31—Feb. 6	6:34	5:55
Feb. 7—13	6:26	6:04
Feb. 14—20	6:17	6:12
Feb. 21—Feb. 27	6:08	6:20
Feb. 28—Mar. 5	5:57	6:27
Mar. 6—12	5:46	6:35
Mar. 13—19 *Begins	6:35	7:42
Mar. 20—26	6:23	7:49
Mar. 27—Apr. 2	6:12	7:56
Apr. 3—9	6:01	8:03
Apr. 10—16	5:51	8:11
Apr. 17—23	5:41	8:18
Apr. 24—30	5:31	8:25
May 1—7	5:23	8:32
May 8—14	5:16	8:38
May 15—21	5:10	8:45
May 22—28	5:06	8:51
May 29—June 4	5:03	8:56
June 5—11	5:01	9:00
June 12—18	5:02	9:02
June 19—25	5:03	9:03
June 26—July 2	5:06	9:03
*Daylight Saving Time

MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING HOURS TABLE

Dates	Begin A.M.	End P.M.
Aug. 30—Sept. 5	6:02	7:26
Sept. 6—12	6:09	7:15
Sept. 13—19	6:15	7:03
Sept. 20—26	6:22	6:52
Sept. 27—Oct. 3	6:29	6:40
Oct. 4—10	6:36	6:29
Oct. 11—17	6:43	6:18
Oct. 18—24	6:50	6:09
Oct. 25—31	6:58	6:00
Nov. 1—7 *Ends	6:06	4:52
Nov. 8—14	6:14	4:45
Nov. 15—21	6:22	4:40
Nov. 22—28	6:30	4:37
Nov. 29—Dec. 5	6:37	4:35
Dec. 6—12	6:43	4:36
Dec. 13—19	6:48	4:38
Dec. 20—26	6:51	4:41
Dec. 27—Jan. 2	6:52	4:47
Jan. 3—9	6:52	4:53
Jan. 10—16	6:50	5:01
Jan. 17—23	6:47	5:09
Jan. 24—30	6:41	5:17
Jan. 31—Feb. 6	6:34	5:25
Feb. 7—13	6:26	5:34
Feb. 14—20	6:17	5:42
Feb. 21—27	6:08	5:50
Feb. 28—Mar. 5	5:57	5:57
Mar. 6—12	5:46	6:05
Mar. 13—19 *Begins	6:35	7:12
Mar. 20—26	6:23	7:19
Mar. 27—Apr. 2	6:12	7:26
Apr. 3—9	6:01	7:33
Apr. 10—16	5:51	7:41
*Daylight Saving Time

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-503. Filed for public inspection March 20, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]