Section 141.1. Special regulations areas

(a) Name. The areas shall be known and referred to as special regulations areas.

(b) Descriptions.

(1) Southwest area. Includes the County of Allegheny.

(2) Southeast area. Includes the Counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia and also includes Tyler and Ridley Creek State Parks and other publicly-owned lands therein.

(c) Prohibitions.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (d), it is unlawful to take, kill or attempt to take or kill wildlife through the use of a firearm of any description which discharges single-projectile ammunition, or, while hunting for wild birds or wild animals, to possess single-projectile ammunition, except for employees of political subdivisions and other persons who have a valid deer control permit issued under the authority of Chapter 29 of the act (relating to special licenses and permits).

(2) It is unlawful to use buckshot in Allegheny or Philadelphia Counties without specific authorization of the Director.

(3) It is unlawful to, except for normal or accepted farming, habitat management practices, oil and gas drilling, mining, forest management activities, or other legitimate commercial or industrial practices, intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals anywhere in the southeast special regulations area for the purpose of feeding white-tailed deer, or to intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals that may cause white-tailed deer to congregate or habituate an area. If otherwise lawful feeding is attracting white-tailed deer, the Commission may provide written notice prohibiting this activity.

(d) Permitted acts. It is lawful to:

(1) Except in Philadelphia County, Ridley Creek State Park, Delaware County and Tyler State Park, Bucks County, hunt and kill deer and bear through the use of a muzzleloading long gun or a shotgun, at least .410 gauge (rifled barrels permitted), including semiautomatics which, upon discharge, propel a single projectile.

(2) Take deer with a shotgun 20 gauge or larger—including semiautomatic—using buckshot in the Southeast area only.

(3) Take small game, furbearing animals, crows or wildlife with a manually operated rimfire rifle or handgun .22 caliber or less.

(4) Kill an animal legally caught in a trap with a manually operated rimfire rifle or handgun .22 caliber or less while trapping.

(5) Harvest more than one deer at a time when multiple harvests of deer per day are authorized without first lawfully tagging previous harvests, provided all deer harvested are lawfully tagged immediately thereafter.

(6) Hunt or take deer during any deer season through the use of or by taking advantage of bait on private property currently operating under a valid deer control permit where approval for limited baiting activities has previously been obtained under § 147.552 (relating to application). This limited authorization is valid only to the extent that persons comply with the standards and conditions in § 147.556 (relating to lawful devices and methods).

(7) Hunt or take deer in the southeast special regulations area during regular open hunting seasons for white-tailed deer through the use of or by taking advantage of bait on private, township or municipal property only under a deer attractant permit issued under Chapter 147, Subchapter R (relating to deer control).

The provisions of this § 141.1 amended July 6, 1979, effective September 1, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 2265; amended July 10, 1981, effective July 11, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 2493; amended April 30, 1982, effective May 1, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1396; amended June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended May 25, 1990, effective July 1, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2752; amended May 3, 1991, effective July 1, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 2009; amended May 28, 1993, effective July 1, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 2565; amended September 6, 1996, effective September 7, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4339; amended May 26, 2000, effective May 27, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 2601; amended November 17, 2000, effective November 18, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5960; corrected December 1, 2000, effective December 2, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 6209; amended March 9, 2001, effective March 10, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 1370; amended May 18, 2001, effective May 19, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 2577; amended September 27, 2002, effective September 28, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 4712; amended June 13, 2003, effective June 14, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 2751; amended December 1, 2006, effective December 26, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7250; amended August 22, 2008, effective August 23, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 4615; amended May 27, 2011, effective May 28, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 2694; amended June 22, 2012, effective June 23, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 3588; amended May 23, 2014, effective May 24, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 3098; amended May 29, 2015, effective May 30, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2606. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (371997) to (371999).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 141.1 amended under the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S.

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 141.22 (relating to small game); and 58 Pa. Code § 141.41 (relating to general).