Section 141.45. Turkey

(a) Fall turkey season.

(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt turkey during the fall turkey season with any of the following devices:

(i) A firearm. A manually operated centerfire, rimfire or muzzleloading firearm using single-projectile ammunition, except as otherwise prohibited in paragraph (2)(i).

(ii) A shotgun. A manually operated or semiautomatic, centerfire shotgun or muzzleloading shotgun using shot ammunition no larger than #4 lead, #2 steel or #4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or an authorized representative under 50 CFR 20.134 (relating to nontoxic shot).

(iii) A bow and arrow. A bow must have a peak draw weight of at least 35 pounds. An arrow must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.

(iv) A crossbow and bolt. A crossbow must have a peak draw weight of at least 125 pounds. A bolt must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.

(2) Prohibitions. While hunting turkey during the fall turkey season, it is unlawful to:

(i) Use a manually operated centerfire, rimfire or muzzleloading firearm using single projectile ammunition in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.

(ii) Use drives or any method other than hand or mouth calling.

(iii) Use or possess an electronic caller or a live turkey as a decoy.

(iv) Use a device not provided for in the act or in this subsection.

(b) Spring turkey season.

(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt turkey during the spring turkey season with any of the following devices:

(i) A manually operated or semiautomatic, centerfire shotgun or muzzleloading shotgun using shot ammunition no larger than #4 lead, #2 steel or #4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot approved by the Director of the Unites States Fish and Wildlife Service or an authorized representative under 50 CFR 20.134 (relating to nontoxic shot).

(ii) A bow and arrow as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(iii).

(iii) A crossbow and bolt as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(iv).

(2) Prohibitions. While hunting turkey during the spring turkey season, it is unlawful to:

(i) Use a centerfire, rimfire or muzzleloading firearm using single projectile ammunition.

(ii) Use or possess single projectile ammunition, except arrows or bolts.

(iii) Use drives or any method other than hand or mouth calling.

(iv) Use or possess an electronic caller or a live turkey as a decoy.

(v) Use a device not provided for in the act or in this subsection.

The provisions of this § 141.45 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended August 24, 1990, effective September 24, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 4488; amended March 27, 1992, effective July 1, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 1427; amended November 4, 1994, effective November 5, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 5561; amended May 26, 1995, effective May 27, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 2072; amended October 27, 1995, effective October 28, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 4614; 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 May 18, 2001, effective May 19, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 2577; amended June 20, 2003, effective June 21, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 2878; amended April 30, 2004, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 2328; amended April 28, 2006, effective April 29, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 1990; amended June 27, 2008, effective June 28, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 3489; amended February 27, 2009, effective February 28, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 1110.; amended March 25, 2011, effective March 26, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 1623; amended May 23, 2014, effective May 24, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 3091; amended May 29, 2015, effective May 30, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2604. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (372005) to (372006).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 141.45 amended under the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. § § 322(c)(4) and (5), 2102(a) and (d) and 2524.