Section 147.683. Operation

A deer attractant permit issued under this subchapter authorizes landowners or persons they permit to hunt on their property, or both, to hunt through the use of or otherwise take advantage of approved bait for the purpose of enhancing the harvest rate of white-tailed deer. This authorization is subject to the following conditions:

(1) This authorization only applies during regular open hunting seasons for white-tailed deer in the affected portion of each wildlife management unit located within the southeast special regulations area.

(2) A proposed bait site may not be located less than 250 yards from any previously established bait site authorized under this subchapter.

(3) Approved bait may be distributed at each bait site by approved feeders from 2 weeks prior to the opening of the first white-tailed deer season through the close of the last white-tailed deer season within the applicable wildlife management unit.

(4) Approved feeders are limited to sealed, waterproof, automatic, mechanical feeders that are set to distribute bait up to a maximum of three times per day during legal hunting hours only. The feeder must be visibly tagged or labeled with the landowner’s permit number or the full name and address of the landowner.

(5) Bait accumulation at any one bait site may not exceed 5 gallons total volume at any given time.

(6) Approved bait is limited to shelled corn and protein pellet supplements.

(7) A person engaging in privileges authorized by a deer attractant permit shall possess a copy of the permit on their person at all times while exercising the permit privileges and while maintaining the bait site and shall produce the permit upon demand of a landowner upon whose land that person may be occupying or to an officer whose duty it is to enforce this title.

(8) It is the sole responsibility of the landowner or his agent and persons they permit to hunt on their property to ensure that the area bait site is in compliance with this section prior to hunting in that area.

(9) The landowner and persons they permit to hunt on their property may not, under any circumstances, hunt, take, kill or harvest any game or wildlife other than white-tailed deer at the bait site or coming to and from the bait site. Persons not authorized by the landowner to hunt on their property may not, under any circumstances, hunt, take, kill or harvest any game or wildlife at the bait site or coming to and from the bait site.

The provisions of this § 147.683 adopted May 23, 2014, effective July 1, 2014, and expire and are rendered void on June 30, 2017, unless the Commission further authorizes the legal effectiveness prior to this termination date, 44 Pa.B. 3098; amended May 29, 2015, effective May 30, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2606. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (372029) to (372030).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 147.683 issued under the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. § 2102(a).

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 147.681 (relating to purpose); 58 Pa. Code § 147.685 (relating to suspension of baiting sites); and 58 Pa. Code § 147.687 (relating to sunset clause).