Pennsylvania HB 1659: An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for junior hunter projects; and, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for regulations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2017
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1659
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAVANZO, PROBST AND ROWE, JUNE 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, JUNE 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing
for junior hunter projects; and, in game or wildlife
protection, further providing for regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 327(a) of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
§ 327. Junior hunter projects.
(a) General rule.--It shall be the duty of the commission to
initiate, implement and administer two or more junior license
hunter projects and a mentored hunter season for the purpose of
increasing and sustaining interest in hunting among young
persons and mentored adults of this Commonwealth. Except for the
requirement to actually hold a junior hunting license under
section 2705(2) or (9) (relating to classes of licenses) or a
license under section 2701(c) (relating to license requirements)
and as may otherwise be modified by commission regulations, all
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participants in any junior hunter project or mentored hunter
season shall comply with all of the provisions of this title and
the regulations promulgated hereunder.
* * *
(c) Mentoring season.--
(1) The commission shall establish a seven-day mentoring
season immediately following the conclusion of the regular
firearms deer season.
(2) During the mentoring season, an individual holding a
license issued under section 2701(c) or 2705(2) or (9) may
hunt deer and small game species as designated by the
commission, provided the individual is accompanied by a
mentor.
Section 2. Section 2102 of Title 34 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 2102. Regulations.
* * *
(b.1) Regular antlered deer hunting season.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law or regulation to the contrary, the
regular antlered deer hunting season shall open on:
(1) The first Monday following Thanksgiving in districts
1, 3, 5 and 7 as identified in section 301(b) (relating to
organization of commission).
(2) The first Saturday before Thanksgiving in districts
2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 as identified in section 301(b).
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1659PN2017 - 2 -
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