PGC makes changes to fall turkey season
Under the preliminary 2016-17 hunting seasons and bag limits given approval by Pennsylvania Game Commission this week, area hunters will see a decrease in the amount of time they will have to hunt turkey in the fall.
As part of the package given preliminary approval, fall turkey season in Wildlife Management Units 1A and 2A, which includes all of Greene County and most of Washington, would be reduced to a week (Oct. 29 through Nov. 5), plus a three-day Thanksgiving season (Nov. 24 to 26).
In addition, WMU 1B, which is the northwestern-most WMU, would also be reduced to a week with no Thanksgiving season. WMU 4C would also be affected, with its season being reduced to two weeks (Oct. 29 through Nov. 12).
The reason for the reduction in the fall turkey season in those areas is a declining turkey population.
It’s hard to argue with the reasoning. Anyone who has been afield locally can tell you turkey, which were once abundant, are no longer great. While it wasn’t all that rare to see a flock of 25 birds even five years ago, now such flocks are few and far between.
The commission is not making any changes to the turkey season in WMU 2B, which takes in all of Allegheny County and the northeast corner of Washington along with the western portion of Westmoreland County. That season is scheduled to run from Oct. 29 through Nov. 5 (shotgun and bow only) and Oct. 29 through Nov. 18 and Nov. 24 through 26.
Things were kept the same in terms of deer management.
Hunters in WMU 2A will still have a split-season five-day antlered season from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 and seven-day concurrent season Dec. 3 through 10. WMU 2B would continue to have a two-week concurrent season running from Nov. 28 through Dec. 10.
The commissional also kept in place its “three-up” rule for WMUs 2A and 2B. That does not include brown tines.
Also approved was a measure that would shorten the time nonresident hunters have to wait before filing an doe permit application.
Previously, hunters who are Pennsylvania residents have been able to apply for antlerless deer licenses two weeks before nonresidents apply. Under the new rule, that period would be reduced to a week.
The final vote on the proposed seasons and bag limits will be at the April 4 and 5 meeting.
A full list of the proposed seasons and bag limits can be found on this page.
• Dormont-Mt. Lebanon remained in first place in the Pittsburgh and Suburban Rifle League with a 1,474-1,459 win over Murrysville, improving to 10-1.
Amy Smith led the way with a 297, while Tom Gerner and Dean Trew fired 296, Fritz Hempelmann 293 and Matt Piatt 292.
Katie Frye led Murrysville (7-4) with a 294.
Becca Spencer fired a 298 to lead Frazier-Simplex (9-2) to a 1,484-1,131 win over Green Valley.
Tom Morley and Jim Husk both shot 297, while Zac Szabo and Jim Mounts both fired 296. Logan Charles shot a 299 for Green Valley.
• The WPIAL team and individual rifle championships will be held at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club on Tuesday and Thursday.
Waynesburg and McGuffey will represent the are in the team tournament as the first and second place finishers out of Section 1.
Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.