Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education courses take place across the state throughout the year. Wild pheasants are released in WPRAs for three years, depending on availability of birds and trapping success in western states. The 'look' is from my Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Hold your ground and back away slowly. One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Weather, especially during spring nesting season can affect turkey populations. In an effort to expand hunting opportunities, in 2021, Sunday hunting is only open on the following dates for the following species. As a volunteer hunter education instructor, youll be teaching students with an easy-to-use, standardized curriculum for which all teaching aids and materials are provided. Why are prescribed fires good? It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Minimize the handling of and cutting through brain and spinal tissues; 4. Still, our research shows females (both juvenile and adult) comprise a larger portion of the fall harvest than males. Finally, it is important to note that the agency's prescribed fires are purposely conducted on a very small percentage of the overall land base, (less than 1 percent annually), providing significant amounts of refuge for animals that may be temporarily displaced. Its a matter of perspective. Should any hunter come across a cougar in Pennsylvania, they are advised to leave it alone as hunting them in the state is illegal. Keep in mind, just as the elk herd calls northcentral Pennsylvania home, so do plenty of human residents and camp owners. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. However, mountain lion sightings in Pennsylvania are still being reported. Be sure to verify your mailing address when purchasing online licenses. How is the Pennsylvania Game Commission organized? He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. Click here to learn more about our agency and its history. I measured them and they were a solid 4+ inches across. Using our cat Mace, again, as reference, lets try and see. Once hunted to extinction, Pennsylvanias resurgent elk herd now numbers 1,400. Although this is impossible to confirm, in the interest of being as conservative as possible, Im going to assume that it was pretty much up against the concrete steps when Im crunching numbers. Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. Therefore, the best way to improve turkey numbers, is by reducing the fall harvest. In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. Keeping trash cans and recycling in a secure area until the morning of collection day. Lion sightings they got. It is unlawful for individuals to possess a shed antler to sell, barter or trade OR to offer to sell, barter or trade any shed antler. Cougars in Pennsylvania may still be a pipe dream in 2023, but who knows? But they'd need the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and, for now, that's a non-starter. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. They add diversity to the hunting experience at a time when wild pheasant populations are low and provide valuable youth hunter recruitment opportunities. More than half of the Game Commissions annual revenue comes from license sales, a relatively fixed income source. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. The agency is focused on putting wildlife first, improving wildlife habitat, following sound business practices, serving the Pennsylvania public and improving support for hunting and trapping. Its the basis of a classic fishing trick; you hold a fish a bit away from you to make it appear larger for the camera. In a 1996 survey of Pennsylvania hunters, conducted by the Pennsylvania State University, 61 percent of respondents indicated they would like to see an increase in pheasant stocking, and 72 percent were opposed to closing pheasant propagation facilities to generate more operating capital for agency programs. The crew is briefed on the burn plan and forecasted weather conditions. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. What species can a mentored hunter hunt? Pennsylvanias management plan and seasons are not, and should not, be the same as other states, again, to ensure long-term sustainability of the wild turkey population. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. Predators have an effect on their prey without actually killing them.". That's true. Heres how The Express-Times reported the unusual story on Sept. 26, 1996. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Isn't the release of another predator just going to cause or add to the further decline of species such as the wild turkey, northern goshawk, ruffed grouse, Allegheny woodrats, or rabbits? How Big Was the Monster Shark That Took This Bite? While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. The interaction of these factors, such as a high fall harvest rate coupled with poor poult production due to adverse spring weather with poor habitat quality, predation and minor disease, impact populations. Can so many people be so wrong? At one time mountain lions, or more properly puma (Puma concolor), enjoyed the widest geographic range of any New World mammal, and were found throughout all of the contiguous United States. California state law requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits to kill mountain lions that attack domestic animals. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania Check out the tails of the two! Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. Replacement certificates are usually mailed in 10-14 days upon receipt of an application. It is a time to be in the woods with few other people. But in recent years, the animals have been moving east. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. No. Are mountain lions living in Pennsylvania today? "Cougars are hunting deer year-round. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? I've worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I love helping them unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about CWD in Pennsylvania. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? I went back there with the cop who showed up. With proper management, trapping allows for sustainable use of this valuable wildlife resource. However, the spring season does not impact the overall annual turkey population, due to the timing of when the season opens after peak breeding, and when more than half of the hens have begun incubating eggs. Kristin Hunt Cougars also called mountain lions or pumas are uniquely suited to hunt and kill deer, who not only cause traffic accidents but overgraze to the point of endangering native species and eliminating habitats for smaller animals. He's a hunter, a woodsman, and he's seen a lot of game, so I can believe he saw a back-lighted puma. But a mix of bounty hunting . WPRAs are selected based on potential pheasant habitat available. First, we can discern from the flattish face and forward-facing eyes that we are looking at a cat of some kind. Hes fairly lean and well-muscled, as hes a dainty eater and play-brawls constantly with his larger brother, so hes hardly obese. How are waterfowl seasons set? Consider planting vegetation that provides both food and cover. The gobbler population in a given area is directly related to the reproductive success of hens in the population. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. By expanding concurrent seasons statewide, hunters are provided with more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer. More information is available here. Install lighting or motion-sensor lighting in dark areas around the home to deter cougars and other wildlife. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. For the latest information about COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Healths website at www.health.pa.gov. Wildfires on the other hand, are unplanned fires that occur during extreme conditions, which can pose threats to public safety and cause damage to natural resources. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. Elk, Pa.s largest wild animal, have become a tourism boom in the northwest part of the state. More information is available here. What does the area look like after the burn? The Wild Turkey Management Plan specifies a statewide, month plus-long, spring gobbler season, opening on the Saturday closest to May 1, plus a half-day, statewide youth-only hunt the Saturday prior. Wildlife need habitat, not handouts. For more information, call 866-474-2141 or visit www.sharedeer.org. The agency worked hard to restore many of these species back to the Commonwealth, and that continues today with success stories for beaver, river otter, bobcat and fisher. During the 1990s turkeys exhibited rapid population expansion facilitated by a combination of: restoration (trap & transfer), suppressed predator populations (much more trapping than today and rabies was more evident), more controlled hunting seasons, and habitat availability. Fortunately, with the advent of the Game Commission, over time trapping became much more regulated with strict seasons placed on each species. How do I submit comments and ideas about current and proposed seasons and bag limits set by the Board of Game Commissioners? In addition, if nuisance bears are being attracted to an area by other wildlife feeding, game wardens can issue written notice to temporarily halt the activity. When is the peak of the elk rut? A 100-year survey of cougar attacks in the U.S. and Canada found only 10 deaths and 48 injuries. Can I use trail cameras on state game lands? If cougar reintroduction were to become a serious consideration, the game commission would first need to conduct a feasibility assessment, a "long and careful process," in Keller's estimation, that ends with a recommendation for or against reintroducing a species. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. The agency is always faced with the challenge of providing as many hunting opportunities as possible, while ensuring the wildlife resource is managed sustainably. However, the loss of nesting brood cover for turkeys and their young may cause turkeys to be more vulnerable to predation during nesting season. Where can I find bear harvest data? They haven't been . Call the region office that serves the county where the animal is located, directly. The dashboard is updated weekly and features an all-new way to view past and current information related to the disease. Wild trapped pheasants are released with the goal of establishing populations of at least ten hens per square mile in the spring. It's important to note that individuals cannot take firewood from state game lands. It is not impossible for a mountain lion to be living in the Commonwealth. The Nittany Lion at State College wasn't just created out of thin air. I believe them. Check out the Elk Viewing Guide and Elk Scenic Drive Map from the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau. The Game Commission maintains a public map that shows where prescribed burns are being planned. Little is known of the wolf in Pennsylvania, or if indeed the same animal now called the Eastern coyote in fact might have been similar to the wolf of the past. So, theyll respond swiftly to a dose of pepper spray, meaning theyll almost always beat a hasty retreat. The decision to burn can be made as late as the morning of the burn. A few additional ways to help prevent bears getting into garbage: Keep garbage cans clean by washing them out a few times a year with bleach or ammonia; keep bears from easily getting inside cans by attaching ratchet straps (not bungee cords) across the lid in an X pattern; and do not strap cans to a tree or post, as doing so actually gives a bear leverage to more easily access a can if someone is using an actual bear-proof container or using the ratchet straps. Yes. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens of sincere reports of sightings and tracks and even more hoaxed reports emerge across the state each year. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. 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