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.

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
 1   Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing
 3      for junior hunter projects; and, in game or wildlife
 4      protection, further providing for regulations.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Section 327(a) of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
 9   adding a subsection to read:
10   § 327.   Junior hunter projects.
11      (a)   General rule.--It shall be the duty of the commission to
12   initiate, implement and administer two or more junior license
13   hunter projects and a mentored hunter season for the purpose of
14   increasing and sustaining interest in hunting among young
15   persons and mentored adults of this Commonwealth. Except for the
16   requirement to actually hold a junior hunting license under
17   section 2705(2) or (9) (relating to classes of licenses) or a
18   license under section 2701(c) (relating to license requirements)
19   and as may otherwise be modified by commission regulations, all
 1   participants in any junior hunter project or mentored hunter
 2   season shall comply with all of the provisions of this title and
 3   the regulations promulgated hereunder.
 4      * * *
 5      (c)    Mentoring season.--
 6             (1)   The commission shall establish a seven-day mentoring
 7      season immediately following the conclusion of the regular
 8      firearms deer season.
 9             (2)   During the mentoring season, an individual holding a
10      license issued under section 2701(c) or 2705(2) or (9) may
11      hunt deer and small game species as designated by the
12      commission, provided the individual is accompanied by a
13      mentor.
14      Section 2.     Section 2102 of Title 34 is amended by adding a
15   subsection to read:
16   § 2102.    Regulations.
17      * * *
18      (b.1)    Regular antlered deer hunting season.--Notwithstanding
19   any other provision of law or regulation to the contrary, the
20   regular antlered deer hunting season shall open on:
21             (1)   The first Monday following Thanksgiving in districts
22      1, 3, 5 and 7 as identified in section 301(b) (relating to
23      organization of commission).
24             (2)   The first Saturday before Thanksgiving in districts
25      2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 as identified in section 301(b).
26      * * *
27      Section 3.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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