SB 303 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods and for restrictions on recreational spotlighting; in special licenses and permits, providing for game or wildlife recovery permits; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   237

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 303
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, FEBRUARY 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 25, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for
 3      definitions; in hunting and furtaking, further providing for
 4      unlawful devices and methods and for restrictions on
 5      recreational spotlighting; in special licenses and permits,
 6      providing for game or wildlife recovery permits; and imposing
 7      penalties.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 102 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
11   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
12   § 102.   Definitions.
13      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
14   provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
15   provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
16   used in this title shall have the meanings given to them in this
17   section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
18      * * *
19      "Small unmanned aircraft."    An unmanned aircraft weighing
20   less than 55 pounds, including the weight of anything attached
21   to or carried by the aircraft.
 1         "Small unmanned aircraft system."       A small unmanned aircraft
 2   and the equipment necessary for the safe and efficient operation
 3   of the aircraft.
 4         * * *
 5         "Unmanned aircraft."      An aircraft or aerial vehicle that is
 6   operated without the possibility of direct human intervention
 7   from within or on the aircraft or vehicle.
 8         * * *
 9         Section 2.     Section 2308(a)(7) of Title 34 is amended by
10   adding a subparagraph to read:
11   § 2308.       Unlawful devices and methods.
12         (a)   General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
13   title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt or aid, abet,
14   assist or conspire to hunt any game or wildlife through the use
15   of:
16               * * *
17               (7)   A vehicle or conveyance of any kind or its
18         attachment propelled by other than manpower. Nothing in this
19         subsection shall pertain to any of the following:
20                     * * *
21                     (iii)   A small unmanned aircraft system if the
22               operator has been issued a wildlife recovery permit
23               granted by the commission and the small unmanned aircraft
24               system is used solely by the permittee for the recovery
25               of harvested wildlife when no firearm or implement of
26               taking is possessed by any participant involved in the
27               recovery. This subparagraph shall not be construed to
28               authorize the hunting of any live game or wildlife
29               observed or located through the use of an unmanned
30               aircraft system if a period of less than 24 hours has

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 1             elapsed since the most recent observation or location
 2             event through the use of a small unmanned aircraft.
 3             * * *
 4      Section 3.     Section 2311(a) of Title 34 is amended and the
 5   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 6   § 2311.    Restrictions on recreational spotlighting.
 7      (a)    Unlawful acts.--It is unlawful for any person to cast or
 8   to assist any other person in casting the rays of a spotlight,
 9   vehicle headlight or any other artificial light of any kind from
10   any vehicle, watercraft, airborne craft or any attachment to
11   such vehicles or crafts:
12             (1)   Upon any building at any time.
13             (2)   In any manner which frightens, excites or harasses
14      any livestock, poultry or other farm animal.
15             (3)   To search for or locate for any purpose any game or
16      wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth, other than
17      specified in paragraph (4), daily between the hours of 11
18      p.m. and sunrise on the following day.
19             (4)   To search for or locate for any purpose any game or
20      wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth at any time during
21      the antlered deer rifle season and during the antlerless deer
22      rifle season.
23             (5)   Upon photoelectric cell lights.
24   [The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if it is
25   proven that the headlights of a vehicle or conveyance were being
26   used while traveling on a roadway in the usual way.]
27      (a.1)    Exceptions.--The provisions of this section shall not
28   apply to the use of:
29             (1)   The headlights of a vehicle or conveyance traveling
30      on a roadway in the normal manner associated with traveling

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 1      at night or during inclement weather.
 2             (2)   A spotlight mounted to a small unmanned aircraft
 3      system if the operator has been granted a wildlife recovery
 4      permit issued by the commission and the vehicle is used
 5      solely for the recovery of harvested wildlife when no firearm
 6      or implement of taking is possessed by any participant
 7      involved in the recovery. This paragraph shall not be
 8      construed to authorize the hunting of any live game or
 9      wildlife observed or located through the use of an unmanned
10      aircraft if a period of less than 24 hours has elapsed since
11      the most recent observation or location event through the use
12      of a small unmanned aircraft.
13      * * *
14      Section 4.      Chapter 29 of Title 34 is amended by adding a
15   subchapter to read:
16                                 SUBCHAPTER E
17                      GAME OR WILDLIFE RECOVERY PERMITS
18   Sec.
19   2971.   Purpose of subchapter.
20   2972.   Definitions.
21   2973.   Application process.
22   2974.   Permits.
23   2975.   Small unmanned aircraft operation.
24   2976.   Field records.
25   2977.   Enforcement.
26   § 2971.    Purpose of subchapter.
27      The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for the issuance
28   of game and wildlife recovery permits to authorize eligible
29   applicants to assist in the recovery of game and wildlife
30   lawfully harvested by other individuals using small unmanned

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 1   aircraft systems.
 2   § 2972.    Definitions.
 3      The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
 4   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 5   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 6      "Game or wildlife recovery activity."     The act of aiding,
 7   abetting, assisting or conspiring with another person, in any
 8   manner, to recover previously harvested game or wildlife using a
 9   small unmanned aircraft system.
10      "Game or wildlife recovery permit."     A game or wildlife
11   recovery permit issued in accordance with this subchapter.
12      "Permittee."     An individual issued a game or wildlife
13   recovery permit under this subchapter.
14   § 2973.    Application process.
15      (a)    Form.--The commission shall develop and make available
16   an application form for a game or wildlife recovery permit in
17   accordance with this subchapter.
18      (b)    Application.--An individual may apply to the appropriate
19   regional office of the commission for a game or wildlife
20   recovery permit in the form and manner prescribed by the
21   commission.
22      (c)    Contents.--An application for a game or wildlife
23   recovery permit must include:
24             (1)   The name, address, telephone number, customer
25      identification number and date of birth of the applicant.
26             (2)   A copy of the applicant's remote pilot certificate
27      issued under 14 CFR Pt. 107 (relating to small unmanned
28      aircraft systems).
29             (3)   A copy of the financial liability insurance policy
30      for the small unmanned aircraft system of the applicant.

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 1             (4)   The remote identification number associated with
 2      each small unmanned aircraft system to be covered by the
 3      permit.
 4      (d)    Fee.--The fee for a game or wildlife recovery permit
 5   shall be:
 6             (1)   $100 for residents and nonresidents when used for
 7      commercial game or wildlife recovery activity.
 8             (2)   $5 for individuals utilizing a small unmanned
 9      aircraft system for personal game or wildlife recovery
10      activity.
11   § 2974.    Permits.
12      (a)    Permit required.--An individual must first obtain a game
13   or wildlife recovery permit before engaging in any game or
14   wildlife recovery activity.
15      (b)    Additional permits.--The issuance of a game or wildlife
16   recovery permit to an individual does not diminish the
17   obligation of the individual to obtain other applicable Federal,
18   State or local permits.
19      (c)    State game lands.--Notwithstanding 58 Pa. Code § 135.41
20   (relating to State game lands), a game or wildlife recovery
21   permit authorizes its holder to engage in game or wildlife
22   recovery activities on lands designated as State game lands
23   using a small unmanned aircraft system.
24      (d)    Conditions.--The initial and continued validity of a
25   game or wildlife recovery permit is conditioned upon the
26   permittee's:
27             (1)   Maintenance of a valid remote pilot certificate
28      issued under 14 CFR Pt. 107 (relating to small unmanned
29      aircraft systems).
30             (2)   Maintenance of financial liability insurance

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 1      covering the operation of each unmanned aircraft system
 2      associated with the permit.
 3             (3)   Maintenance and update of the remote identification
 4      number associated with each unmanned aircraft system
 5      associated with the permit.
 6   § 2975.    Small unmanned aircraft operation.
 7      (a)    Compliance with law.--A permittee shall operate a small
 8   unmanned aircraft system used for a game or wildlife recovery
 9   activity in compliance with all applicable Federal, State and
10   local law governing operation.
11      (b)    Remote identification broadcast.--A permittee shall
12   cause a small unmanned aircraft system used in a game or
13   wildlife recovery activity conducted under the permittee's game
14   or wildlife recovery permit to continuously broadcast the
15   equipment identification number during the game or wildlife
16   recovery activity.
17      (c)    Firearms and implements capable of harvest.--A permittee
18   shall ensure that the individuals participating in a game or
19   wildlife recovery activity conducted under the permittee's game
20   or wildlife recovery permit are not in possession of a firearm,
21   bow, crossbow or other implement capable of harvesting game or
22   wildlife during the game or wildlife recovery activity.
23   Enforcement of this subsection shall be based on the standard of
24   whether the permittee knew or should have known about the
25   possession of the firearm, bow, crossbow or other implement.
26   § 2976.    Field records.
27      (a)    Maintenance and inspection.--
28             (1)   A permittee shall maintain and provide to the
29      commission legible, accurate and complete field records of
30      all game or wildlife recovery activities conducted under the

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 1      authority of the game or wildlife recovery permit of the
 2      permittee.
 3             (2)   The field records must be maintained and made
 4      available for inspection in accordance with section 2906
 5      (relating to records).
 6      (b)    Form and contents.--The commission shall develop and
 7   make available a form to be used for the submittal of the field
 8   records described under paragraph (1), which must include the
 9   following information for each commercial guiding activity:
10             (1)   The name, address and customer identification number
11      for each client.
12             (2)   The date of each game or wildlife recovery activity.
13             (3)   The quantity and species of game or wildlife
14      recovered for each client. If the species recovered is an
15      antlered white-tailed deer or elk, the field records must
16      also provide the number of points for each antler.
17             (4)   The name and permit number of any additional game or
18      wildlife recovery permittee that participates in the game or
19      wildlife recovery activity.
20      (c)    Reports.--Field records must be submitted to the
21   commission annually in accordance with section 2907 (relating to
22   reports).
23   § 2977.    Enforcement.
24      (a)    Prosecution.--A violation of this subchapter shall be
25   prosecuted in accordance with section 2908 (relating to
26   violations).
27      (b)    Permit.--The director may deny, revoke or suspend a game
28   or wildlife recovery permit of a permittee for a violation of
29   this subchapter or this title by the permittee or any
30   subpermittee, upon written notice to the permittee.

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1     Section 5.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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