When I did, I discovered the intruder was a large cat. 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. One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. Those interested in submitting their thoughts and opinions on an issue related to hunting and wildlife in the state are encouraged to email the agency at The Pennsylvania Game Commission periodically receives reports and photos of mountain lions. The affidavit must be completed, signed and notarized before it is returned to the address found on the form. 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. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. Animals infected with CWD may not show signs of infection for 12 or more months. The footage is dark and amorphous, and very hard to make out. Click here for full harvest reporting details. Stay calm. If the tag was on the antlers, there would be no way to identify the head or carcass. 2019 mountain lion in Pennsylvania / definitive proof Joe and Angelika Kelley 12 subscribers Subscribe 91 16K views 3 years ago When something digs up your yard and you film it. How Can Hunters Modernize Antlerless Deer License Applications? More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania Mountain lions are large, tan cats. How do I report suspected sick, injured or nuisance wildlife? Our management and research have shown that we shouldn't overharvest females, so we set the fall season length conservatively. American Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment, Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment, Click here to learn more about our agency and its history, Click here for more information about the agency, Click here for more about regulations related to the Right-to-Know law, Click here for step-by-step instructions about how to purchase a Pennsylvania hunting license, lick here for more information about HuntFishPA, Game Commission office that serves your county, contact your state representative and state senator, Click here for full harvest reporting details, lick here for full harvest reporting details, Pennsylvania Game Commission Region Office, Pennsylvania Game Commissions Operation Game Thief program, Pennsylvania Game Commission region office, Pennsylvanias online Hunter-Trapper Education course, report it to the Game Commission region office, Learn more about elk history in Pennsylvania, Click here for a brief synopsis of the zones, Check out the Elk Viewing Guide and Elk Scenic Drive Map from the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, Click here to read the Pennsylvania Game Code, Click here to learn more about deer warts, please review the wild turkey biologist's January 2021 report to the board, Click here to read more about state game lands regulations, The Game Commission maintains a public map that shows where prescribed burns are being planned, Click here to learn more about CWD in Pennsylvania, https://pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/CWDResultsLookup, Refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation, Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). What factors are causing turkey populations to decline? The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners adopted a measure in April 2021 that removed the three-license limit for antlerless deer hunters. A successful bear hunter must take the bear, along with his or her hunting license and bear license, to a Pennsylvania Game Commission check station within 24 hours of the harvest. There are no exceptions. Periodically, via Google searches, I receive reports from people who believe they had seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania, or in other mid-Atlantic states. Where they always here as a relic population? California state law requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits to kill mountain lions that attack domestic animals. Will Chris Rock joke about Will Smith's Oscars slap during live Netflix comedy special? If a cow is not bred in her first estrus cycle, she will recycle approximately every 21 days, providing additional opportunities for conception. Who manages Pennsylvanias state game lands system? Although it is beneficial to provide contact information in case game wardens have follow-up questions, callers may remain confidential. 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. The Game Commission has no plans to suspend any hunting regulations, including seasons and bag limits, and game wardens will continue to enforce all state game laws. In addition to the map, users will see signage posted around the burn unit identifying the area as a planned burn during the coming weeks or months. How can I help to prevent negative human-bear interactions on my property? Click here to learn more about the board. The last wild mountain lion (Puma concolor) known to live in Pennsylvania was killed in 1871. How do I report suspected wildlife crimes? The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. Are Pennsylvanians OK with these changes? Note the long, usually thick tail. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. How can opinions be submitted to the Pennsylvania Game Commission? When traps are used properly and following the BMPs, they are very selective in what they catch, and along with state regulations, avoid non-targets like birds of prey. Fire improves wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities by increasing soft mast production in shrubs like blueberry, huckleberry and blackberry. Merely informing people of the possibility of mountain lions in Pennsylvania would not cause a panic, as it never does out west, but the death of a child by a mountain lion in Pennsylvania would create some measure of panic and terror in Pennsylania, and all surrounding states. Instead, the person usually pauses, sometimes with a sheepish or embarrassed expression on his face, and seems reluctant to continue. In Pennsylvania, Sunday hunting has been permitted for a long time for foxes, coyotes and crows during open seasons. Reducing the fall season in some WMUs and prohibiting rifles should allow turkey populations to reach harvest density goals without further decreasing season lengths in the future. It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Those wishing to complete the course, who are 11 years and older, have the option to complete it online. Yes. Weather, especially during spring nesting season can affect turkey populations. Mountain lions can be found throughout Arizona, and data suggests the populations are not only stable, but growing. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. 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. It is our mission to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? The 'look' is from my Comments for the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners regarding current and/or proposed seasons and bag limits may be submitted to pgccomments@pa.gov. I believe them. The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. Our investigations have determined the overwhelming number of sightings of mountain lions in our state are actually bobcats. In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. Two different people told me that they, or a close relative, had seen pumas on more than one occasion. 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. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! Have your animal processed in the area in which it was harvested so high-risk parts can be disposed of properly; 5. The bobcat, also known as the bay Iynx, wildcat, red lynx and swamp tiger, is the states only feline predator. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. What are the wart-like bumps that can grow on deer? The commission's furbearer biologist Thomas Keller said the PGC would "likely not be supportive of mountain lion reintroduction," pointing to the dangers posed to hikers, pets and other wildlife. That's true. However, bear are present all across the state. The Pennsylvania Game Commissions website, mobile app and Hunting and Trapping Digest are all great resources when looking for information related to current hunting and trapping seasons and beg limits. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. By expanding concurrent seasons statewide, hunters are provided with more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer. So, theyll respond swiftly to a dose of pepper spray, meaning theyll almost always beat a hasty retreat. As biologists are quick to stress, cougars rarely attack humans. By law, all first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully complete Hunter-Trapper Education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license. Help prevent negative human-bear conflicts and keep Pennsylvania bears wild by: Removing potential bear snacks, like pet food or bird feeders, and putting them inside overnight. Allowing inline muzzleloader hunters to use their unused buck tag would add additional harvest outside of the antlerless allocation framework. The elks weight and several biological samples will be collected by Game Commission wildlife biologists. According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. Wild trapped pheasants are released with the goal of establishing populations of at least ten hens per square mile in the spring. What are the 2022-23 Hunting Season and Bag Limits? I have three observations here: 1. The above frame, although admittedly still amorphous, is at least telling. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? Its a matter of perspective. Isnt trapping inhumane and indiscriminate? If mountain lions are here, or are to come here, they'll have to do it on their own. The counties typically with the highest harvest are in the northcentral part of the state, namely Clinton, Lycoming and Tioga counties. Last year, the board allowed concurrent seasons in select WMUs, mainly in areas where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) had been detected in free-ranging deer. Click here to read more about state game lands regulations. The mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on . Biology. Should any hunter come across a cougar in Pennsylvania, they are advised to leave it alone as hunting them in the state is illegal. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. If you have a question that isnt answered below, please email us at The lowered bag limit should allow AP Canada goose populations to rebound. How can I replace my Hunter-Trapper Education card? Imagine my surprise. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Last year, the commission recommended reintroducing the pine marten, a much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to Pennsylvania. Cougar or Bobcat? 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. Wild pheasants are released in WPRAs for three years, depending on availability of birds and trapping success in western states. Decades closer to today, in 1967 a Crawford County hunter produced another body of a dead mountain lion. Since turkey restoration efforts 5 environmental factors have changed and the interactions of these five factors can negatively affect turkey populations. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. American martens have large home ranges averaging over 3.2 mi and populations have relatively low density in comparison to most other wildlife species within the state. How Big Was the Monster Shark That Took This Bite? This change is necessary to reduce harvest rates to a level that will allow for growth of this migratory Canada goose population. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials say it's very unlikely it was a mountain lion. If you encounter a dead or injured animal that you suspect is a victim of a wildlife crime, please report the instance to the Operation Game Thiefs toll-free hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out an online form at Cougar Signs Experts such as Debra Chase, CEO of the Mountain Lion Foundation, say that cougars are mostly afraid of humans and dont see us as potential prey. I'm passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and I believe that education is the key to unlocking everyone's potential. If bears continually return, remove the bird feeders entirely. Harvest management to improve turkey numbers is with more conservative fall seasons. Closing stocked properties on the day of stocking would reduce overall opportunity and simply shift the initial surge of hunting pressure to first light the following morning. Hold your ground and back away slowly. Like mad cow disease in cattle, scrapie in sheep and goats, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, it's caused not by a virus or bacteria, but by abnormal prions, or proteins. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? Yes, they will be for the 2021-22 hunting license year. No. It is available to view online at www.pgc.pa.gov/cwd. The population declined significantly and experienced a near total reproductive failure in 2018. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. The Game Commission often partners with organizations like the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Letterkenny Army Depot, and Fort Indiantown Gap, among others, which allows more burns to be accomplished across all lands. Through stringent trap testing, BMPs provide a guide to trappers for ensuring animal welfare and trap efficiency for each individual species. Male turkeys will mate with multiple hens in a given breeding season, or even in a single day. Here in central Pennsylvania we live on the outskirts of what one puma-tracking website has as almost the high point of sightings, extending from north-central Pennsylvania in a southwestern diagonal that extends into the mountains of West Virginia. The estimated muzzleloader harvest was 28,260, of which 1,140 were antlered deer. For the 2021-22 license year, there are three elk hunting seasons: Archery, Sept. 11-25; Firearms, Nov. 1-6; and Late Season Jan. 1-8, 2022. Let me explain this. Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. Theories include the Nittany Lion, Mountain Lion, Puma, Cougar, Bobcat and even an actual black eastern Panther . Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? This accomplished, my next move was to do a transparency overlay, in an effort to line up both images perfectly. 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