Hunters I've spoken with said they've been told you can't kill a puma, which they felt was ironic since the same official told them pumas don't exist in Pa. 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 wonderful defense against mountain lions (also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers). Can so many people be so wrong? Bear licenses can also be purchased at an issuing agent where they can walk out the door with the license that same day. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. This process continues until the whole unit is burned out. A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. Here it is: I still couldn't get the big head/little neck, and the body is a bit stouter/shorter, but a striding cat might be stretched out a bit. Exact dates for reporting vary annually, but are generally January through May. Some in-person classes are being offered. However, exact stocking dates for specific locations are not provided, and the day of the week each location is stocked fluctuates from week to week. However, allowing the inline muzzleloader hunters to use their unused buck tag to harvest a doe would have negative implications from a deer management perspective for two reasons. Home Pennsylvania State University Can You Shoot A Mountain Lion In Pennsylvania? Check out the tails of the two! In addition, hens are less prone to abandon their nests if disturbed after incubation is underway. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I've seen about 10 black bears in Pennsylvania, and all within ten miles of my home. 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. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? A training certificate, which is recognized throughout North America, is awarded when you pass a test at the end of the course. Although no tail is visible, in terms of proportions, it appears more like a mountain lion than it does a bobcat, which tend to have shorter, more compact bodies and comparatively longer legs. How can I tell if an animal has CWD? 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. I went back there with the cop who showed up. Interestingly, almost all of the people I've spoken to who claim to have seen a puma have not seen a bobcat, an animal that is common enough in Pennsylvania to support a legal trapping season! Click here for more information about the agency. Last year, the commission recommended reintroducing the pine marten, a much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lion at State College wasn't just created out of thin air. Since 2004, when scientists found a dead cougar on train tracks in northern Oklahoma, they have recovered more than 100additional cougar bodies east of the Rocky Mountains. 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. It was discovered when it was killed by a vehicle while crossing a highway. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. Why is there no post-Christmas grouse hunting season? 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. But, again, for purposes of being conservative, were going to assume it was right by the step when it was filmed. They haven't been . This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. The most common areas to see mountain lions in Arizona are in places of rocky and mountainous terrain. Wet springs are associated with greater potential for predation of nests and hens may be more prone to abandon nests in wet weather. 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. Click here for step-by-step instructions about how to purchase a Pennsylvania hunting license. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been trying to establish a wild population of pheasants for years through its Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs). Deer populations are managed through the allocation of antlerless licenses. The Pennsylvania Game Commission updated the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System in early 2021 which provides hunters with more convenient and efficient ways to apply for an receive hunting licenses. If you ask me, the answer is yes. Be sure to verify your mailing address when purchasing online licenses. Yes. This is critical for collecting antlered harvest data. Click here to read more about state game lands regulations. Allowing inline muzzleloader hunters to use their unused buck tag would add additional harvest outside of the antlerless allocation framework. Is a mountain lion bigger than a bobcat? WPRAs are established through partnerships between the Game Commission and Pheasants Forever Chapters or other conservation groups. The sightings were great bear views, but too fast or fleeting to allow me to grab a camera. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A Rural Legend -- The Search For Pennsylvania Mountain Lions | Penn State University A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. PhillyVoice Staff, Pennsylvania's popular bear cam returns with live feed from new den, Two bald eagle eggs spotted on New Jersey farm's nest cam, Marine experts offer explanations why humpback whales are dying at the Jersey Shore, Eagles' A.J. Game Commission selections are made after reviewing the previous years hunter harvests, population survey data and public input. 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. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead. Those wishing to purchase a hunting license can do so in-person at one of these License Issuing Agents. *Please note: Our state game wardens are responsible for many things, from protecting wildlife, to enforcing hunting regulations, conducting search and rescues, assisting with biological research, educating the public about wildlife and more. Now consider: If it was confirmed that there was a breeding population of endangered pumas on the mountain ridge behind my house, if the USFWS recognized the existence of this endangered species, what might happen? Those cats for which DNA evidence was recovered had come east from South Dakota, part of the known, modern-day, U.S. mountain lion range. Are eLicenses a permitted substitute for hunters to carry in the field? They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. Please remember and take note, it is unlawful to take the antlers that are found still attached to a skull. Everyone is familiar with albinism, the absence of pigmentation that results in a white, essentially pigment free animal, defined by pink skin and pink eyes. This confirms the drop. Isnt that what happened to beaver and river otter in Pennsylvania? This would show how tall said cat was, compared to both me and the tape measure I am holding. I've never seen or heard of a verified black puma anywhere, whether wild or captive, so I'd be inclined to dismiss reports of truly black big cats as misidentifications, even when a group of guys all see the same thing. For mentored hunters ages 7 and older, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags. I've worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I love helping them unlock their full potential. Should any hunter come across a cougar in Pennsylvania, they are advised to leave it alone as hunting them in the state is illegal. 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. The Pennsylvania Game Commission periodically receives reports and photos of mountain lions. Crews are highly trained and qualified to light fires in a way that allows wildlife to escape, often with crew members walking through units before and during burns to ensure the area is clear of wildlife. The crew is briefed on the burn plan and forecasted weather conditions. Again, I've been told that some Game Commission personnel have admitted that pumas may exist in Pennsylvania, but they rationalize this by saying that the pumas are not breeding and they are not from original wild stock. Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? Bear check stations are open on each day of the regular firearms bear season, and on select days of the extended seasons. There have been no confirmed reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. The information also allows for monitoring population trends and identifying any potential issues that may arise. Are hunters OK with fewer deer?". The population is monitored for three additional years after the last release to determine population status and success. We ended up using the 18-inch mark for comparison, as it was pretty much spot-on. Most of the recent cougar sightings east of the Rocky Mountains were confirmed due to some kind of crash with a train or vehicle and as any Angeleno could tell you, some of them even reside in cities. Predation typically only limits local turkey populations. As biologists are quick to stress, cougars rarely attack humans. Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt "Although I understand why and what (proponents are) trying to say, I do not agree that this would be the case in Pennsylvania without having other major negative implications," he said in an email. At headquarters, there is an executive staff and seven bureaus: Wildlife Habitat Management, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Protection, Administrative Services, Marketing and Strategic Communications, Information and Education and Automated Technology Services. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. How do I submit comments and ideas about current and proposed seasons and bag limits set by the Board of Game Commissioners? A new late season bull hunt was added this license year and 20 additional bull licenses are available. I've seen about 20 mountain lions, or pumas, in the field, but all but 2 were in Chile. Hunting is legal, but closely regulated by the state. The most direct way to report an instance of a suspected sick, injured or nuisance wild animal is to call the Pennsylvania Game Commission Region Office that serves the county in which the animal is located. What happens on the day of the burn? Do not feed deer. Does my mentored hunter need to purchase his or her own doe tag? I'm a photographer, yet I've never had a chance to snap a photograph of one of these bears. The elks weight and several biological samples will be collected by Game Commission wildlife biologists. Why is bat photography so difficult? Mentored hunters ages 7 and older can apply for their own antlerless deer licenses, (one antlerless license per mentored permit holder), and DMAP permits. In response to COVID-19, is the Game Commission considering additional hunting opportunities or changes to existing hunting regulations? *Please note: Licenses may take up to ten business days to arrive. The goal of a WPRA is to establish a sustainable wild pheasant population that can be hunted. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. If you purchase a snow goose conservation permit, you must submit a snow goose harvest online at HuntFishPA, even if you were not successful. With declining turkey populations in many Wildlife Management Units, it might seem logical to eliminate the second spring gobbler tag to reduce harvest. , in Pennsylvania a test at the end of the regular firearms bear season, I. Said cat was, compared to both me and the tape measure I am holding the.. 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