Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 147.804 - General(a)License required. A mentor shall possess a valid Pennsylvania hunting license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706 of the act (relating to resident license and fee exemptions) prior to engaging in any mentored hunting activities.(b)Permit required. A mentored youth or mentored adult shall possess a valid applicable mentored hunting permit prior to engaging in any mentored hunting activities. Purchase of a hunting license by an eligible mentored youth or mentored adult shall automatically invalidate any mentored permit and associated harvest tags held by same.(c)Species limitation. A mentored youth's or mentored adult's hunting eligibility is restricted to the following species: rabbit, hare, ruffed grouse, mourning dove, bobwhite quail, pheasant, crow, squirrel, porcupine, woodchuck, coyote, deer, waterfowl, bear and wild turkey.(d)Seasons and bag limits. A mentored youth's and mentored adult's hunting eligibility is further constrained by applicable hunting seasons, daily limits, field possession limits and season limits provided in § 139.4 (relating to seasons and bag limits for the license year).(e)Applicability of junior seasons and antler restrictions. A mentored youth is eligible to hunt during any special youth hunting seasons that apply to any species specified in subsection (c) and are subject to the same antler restrictions that apply to junior license holders in § 131.2 (relating to definitions).(f)Tagging requirements. Mentored youth and mentored adults shall tag and report all big game harvested in the manner provided in section 2323 of the act (relating to tagging and reporting big game kills).(g)Transfer of an antlerless license. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in section 2711(a)(3) and (5) of the act (relating to unlawful acts concerning licenses), mentors are authorized to transfer antlerless licenses issued to them to an eligible mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The antlerless license shall be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting antlerless deer. The transfer of the antlerless license may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the antlerless deer, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may receive by transfer no more than one antlerless deer license each license year. Mentored youth who are under 7 years of age at the time of application are ineligible to make direct application for an antlerless license.(h)Transfer of a fall turkey tag. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in section 2711(a)(3) and (5) of the act, mentors are authorized to transfer fall turkey tags issued to them to an eligible mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The fall turkey tag shall be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting fall turkey. The transfer of the fall turkey tag may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the fall turkey, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may not receive by transfer more than one fall turkey tag each license year. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the transfer of a harvest tag to a mentored adult or a mentored youth that was 7 years of age or older at the time of application for the mentored permit.(i)Transfer of a Deer Management Assistance Program harvest permit. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in § 147.676(2) and (3) (relating to unlawful acts), mentors are authorized to transfer Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) harvest permits issued to them to an eligible mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The DMAP harvest permit must be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting antlerless deer. The transfer of the DMAP harvest permit may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the antlerless deer, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may not receive by transfer more than one DMAP harvest permit each license year. Mentored youth who are under 7 years of age at the time of application are ineligible to make direct application for a DMAP harvest permit. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the transfer of a harvest tag to a mentored adult or a mentored youth that was 7 years of age or older at the time of application for the mentored permit.(j)Transfer of an antlered deer harvest tag. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in section 2711(a)(3) and (5) of the act, mentors are authorized to transfer antlered deer harvest tags issued to them to a mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The antlered deer harvest tag shall be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting antlered deer. The transfer of the antlered deer harvest tag may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the antlered deer, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may not receive by transfer more than one antlered deer harvest tag each license year. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the transfer of a harvest tag to a mentored adult or a mentored youth that was 7 years of age or older at the time of application for the mentored permit.(k)Transfer of a spring turkey harvest tag or special wild turkey harvest tag. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in section 2711(a)(3) and (5) of the act, mentors are authorized to transfer spring turkey harvest tags or special wild turkey harvest tags issued to them to a mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The spring turkey harvest tag or special wild turkey harvest tag shall be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting spring turkey. The transfer of the spring turkey harvest tag or special wild turkey harvest tag may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the spring turkey, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may not receive by transfer more than one spring turkey harvest tag or special wild turkey harvest tag each license year. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the transfer of a spring turkey harvest tag or special wild turkey harvest tag to a mentored adult or a mentored youth that was 7 years of age or older at the time of application for the mentored permit.(l)Application for and issuance of big game harvest tags. Except as provided as follows, mentored youth and mentored adult hunting permits will be issued with an antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tag. No harvest tags will be issued with a mentored youth permit where the applicant is under 7 years of age at the time of application. Mentored youth over 7 years of age at the time of application and mentored adults are additionally eligible to make application for a bear license, a special wild turkey license, and one antlerless deer license and as many DMAP harvest permits that are within the eligibility standards and limitations of these programs.(m)Application for and issuance of add-on licenses and permits. Mentored youth and mentored adults are exempt from requirements to obtain archery and muzzleloader add-on licenses or stamps applicable to hunting archery or muzzleloader seasons for any species listed in subsection (c). Unless otherwise exempted by existing program standards, all mentored youth and mentored adults are required to obtain migratory bird licenses and pheasant permits to participate in hunting during applicable seasons for any associated species listed in subsection (c).(n)Transfer of a bear harvest tag. Notwithstanding the prohibitions in section 2711(a)(3) and (5) of the act, mentors are authorized to transfer bear harvest tags issued to them to a mentored youth who was under 7 years of age at the time of application. The bear harvest tag shall be valid and in the possession of the mentor at all times while hunting bear. The transfer of the bear harvest tag may not occur until after the mentored youth has harvested the bear, but before tagging the carcass. A mentored youth may not receive by transfer more than one bear harvest tag each license year. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the transfer of a bear harvest tag to a mentored adult or a mentored youth that was 7 years of age or older at the time of application for the mentored permit.The provisions of this § 147.804 amended August 12, 2011, effective 8/13/2011, 41 Pa.B. 4419; amended June 22, 2012, effective 6/23/2012, 42 Pa.B. 3594; corrected July 6, 2012, effective 6/23/2012, 42 Pa.B. 4305; amended April 26, 2013, effective 4/27/2013, 43 Pa.B. 2311; amended May 23, 2014, effective 5/24/2014, 44 Pa.B. 3102; amended May 29, 2015, effective 5/30/2015, 45 Pa.B. 2608; amended November 6, 2015, effective 11/7/2015, 45 Pa.B. 6503; amended March 22, 2019, effective 3/23/2019, 49 Pa.B. 1364; amended May 1, 2020, effective 5/2/2020, 50 Pa.B. 2276; amended September 3, 2021, effective 9/4/2021, 51 Pa.B. 5606.The provisions of this § 147.804 amended under the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 2102(a), 2701(a), 2722(g) and 2901(b).