Seasons open again Dec. 26

The 2007 buck season is one that fourteen-year-old Ryan Grimm of Emporium won't soon forget. He was hunting on his family farm on the second day the season when this beautiful 10-point came into range.

Hunters and trappers have a mixed bag of seasons from which to choose.

They have their pick of deer, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, squirrel, cottontail, pheasant, coyote, beaver and other furbearers, crows, doves and waterfowl.

For deer hunters, the statewide late archery and flintlock muzzleloader seasons run concurrently from Dec. 26 to Jan. 12.

Small game seasons are as follows: squirrel, Dec. 26 to Feb. 9; ruffed grouse, Dec. 26 to Jan. 26; rabbit, Dec. 26 to Feb. 9; and snowshoe hare, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

In addition, pheasants will be open Dec. 26 to Feb. 9 in the local wildlife management units (2G and 3A), among others.

Hunters who participate in any of these seasons must have a general hunting license, which is valid through June 30.

All antlerless deer taken by hunters must be tagged with the appropriate harvest tag. Buckhunting in the late seasons is governed by antler restrictions and limited to only bowhunters and flintlock muzzleloader hunters with an unused general hunting license deer harvest tag.

Those hunting in the late seasons also may take coyotes with either a general hunting license or a furtaker license. Hunters and trappers can take an unlimited number of coyotes until Feb. 17.

Furbearer hunting seasons continuing through the winter months include: red and gray foxes, until Feb. 16, including Sundays; raccoons, until Feb. 16; bobcats, for those with special permits, until Feb. 16; and skunks, opossums and weasels, until June 30 (certain restrictions apply during the spring gobbler season).

Furbearer trapping seasons include: beavers, Dec. 26- March 31; minks and muskrats, until Jan. 6; raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes and weasels, until Feb. 17; and bobcats, for those with special permits, until Feb. 17.