Changes in deer seasons; Elk license allotment is 45

Members of the Game Commission this week set the stage for changes in the deer-hunting season affecting four wildlife management units, including WMU 2G, which includes all of Cameron County, the southern half of Potter County and parts of several other counties.

Preliminary approval was given to a five-day, antlered deer only season starting the Monday after Thanksgiving, followed immediately by seven days of concurrent, antlered and antlerless deer hunting.

A two-week concurrent antlered and antlerless season would remain in effect in the other 18 WMUs, including 3A, which includes the northern half of Potter and McKean counties.

Game managers plan to evaluate the impact of changed season length in the four WMUs on hunter success rates for future use as a new management tool. Area 2G already has ongoing deer research, the Game Commission said.

"Antlerless deer harvest versus number of days of opportunity, or the overall season length, will be evaluated following this season," the agency said in a news release. "We will conduct annual surveys of hunters to determine whether they'd like more opportunity via time, such as two weeks or more, or more people involved through perhaps more tags and shorter seasons."

A four-year study will determine the impact and effectiveness of the proposed five-day antlered/seven-day concurrent season on the deer management plan before additional WMUs are considered for a similar configuration.

A final vote will be taken during the Game Commission's April 21-22 meetings. The agency will also set antlerless deer license allocations during those sessions, after reviewing the 2007-08 deer season harvest data, due out by mid-March.

Statewide, the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, first implemented in 2006, will continue for the 2008- 09 seasons. Youth under the age of 12 will be able to join mentors in hunting squirrel, woodchuck, spring gobbler and antlered deer.

Elk Season Change

Also, as expected, the Game Commission dropped September elk hunts beyond the previously-approved hunt set for this year, due to limited success and low hunter satisfaction.

The regular fall elk hunt will be held Nov. 3-8, with 45 licenses to be awarded by a public drawing in September.

Lastly, the Game Commission agreed to remove the fluorescent orange requirements for hunters participating in the spring gobbler seasons.