Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to the hunting and trapping seasons, and bag limits for the 2019-2020 license year. Hunters and trappers will see more changes occurring in the regulations than usual happen in an upcoming season. Let’s take a look at some of the changes.

One of the biggies that will affect the deer hunters is that the opening day of the regular rifle season will occur on a Saturday, rather than the traditional opening on a Monday. The Saturday after Thanksgiving becomes the new opening day, creating a 13-day season that includes three Saturdays. While the tradition of Monday as being the opener is no longer the case, the Commissioners hope to create more opportunities for those who have weekends available for hunting but might be restricted by work duties during the week. Certainly, some will balk at the change of a Tradition, but if we need to make an adjustment that will aid in the retention and recruitment of fellow hunters, it will be worth it in the long run.

Targeting a continued overabundance of black bears throughout the state, several expansions of bear hunting opportunities will occur. The mid-October muzzleloader and special firearms deer seasons will be expanded to include bears statewide. The statewide archery bear season will be increased to two weeks and will occur right after the muzzleloader and special firearms season for bear.

Antlerless deer licenses statewide will increase to 903,000, up from last year’s allocation of 838,000 licenses. In the WMU’s surrounding Lycoming County, some WMU’s have an increase in allocations, while some have decreased.

Hunting licenses for the 2019-2020 season will go on sale in mid-June and become effective on July 1. This year, the 2019-2020 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest will be given free to all license buyers.

There were several changes adopted that alter the fall turkey season that varies from one WMU to another — this is all defined by WMU in the Digest. The 2020 spring gobbler season runs from May 2 to 30, with the one-day Youth Hunt being held on April 25, 2020.

There will be a simplification of the fluorescent orange requirements. There is no longer a requirement for archers to wear fluorescent orange while hunting for deer, bear or elk. It is also no longer required of a fall turkey hunter to wear fluorescent orange material. Further clarifications of the requirement are spelled out in the 2019-2020 Digest.

All of the above is a snapshot of some of the changes. For complete details and understanding, read the 2019-2020 Digest.

Change is usually a good thing. While some traditions will have to change, the added opportunities that will be created will help current hunters to enjoy more days afield during the seasons and will, hopefully, entice more hunters into our ranks. No doubt, many of the newly adopted revisions will foster a good deal of debate at hunting camp, but in the end, new traditions will be adopted and will flourish, and greater opportunities will be available to all of us.