House Bill 1690 Decoys - Bait

[nitelight]

On December 22, 2005 Govenor Edward Rendell signed House Bill 1690, The Bill now known as Act No. 86 will becomes effective 60 days after signing.

Act No. 86 addresses and will now permit the use of:

Any Decoy used in trapping or hunting of furbearers.

Any Electronic or Mechanical Device used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.

Any natural or manmade nonliving bait used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.

Language that allows the Pennsylvania Game Commission to implement a mentored youth hunting program.

The Pennsylvania Predator Hunters Association and it's members had submitted comments in support of this Bill. You can view HB 1690, Act No. 86 at www.legis.state.pa.us

Just a side note the PPHA was also instrumental this year in working with and providing imput with the the PGC and the Board of Commissioners in regard to the use of up to # 4 buckshot for furbearers.

Thanks members for a job well done.

Tom M

[220_Woody]

great news!!

so...60 days from Dec. 20th......that puts us around Feb. 17th i think.

the use of decoys for coyote calling is a great tool....them critters are smart. alittle distraction tactic works wonders.

plus i know a couple farms with cattle carcass piles that are bringing in coyotes.... :wink:

-Woody

[nitelight]

The date of the signing was December 22, 2005.

[Mr. PPHA]

great news!!

so...60 days from Dec. 20th......that puts us around Feb. 17th i think.

the use of decoys for coyote calling is a great tool....them critters are smart. alittle distraction tactic works wonders.

plus i know a couple farms with cattle carcass piles that are bringing in coyotes.... :wink:

-Woody

Still has to have the OK from the PGC. Everyone who runs out to get a electronic decoy and gets caught using it is subject making a donation to the PGC and prob. surrendering the decoy so some words of advice, until you see the stamp of approvial from the PGC, I would not jump the gun .

[220_Woody]

never thought about it that way, i figured that the bill got approval from the PGC to even get a vote in the senate then to the Gov.
oops

-Woody

[Mr. PPHA]

Was there any mention of this at the comission meeting?

[nitelight]

The PGC had a chance to make comments pro and con on HB 1690 with the Senate & the House of Representatives and it's Committees before the Governor signed it into law. A law supersedes any regulation or policy. In the wording of the law, if the agency involved has any rules or regulations it will read in the content. In conformance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department.

It's now up to the PGC to enforcement HB1690. If someone is cited by a enforcement officer, the person can plead guilty. request a hearing before a District Justice or waive the charge into a County Court. If a hearing is requested before the DJ, they decide if a violation occurred and find the person Guilty of Not Guilty. If dissatisifed with the DJ decision it can be appealed to the County Courts. A Judge will then hear the case from evidence presented at a trial and determines if a person is in violation as charged. This is were the enforcement officer in both courts has to present his case and evidence that a person violated a specific section of a law or regulation. This is where Court decisions are made and listed as case law in a reference book called Purdon's. There might be some case law on file that addresses some previous violations of sections of this law. Policy and opinions??

[nitelight]

The PGC posted Release # 16-06, dated February 14, 2006.

New Tools Provided to Furbearer Hunters and Trappers.

Here are some highlights of the release.

PGC Executive Director Carl Roe noted that, beginning                 (FEBRUARY 20, 2006), furbearer hunters and trappers, especially those pursuing coyote will be able take advantage of new tools provided through recent changes in the Game and Wildlife Code (Title 34).

Under the new law, the list of legal methods and devices was amended to allow licensed hunters and trappers to use any natural or manmade nonliving bait used to attract coyotes; any electronic or mechanical device used to attract coyotes; and any decoy used in the trapping or hunting of furbearers.

The new law does not permit hunters and trappers to use any natural or manmade nonliving bait used to attract furbearer species other than coyotes, or to use any electronic or mechanical device used to attract furbearer species other than coyotes. Current regulations permit the use of electronic callers for hunting bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and crows.

Additionally, the law allowing TRAPPERS to use any natural or manmade nonliving bait to attract coyotes STILL DOES NOT PERMIT the bait to be visible from the air. Refer to current law (Section 2361 of Title 34) states that it is unlawful for any person to bait a trap with meat or animal products if the bait is visible from the air.

Those HUNTING coyotes, However, MAY HUNT OVER BAIT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR.

House Bill 1690, sponsored by House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Bruce Smith, was signed into law on December 22, 2005, and is now designated as Act 86 of 2005.