The Pennsylvania Game Commission is considering a proposal that would outlaw hunting for coyotes with the aid of hounds during the state’s fall big game seasons. Ushered in by numerous complaints from deer and bear hunters, the ban received a preliminary approval during a regular commission meeting earlier this month. It’ll be back before the board for a final vote in January.
Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Travis Lau told News 6 that the proposed ban came about after big game hunters in the Keystone State rose mounting concerns about coyote hunting dogs disrupting their time the deer and bear woods. “There is definitely some concern expressed by hunters to the game commission about the use of coyote dogs during big game seasons,” Lau said. “During the firearms deer season, most other hunting is prohibited.”
According to a recap of the September meeting on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website, the practice of hunting coyotes with dogs has resulted in intentional and unintentional pushing, driving or killing of deer and bears in recent years.
“While it’s unlawful for any hunter to hunt deer or bear with dogs in Pennsylvania, and those doing so intentionally are in violation of the law, coyote dogs pushing deer or bears also pose potential problems for otherwise-lawful hunters in the same area,” the recap reads. “The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioner’s preliminary approval … would resolve those issues.”
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Coyote seasons will remain open year round if the ban goes through, Lau told News 6, but chasing the wild canines with the aid of dogs during daylight hours will be completely prohibited for the entirety of the deer and bear rifle season, which run intermittently from November 25 to December 9. According to the Commission, the proposed ban would not have an impact on in-season, nighttime hunting with dogs for coyotes and other furbearers like raccoons and possums.
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