Posted: | January 17, 2017 04:30 PM |
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From: | Representative Barry J. Jozwiak |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | PA Game Code Amendment |
In the near future, I will re-introduce previous House Bill 1722, amending the Pennsylvania Game Code, providing an exemption to allow the use of a leashed blood-tracking dog to track white-tailed deer in an attempt to recover an animal which has been legally killed or wounded. Currently under the Game Code, it is unlawful for any person to make use of a dog in any manner to hunt or take big game, other than wild turkey during the fall season, or to permit a dog under a person’s ownership or control to pursue big game. It can sometimes be very difficult to track a wounded or harvested deer that may have traveled some distance, especially in areas of varied terrain or when weather conditions are poor. The use of a properly trained and controlled blood-tracking dog can prove instrumental in recovering a mortally wounded animal, and greatly decrease the chances of leaving deceased white-tailed deer unrecovered in our Commonwealth’s woods and wild lands. I believe this simple and humane proposed change in the law will be of great benefit to both our sporting community and one of our most valued natural resources, the white-tailed deer. The Game Commission is supportive of this legislation. Last session, this legislation passed the House with a vote of 177-1. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
Introduced as HB602