PRINTER'S NO. 667
No. 565 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, B. SMITH, STABACK, BUNT, COY, HARHAI,
LAUGHLIN, McCALL, PISTELLA, RUFFING, WALKO, HALUSKA,
KIRKLAND, MANN, R. MILLER, PRESTON AND SURRA, MARCH 3, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, MARCH 3, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for the safety zone for hunters
3 using bows and arrows or crossbows.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 2505 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 2505. Safety zones.
9 (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
10 title or to any political subdivision, its employees or agents,
11 which has a valid deer control permit issued under section
12 2902(c) (relating to general categories of permits), it is
13 unlawful for any person, other than the lawful occupant, while
14 hunting game or wildlife, taking furbearers of any kind, or
15 pursuing any other privilege granted by this title, to hunt for,
16 take, trap, pursue, disturb or otherwise chase any game or
17 wildlife or to discharge, for any reason, any firearm, arrow or
18 other deadly weapon within or through a safety zone, or to shoot
1 at any game or wildlife while it is within the safety zone
2 without the specific advance permission of the lawful occupant
3 thereof.
4 (b) Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
5 offense punishable by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than
6 $500. A second or subsequent offense within two calendar years
7 is a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $500
8 nor more than $1,000.
9 (c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "safety
10 zone" means:
11 (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), the
12 area within 150 yards around and that area which is below the
13 highest point of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or
14 other building or camp occupied by human beings, or any barn,
15 stable, or other building used in connection therewith or any
16 attached or detached playground of any school, nursery school
17 or day-care center.
18 (2) When applied to properly licensed [archery deer
19 hunters within any special area designated by commission
20 regulations or any area making use of any special permit
21 issued in accordance with this title or commission
22 regulations] persons hunting with bow and arrow or crossbow,
23 the area within 50 yards around and that area which is below
24 the highest point of any occupied dwelling house, residence
25 or other building or camp occupied by human beings or any
26 barn, stable or other building used in connection therewith
27 and the area within 150 yards around and that area which is
28 below the highest point of any attached or detached
29 playground of any school, nursery school or day-care center.
30 Section 2. This act shall apply to the hunting license year
20030H0565B0667 - 2 -
1 commencing July 1, 2003, and each hunting license year
2 thereafter.
3 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
B14L34RZ/20030H0565B0667 - 3 -