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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 3, 2017 11:28 AM
From:	Representative Harold A. English and Rep. William C. Kortz, II
To:	All House members
Subject:	Hunting License Revocation

In the near future, we will reintroduce last sessions HB 2315, which amends Title 34 relating to license revocations as a result of a Game Code violation. Our bill will state that if an honest hunter turns themselves into the Game Commission and surrenders the animal that they mistakenly took, they may not face a hunting license revocation as part of their penalty. This legislation seeks to reward ethical and truthful hunters who do the right thing when they discover that they have made a mistaken kill. Presently, a hunter who harvests a deer or turkey of the wrong sex or accidentally takes two can turn the animals into a wildlife conservation officer and receive a new tag, pay a small fine, and suffer no license revocation. Our bill will expand this practice to include the other two big game animals, bear and elk. It also addresses the situation where a person is erroneously hunting in the wrong area and takes a game animal that is out of season, but upon learning of the honest mistake, turns themselves and the animal into the Commission within 24 hours. Our measure does not change any of the penalties that a hunter faces for illegal out of season kills, except for the elimination of license revocations in those instances where the hunter self-reports and surrenders the animal. It is our hope that this bill rewards truthful hunters by treating them differently than common poachers and promotes the self-reporting of honest mistakes. After working closely with them on this language, the Game Commission supports this change to Title 34. The proposal also has the support of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Last session's co-sponsors include: D. Costa, Cutler, Godshall, A. Harris, Helm, Irvin, Kotik, Mahoney, McNeill, Phillips-Hill, Readshaw, Saylor and Zimmerman. We appreciate your consideration in co-sponsoring this legislation. Thank you.

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