HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunters planning to participate
in Pennsylvania's upcoming 2004 elk hunt have one week - until Friday, Sept.
10 - to submit an application and $10 non-refundable fee via "The Outdoor
Shop" on the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website
(http://www.pgc.state.pa.us). The deadline for submitting a paper application
closed on Aug. 27.
"The Game Commission established an earlier deadline for paper
applications to enable the agency to properly process them in time for the
public drawing on Sept. 25," said Vern Ross, Game Commission executive
director. At the drawing, 40 licenses will be awarded for the elk season,
which is set for Nov. 8-13.
Information on the upcoming elk hunt appears on pages 112-114 in the
2004-2005 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is
provided to license buyers.
A $10 non-refundable fee must be submitted with the application, and may
be charged to VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. No Game
Commission office will accept hand-delivered applications.
Ross also reminded hunters that, by law, only one application is permitted
per person.
"If a person submits more than one application, all of that person's
applications will be ineligible and the applicant will be subject to
prosecution," Ross said. "All application fees are non-refundable."
Because the application period opened before the 2004-2005 hunting
licenses went on sale in July, individuals are not required to purchase a
resident or nonresident general hunting license to apply for the drawing.
However, if they are drawn for one of the elk licenses, hunters then will be
required to purchase the appropriate resident or nonresident general hunting
license and watch a mandatory orientation video provided by the Game
Commission before being permitted to purchase the elk license. The elk
license fees are $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.
The public drawing will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25, as part of the Elk
Expo. The Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau will sponsor
the 4th Annual Elk Expo - a two-day festival all about elk and enjoying the
great outdoors - on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26, at the Elk County
Fairgrounds in Kersey. For more information about the Expo, visit the
Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau website
(http://www.pagreatoutdoors.com).
"All applications will be put into one container for the public drawing,"
Ross said. "We then will draw enough applications to award 40 elk licenses.
The first 12 will be awarded antlered elk licenses, and the next 28 will be
awarded antlerless elk licenses."
There is no limit to the number of licenses that may be awarded to
nonresidents, and individuals who were not awarded an elk license in 2003 will
be given one preference point if they apply for this year's drawing. As part
of the new preference point system established by the agency, consecutive
applications will not be required to maintain previously earned preference
points, but applicants will only be awarded preference points for each year in
which they submit an application. Once a hunter is awarded an elk license -
either an antlered or antlerless elk license - the hunter's preference points
will revert to zero.
Those applying for an elk license can choose either an antlered or
antlerless elk license, or they may select "either" on their application. For
those who select "antlered only," if they are drawn after the antlered
licenses are allocated, they will not receive an elk license. For those who
do receive an antlered elk license, they will not be permitted to re-apply for
future elk hunting opportunities for five years.
Applicants also will be given the opportunity to identify their preference
of an elk management area, or they may select "any." If drawn and their
preference for hunting area is already filled, applicants will be assigned a
specific area by the Game Commission. To assist applicants in making this
decision, information about the elk management areas is posted on the website
(http://www.pgc.state.pa.us) along with the application. This information
also is in the 2004-2005 Digest.
Those who received one of the antlered elk licenses for the 2001, 2002 or
2003 elk seasons are not eligible for five years from when they received their
licenses. However, those who received an antlerless elk license in any of the
previous hunts may submit an application this year.
Ross also reminded those seeking to qualify as an elk guide for the
upcoming hunt that the deadline to submit an application is Oct. 15.
"Individuals, especially those who live in the elk range or are familiar
with the elk herd, may apply for a permit to serve as a guide for those who
receive an elk license," Ross said. "Guides may provide assistance in
locating, calling or tracking elk, but may not harvest the elk."
Guide permits will be $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Permit
applications may be obtained from the Game Commission's Harrisburg
headquarters. Completed applications must be received in the Harrisburg
headquarters no later than Oct. 15.
Guide permits are required for those who plan to participate in locating,
calling or tracking for elk. Family members and friends accompanying the elk
hunter, but not participating in the hunt, do not need to obtain an elk guide
permit.
Licensed elk hunters may choose to use a guide who has been properly
permitted, although it is not a requirement to use a guide. Driving or
herding of elk is illegal.
Those seeking elk guide permits also should consult with the state
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources concerning special guiding
permits and requirements on state forest or state park lands. Check with the
DCNR district forester or park manager in the elk range for details.
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