Sep 21, 2013 4 min read

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has eased the schedule requirements on its youth pheasant hunts to allow young hunters more opportunities to fit one of the events into their schedules.

In previous years, all Junior Pheasant Hunt events statewide were held on the same Saturday. This year, clubs are permitted to host events either Saturday in junior pheasant season, Oct. 12 or 19.

“We’re glad to see clubs stepping up to meet the growing interest our junior hunters have demonstrated,” Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe said.

With the additional date in place, the commission saw an increase in overall hunts offered across the state. Unforuntately, that only added up to one hunt in Washington County.

The McDonald Sportsmen Association will host its junior pheasant hunt Oct. 12 in McDonald for 50 juniors. The deadline to register is Wednesday. Register online at http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/34840.

Junior Pheasant Hunts are events for youngsters between the ages of 12 and 16 years old who have successfully completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course. The hunts are held on lands, and the Game Commission provides clubs with about 3,000 pheasants to stock for the hunts.

The commission stocks another 15,000 pheasants statewide ahead of junior season, and this year plans to release more than 200,000 pheasants across Pennsylvania.

Youngsters taking part in a Junior Pheasant Hunt event are not required to purchase a license, but they must wear the necessary amount of fluorescent orange and be accompanied as required by law.

Those looking for hunts close to the area might also want to check with Beaver County Sportsmen’s and Conservation League. The Beaver County Sportsmen will will host two junior pheasant hunts for 24 juniors each – one Oct. 12 at State Game Lands 173, and one Oct. 19 at Raccoon Creek State Park. Register online at http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/35518 for the hunt Oct. 12, or http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/35519 for the hunt Oct. 19. Deadline to register is Wednesday.

• The Allegheny County Airport Authority will hold an archery-only hunt in designated hunting zones on Pittsburgh International Airport property. The hunt will take place from Oct. 5 through Jan. 11, 2014.

A lottery system will be used in order to assign a limited number of permits to hunters who submit an application.

Roughly 2,362 acres will be made available to hunters authorized to hunt. The Airport Authority will issue permits and permitted hunters will be restricted to hunting only within the designated zones and will be cited for trespass if they are found to be hunting elsewhere on Airport property.

To apply for a permit, visit www.flypittsburgh.com/archery.

• The Game Commission has lifted the requirement that deer harvested in chronic wasting disease management areas be processed at a check station.

Hunters harvesting deer in areas of Pennsylvania where chronic wasting disease has been found will need to comply with special rules during the upcoming hunting seasons.

A disease that always is fatal to deer, elk and moose, CWD is not known to be transmitted to humans.

CWD was first detected in a captive deer in Adams County in 2012 and spread to the wild population when a deer escaped that farm while the affected animals were being put down.

Since that time, positive CWD test results have been returned in relation to three free-ranging deer harvested by hunters in Blair and Bedford counties.

The commission feels since CWD has been found among some of the state’s free-ranging deer, its focus should be on managing the disease rather than trying to prevent it.

The areas where disease management areas have been set up include about 600-square-mile area that includes parts of York and Adams counties, and nearly 900 square miles in parts of Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon and Cambria counties.

Outdoors editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.