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Pennsylvania

Hunting

Hunting

Turkey Hunting Regulations

Blinds

The use of turkey blinds is legal under the following definition:

Any artificial or manufactured turkey blind consisting of all manmade materials of sufficient density to block the detection of movement within the blind from an observer outside the blind.

Artificial or manufactured turkey blinds consisting of all manmade materials means blinds must be constructed of plastic, nylon, canvas, cotton cloth, plywood or other manmade materials.

Blinds made by piling rocks, logs, branches, etc. are unlawful.

The blind must completely enclose the hunter on all four sides and from above to block the detection of movement within the blind.

Turkey-hunting blinds that represent the fanned tails of turkeys are illegal to use in Pennsylvania because they do not hide all hunter movement from behind or within.

Portable hunting blinds left on state game lands and other

Hunter Access properties under the Game Commission’s management now need to be conspicuously marked with a durable and legible identification tag that includes the owner’s first and last name and legal home address, or bears the CID number that appears on the owner’s hunting license or a number issued by the Game Commission to the blind owner. Identification numbers can be obtained at HuntFishPA on the Game Commission’s website.

Tagging, Reporting Requirements

Successful turkey hunters must follow all instructions printed on tags supplied with licenses.

Separate tags are provided for fall and spring seasons. The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The tag must be securely attached to a leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting. Once you have used your tag, it is unlawful to possess it in the field. Also, please remember

to remove your old hunting license from your possession while in the field. It is unlawful to possess old licenses while hunting.

Within 10 days of harvest (five days for mentored hunters), turkey hunters must report harvests to the Game Commission, either by going online to the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov, calling toll-free, or by sending in a postage-paid report card received with this digest.

Hunters reporting their turkey harvests over the telephone through by calling 1-800-838-4431. Hunters will need to have their license and information from the completed tag, including the tag number, beard length and spur length.

All hunters reporting harvests are asked to identify the WMU, county and township where the bird was taken.

Hunters who purchase a second spring gobbler license have a mandatory reporting requirement, regardless of whether they harvest a bird using this special license. For more details, see the “Tagging, Transporting & Reporting” section under “Big Game Regulations” in this digest.

Live Decoys, Drives and Electronic Calls

In both spring and fall turkey seasons, it is unlawful to possess or use live turkeys as decoys, or conduct drives for turkeys or use electronic callers or devices.

A 2ND SPRING TURKEY LICENSE can be purchased BEFORE the start of the regular spring turkey season (by April 28, 2023) from any issuing agent or at the Game Commission’s website. While the second license allows hunters to harvest up to two gobblers, only one turkey may be taken per day.

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