Don't put away that hunting gear just yet.
The statewide firearms deer season ended yesterday, and, for a lot of hunters, that signals the end of hunting season. It needn't. There is a lot of hunting remainig, starting Monday.
Small-game hunting returns tomorrow. It runs through Dec. 23, takes a break for the holidays, then re-opens Dec. 26.
The next nine days in particular were opened in the hopes that parents and other mentors would take youngsters out while they are off school for the holiday break, according to Pennsylvania Game Commissioners. Accordingly, pheasants will be stocked in some places — wildlife management units 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5C and 5D — to provide hunting opportunities. Male and female pheasants will be legal game.
"We are holding these birds to be released as close as possible to the holiday season so youth can take advantage of going afield during their school break and some business close down for the holidays as well," said commission executive director Carl Roe in a release earlier this year.
The hunting — for other small game species in particular — can be good, too. In fact, some hunters look forward to the late seasons more than any others.
"I actually prefer the late small game season because there's still lots of game and there are very few other hunters outside," said Butch Shannon of Blairsville, president of the Conemaugh Valley Beagle Club in New Florence and a dedicated late season rabbit hunter. "We look forward to it every year."
Some of the best late season small game hunting — and for rabbits in particular — is found on private land, said Dan Sitler, one of the Game Commission's wildlife conservation officers in Washington County. That, and the fact hunting pressure is usually way down compared to earlier in the fall, makes this a good time to knock on doors and find permission to hunt, he said.
Hunters also need to be flexible, he added.
"Hunters need to plan ahead and map out several areas to hunt and be willing to relocate several times during the day," he said.
Squirrels shouldn't be overlooked in the late season either. Underhunted at all times, they're particularly forgotten about in the late season, but remain abundant, even in small woodlots.
"Just like with rabbits, I have seen more this year than at any time before," said Beth Fife, a Game Commission officer in eastern Allegheny County.
The seasons
Here's the schedule for late small game hunting:
Squirrels: Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 6. The daily limit is six.
Ruffed grouse: Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 23. The daily limit is two.
Rabbits: Dec. 14-23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 6. The daily limit is four.
Pheasants: Dec. 14 to 23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 6 in wildlife management units 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5C and 5D. The daily limit is two.
Snowshoe hare: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The daily limit is one.
