New Pennsylvania Junior Rabbit Season In 2010-11

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has approved a Junior Rabbit season to go along with the Junior Pheasant Season. Like the Pheasant season any “properly accompanied” person age 12-16 with or without a license may participate. The season will run from October 9-16. I think this gives kids who have taken their Hunter Safety class, but still are not sure about hunting a great chance to give it a try.

Below is the text of the announcement from the PGC’s site.

BOARD CREATED JUNIOR RABBIT SEASON

To continue its efforts to recruit young hunters, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to a special cottontail rabbit junior hunter season that coincides with the ring-necked pheasant junior hunter season in early October.  The proposal was requested by Game Commissioner Jay Delaney in July.

“Most people agree that one of the best ways to introduce youth to hunting and encourage their continued participation is via small game hunting,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Rabbits are an underutilized game mammal, and are a perfect addition to the junior season offerings that have been implemented by the agency over the years.”

Under the new opportunity, the junior rabbit season will be held Oct. 9-16.  The season will be open to those juniors age 12-16, when properly accompanied by an adult as required by law, with or without a license.  The daily and field possession limits will be the same as the general rabbit season, four daily and eight in possession.

Roe noted that the junior rabbit season will not be part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which is for those youth under the age of 12.

In other small game season action, based on a recommendation from Game Commissioner Robert Schlemmer, the late cottontail rabbit season will be Dec. 27-Feb. 26, which equates to a three additional weeks of hunting. The Board also gave final approval to include the use of crossbows for small game seasons.

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