HB 2365 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for junior hunter projects; in hunting and furtaking, further providing for prima facie evidence of hunting and repealing provisions relating to trapping exception for certain persons; in hunting and furtaking licenses, further providing for license requirements, for eligibility for license and for unlawful acts concerning licenses; and, in special licenses and permits, further providing for permit fees.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

3146 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

31902365 THE2026 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFKULIK, PENNSYLVANIASTAATS, HOUSEOLSOMMER, BILLPASHINSKI, SessionHADDOCK, ofSTEELE No.AND NEILSON, APRIL 7, 2026 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, APRIL 8, 2026 AN ACT AmeStatutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;

2365in 2026 INTRODUCED BY KULIK, STAATS, OLSOMMER, PASHINSKI, HADDOCK, STEELE AND NEILSON, APRIL 7, 2026 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 14, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania ConsolidatedGame Statutes,Commission, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;junior hunter projects;

in Pennsylvaniahunting Gameand Commission, further furtaking, further providing for prima facie evidence of hunting and repealing provisions relating to trapping exception for certain persons;

and, in hunting and furtaking <-- licenses, further providing for license requirements, for eligibility for license and for unlawful acts concerning licenses;licenses.

AND, IN SPECIAL LICENSES AND PERMITS, FURTHER <-- PROVIDING FOR PERMIT FEES.

* * * (b) Lawful cooperation or assistance.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, any person who 20260HB2365PN3190 - 2 - has lawfully taken the bag or season limit for a particular 20260HB2365PN3146 - 2 - species of game or wildlife [or any person who meets the requirements of section 2701(c) (relating to license requirements)] may aid, assist, abet or cooperate in any manner specified by this title or commission regulations with another person who is engaged in any lawful activity permitted by this title or the regulations of the commission.

Sections 2701, 2704 and 2711 2704, 2711 AND <-- 2904(A)(9) of Title 34 are amended to read:

The issuance of any replacement license or the purchase of a second or subsequent license of any class 20260HB2365PN3190 - 3 - shall immediately and automatically invalidate any license and 20260HB2365PN3146 - 3 - harvest tags of the same kind which had been previously issued.

20260HB2365PN3190 - 4 - (5) For the purposes of this section, at no time shall a 20260HB2365PN3146 - 4 - licensed hunter accompany more than one unlicensed person.] § 2704.

(c) Furtaker's certificate of training.--No resident or nonresident furtaker's license shall be issued to any applicant unless the applicant presents to the agent authorized to issue 20260HB2365PN3190 - 5 - the license any one of the following:

20260HB2365PN3146 - 5 - (1) Evidence that the applicant has held a trapping or furtaker's license issued by another state or nation.

(2) The accreditation requirement under paragraph (1) 20260HB2365PN3190 - 6 - does not apply in the following circumstances:

20260HB2365PN3146 - 6 - (i) The person is participating or has participated in an apprentice license hunting or furtaking program established by regulation of the commission.

(B) Regarding an apprentice adult hunting or 20260HB2365PN3190 - 7 - furtaking license:

20260HB2365PN3146 - 7 - (I) The license shall be available to a person who is 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who does not hold a valid certificate of training in a hunter or furtaker education program approved by the director.

or (B) a valid hunting or furtaking license lawfully issued to the person in another state or 20260HB2365PN3190 - 8 - nation.

20260HB2365PN3146 - 8 - (d) Duties of commission.-- (1) The commission shall provide for a course of instruction, approved by the director, in the safe and ethical [utilization] use of firearms and traps or other devices used for taking furbearers.

[(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to those persons under 12 years of age who trap furbearers under the direct supervision of an adult licensed furtaker 18 years of age or older.] (e) Compliance by certification.--The requirements of subsection [(b) or (c)] (b.1) shall be deemed met by a certification signed by the applicant on the license application 20260HB2365PN3190 - 9 - stating that the applicant has held accreditation in a hunter or 20260HB2365PN3146 - 9 - furtaker education program approved by the director or a license issued by the Commonwealth or another state or nation in a prior year but is unable to produce evidence of holding such license.

[The required license must be carried on person when hunting, furtaking or taking any game or wildlife within this Commonwealth.] 20260HB2365PN3190 - 10 - (2) Procure a license in a name other than the person's 20260HB2365PN3146 - 10 - legal name, furnish an address other than his legal place of residence and domicile or make any false or misleading statement whatsoever in securing a license.

[(8) Use firearms of any kind or a bow and arrow for the purpose of hunting any game or wildlife or attempting to take or kill any game or wildlife by hunting or trapping if under 12 years of age or when hunting or trapping any game or wildlife or attempting to hunt or trap any game or wildlife if between 12 and 14 years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or a person 18 years of age or older serving in loco parentis or as guardian or some other family member 18 years of age or older or when hunting if between 14 and 16 years of 20260HB2365PN3190 - 11 - age, unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.

20260HB2365PN3146 - 11 - For the purpose of this paragraph "accompany" means close enough that verbal instructions and guidance can be easily understood.

(iv) A person who is 16 years of age or younger and who possesses a valid apprentice junior hunting or furtaking license or meets a valid license exemption 20260HB2365PN3190 - 12 - under section 2706(a) shall be accompanied by a person 20260HB2365PN3146 - 12 - who is 21 years of age or older and who possesses a valid hunting or furtaking license.

20260HB2365PN3190 - 13 - (13) Violate any regulations promulgated under the 20260HB2365PN3146 - 13 - authority of this subchapter.

20260HB2365PN3190 - 14 - (c) Separate offenses.--Each day of violation or each 20260HB2365PN3146 - 14 - illegal act constitutes a separate offense.

§Section 2904.5.

PERMIT FEES.

<-- (A) ANNUAL FEES.--THE ANNUAL FEE FOR PERMITS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS:

* * * (9) FUR DEALERS:

(I) RESIDENT - [$100] $50.

(II) NONRESIDENT - [$300] $50.

* * * Section 5.

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