The following information was posted on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website today regarding changes to the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP):

DMAP applications for the 2010-2011 hunting seasons will be accepted by mail only and must be postmarked on or before June 12, 2010 for the property to be eligible. Please note this new deadline.

The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) helps landowners achieve deer population adjustments consistent with their land use goals. Under no circumstances may an antlered deer be taken with a DMAP permit.

 Eligible properties include public lands, private lands where no fee is charged for hunting, and private hunting clubs that were established prior to January 1, 2000 and that own land in fee title.

At the April 20, 2010 business meeting of the Pennsylvania Game Commission the Board of Commissioners, the board adopted several changes that affect DMAP and its administration. 

In the past, DMAP coupons were made available without regard to quota limitations. However, for the 2010-11 hunting seasons, antlerless deer license allocations by WMU approved by the Board were reduced by the number of 2009-10 DMAP antlerless deer permits issued for the properties in each WMU. The Board’s decision to reduce antlerless allocations by last year’s DMAP permits will  have the effect of our staff allocating or approving the same number of DMAP coupons for the 2010-11 seasons as were redeemed as DMAP permits last year. 

I believe these changes are in direct violation of Title 58 Section 147.671-674 “Deer Management Assistance Program Permits”.  If the PA Game Commission Board of Commissioners wants to change DMAP, it must change the regulations in a public meeting, using proposed rulemaking, publication in the PA Bulletin, a public comment period, and final adoption of the changes. 

Section 147.673 (b) “Eligibility and application for DMAP” states:

“Applications shall be submitted to a regional office by July 1 immediately preceding the first fall deer hunting season…”

Changing the deadline to June 12 violates this regulation, so the regulation must be changed. 

Further, Section 147.674 (a) “Issuance of DMAP harvest permits” states:

“DMAP harvest permits will be made available without regard to quota limitations and will be issued through…”

The above information posted on the PGC website regarding quotas is in violation of  Title 58. 

The Commissioners tried to make these changes under seasons and bag limits, but that is not the proper place for these changes to be made.  They did this as a way to reduce the number of doe that may be harvested.  The Board knew it didn’t have enough time to make these changes through two public meetings before the July 1 application deadline, so they tried doing it through this shortcut.   

It is my opionion that the Commissioners will have to change these Title 58 regulations in order for the new deadline and the new quota (capping the number of permits) to be legal.  –Roxane Palone