In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to clarify the scope of hunting restrictions related to baited areas. Baiting is nearly always illegal, but lawful hunters should not be punished for the actions of others within the areas they utilize.

Currently, discovery of unlawful baiting results in a 30-day hunting restriction surrounding the general area where the baiting took place. This occurs regardless of whether the perpetrator was found and applies to all who wish to hunt within or around the area. Although it is necessary to restrict these kinds of hunting practices to maintain an ethical hunt, current law does not define the “area”, and PGC officers and sportsmen alike have no clear guidelines on how to address the situation.

This issue has resulted in innocent constituents in my district engaging in hunting disputes with wildlife conservation officers. Allowing PGC officers to broadly interpret what constitutes a restricted area has led to conflict with lawful sportsmen, increasing tension between constituents and officers, despite both groups sharing a common goal of enjoying the outdoors responsibly and respectfully.

My legislation addresses these concerns by introducing a transparent and clearly defined standard for Pennsylvanians. It establishes that only the area up to 300 yards of the illegally baited site may be restricted for 30 days upon discovery of the unlawful hunting practices. This provides clear guidance for both the wildlife conservation officers and sportsmen alike, while still enabling the officer to exercise discretion in their determination.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation which ensures transparency and consistency when addressing hunting-related crimes.