Under current law, a person must obtain and personally sign the required license before hunting or taking wildlife. The law also states that the license must be physically carried on the person while hunting, furtaking, or taking wildlife in this Commonwealth. This law is a remnant of bygone times where we relied on paper licenses.
 
My legislation would remove only the requirement that the license itself be carried on the person. It would not eliminate the requirement to purchase a valid license or authorize any person to hunt or trap without the required privileges.
 
Modern technology has made the physical-possession requirement unnecessary. A clear photograph or digital copy of a license stored on a phone, access to license information through HuntFishPA on a mobile device, or verification through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s licensing system can provide ample evidence that a person is properly licensed.
 
Pennsylvania anglers already benefit from a similar approach. A fishing license does not have to be visibly displayed, and an angler may provide the license to an officer in printed form or on a digital device.
 
This legislation would not impair the ability of wildlife conservation officers to enforce the Game and Wildlife Code. Title 34 already requires a person exercising licensed privileges to satisfactorily provide positive identification or proof of a license to an enforcing officer or to a landowner whose property the person is occupying. In addition, an officer may demand identification during an official investigation or investigative detention supported by reasonable suspicion.
 
This is a narrow, commonsense update that recognizes the availability of modern licensing technology while preserving the Game Commission’s authority to verify licenses and enforce Pennsylvania’s hunting and trapping laws.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to modernize licensing for our sportsmen.