Pennsylvania Code › Title 58 - RECREATION › Part II - FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION › Subpart B - FISHING › Chapter 79 - REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS › Section 79.6 - Venomous snake permits

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Application
. The Commission finds, under section 2904 of the
				  code (relating to permits for protection and management of particular fish),
				  that it is necessary for the proper protection and management of the timber
				  rattlesnake (
Crotalus horridus
) and Eastern copperhead
				  (
Agkistrodon contortrix
) that persons who hunt, take, catch or
				  kill these species have a permit for the activity. Application for a permit
				  must be made on a form prescribed by the Commission and accompanied by the
				  appropriate fee. Permits may be obtained by applying to: Natural Diversity
				  Section Chief, Division of Environmental Services, 450 Robinson Lane,
				  Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-9616. The fee for residents is $30 per year; the
				  fee for nonresidents is $60 per year. The denial of a permit under this section
				  is appealable in the manner provided by Chapter 51, Subchapter E (relating to
				  permit procedures).
(b)
Required permit
. It is unlawful to hunt, take, catch, kill or
				  possess a timber rattlesnake or Eastern copperhead, in whole or in parts,
				  without first procuring the required permit from the Commission. The required
				  permit shall be in the possession of the permittee at all times while hunting.
				  Permittees shall comply with the terms and conditions of the permit and furnish
				  the reports required thereby. It is unlawful to alter, borrow, lend or transfer
				  a permit under this section.
(c)
Reporting.
Within 10 business days following the capture or
				  kill, or if no snake is captured or killed, within 10 days of the conclusion of
				  the season, the permittee shall complete a report on the form prescribed by the
				  Commission and shall mail the report to the Commission's Natural Diversity
				  Section, 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
				  16823.
(d)
Tagging of
				  timber rattlesnakes.
(1) A person
				  who takes, catches, kills or possesses a timber rattlesnake shall immediately
				  complete the possession tag that is attached to his permit and detach the tag
				  from the permit in the field. The possession tag shall be completed in
				  accordance with the instructions printed on the tag, and the information to be
				  provided includes, but is not limited to, the municipality and county where the
				  snake was captured or killed, the date of capture or kill and a description of
				  the snake, including color phase, sex, number of subcaudal scales and length in
				  inches. The possession tag shall be kept in a safe location so that it can be
				  presented along with the timber rattlesnake to which it pertains upon the
				  request of an officer authorized to enforce the code.
(2) After the possession tag is detached from
				  the permit, it is unlawful to take, catch, kill or possess another timber
				  rattlesnake except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(3) It is unlawful to alter, borrow, lend or
				  transfer possession tags under this section.
(4) When presenting a timber rattlesnake to a
				  taxidermist for mounting, the tag must remain with the rattlesnake while in the
				  possession of the taxidermist.