Pennsylvania Code › Title 58 - RECREATION › Part III - GAME COMMISSION › Chapter 131 - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS › Section 131.2 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
In addition to the definitions contained in section 102 of
				  the act (relating to definitions), the following words and terms, when used in
				  this part or in the act, have the following meanings, unless the context
				  clearly indicates otherwise
Act
-Title 34 of the
Pennsylvania
				  Consolidated Statutes
(relating to Game and Wildlife Code).
Aggregate ammunition capacity
-A firearm's
				  total cumulative ammunition capacity that includes the ammunition capacity of
				  both the chamber and magazine.
Air gun
-A firearm operated by air or gas
				  cylinder by which a projectile can be discharged or propelled.
Antlered deer
-
(i) In Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2A,
				2B and 2D, a deer having three or more points on one antler, not including brow
				tines which is the point immediately above the antler burr.
(ii) In all other wildlife management units,
				a deer having three or more points to one antler.
(iii) In all wildlife management units,
				junior license holders, disabled person permit (to use a vehicle) holders and
				residents serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, or in the
				United States Coast Guard, a deer having two or more points to one antler, or
				with one antler 3 inches or more in length.
Antlered elk
-An elk having at least one
				  spike visible above the hairline.
Antlerless deer
-A deer without antlers, or a
				  deer with antlers both of which are less than 3 inches in length.
Antlerless elk
-An elk without antlers, or an
				  elk with no spike visible above the hairline.
Arrow
-A projectile shot from a bow with an
				  overall length exceeding the brace height of the bow with fletching designed
				  only for guidance at the aft end and a broadhead mounted on the fore end. No
				  electronic device may be a part of or attached to the arrow. No device,
				  material or system capable of causing damage or injury to the animal in excess
				  of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead may be a part of or
				  attached to any arrow.
Beekeeper's agent
-A person who accepts the
				  responsibility of bees, hives and
related equipment in the absence of the owner, and who is
				  willing and able to reset disrupted hives, maintain fencing where present and
				  report damage done by bears to the nearest available Commission officer as soon
				  as practical, but, in any event, within 10 days of the damage. The agent shall
				  be domiciled within 300 yards of the beehives.
Bottle-necked cartridge
-A cartridge having a
				  main diameter and a distinct angular shoulder stepping down to a smaller
				  diameter at the neck position of the case. This term does not include
				  straight-walled cartridges.
Bow
-In addition to the definition in section
				  102 of the act, a device for launching an arrow, which derives its propulsive
				  energy solely from the bending and recovery of two limbs. The energy used to
				  propel the arrow may not be derived from another source. These limitations may
				  not exclude the mechanical leverage advantage provided by eccentric wheels or
				  cams so long as the available energy stored in the bent limbs of the bow is the
				  sole result of a single, continuous and direct pulling effort by the shooter.
				  The bowstring shall be drawn, held and released as a direct and conscious
				  action of the shooter. Release shall be accomplished by either relaxing the
				  tension of the fingers or triggering the release action of a manually held
				  release aid.
Broadhead
-A fixed or mechanical tip affixed
				  to the fore end of an arrow or bold having sharpened cutting edges consisting
				  of metal or naturally occurring stone.
Clay bird range
-An area where saucer-shaped
				  targets, usually made of baked clay or limestone, are launched and targeted by
				  a shooter using a firearm that discharges multiple projectile ammunition.
Closed season
-Periods of the calendar year
				  and hours during which it is unlawful to take game or wildlife.
Commission
-The Game Commission of the
				  Commonwealth.
Crossbow
-A device consisting of a bow fixed
				  transversely on a stock, the string of which is released by a trigger
				  mechanism, has a mechanical safety and propels an arrow.
Crossbow bolt
-An arrow propelled by a
				  crossbow.
Decoy
-For the purpose of section 2308(b)(6)
				  of the act (relating to unlawful devices and methods), an artificial
				  representation or facsimile of a bird or animal used to attract other birds or
				  animals. The term does not include living birds or animals.
Deputy Game Commission officer
-A deputy
				  wildlife conservation officer.
Director
-The Executive Director of the
				  Commission.
Driving
-An act accomplished when one or more
				  persons chase or flush, or attempt to chase or flush, wildlife towards or in
				  the general direction of other persons, or when two or more persons travel in
				  the same general direction to chase or flush, or attempt to chase or flush,
				  wildlife into view.
Early small game hunting season
-A designated
				  period when the only resident small game which may be hunted and taken are
				  woodchucks, squirrels and grouse.
Game Commission officer
-A wildlife
				  conservation officer.
Handgun range
-An area where paper targets
				  are placed on or affixed to a stationary backer and targeted by a shooter using
				  a handgun that discharges single projectile ammunition.
Import
-To bring or have transported into
				  this Commonwealth.
Institutions of higher learning
-Colleges and
				  universities accredited by the Department of Education.
Meat or animal products
-For the purpose of
				  section 2361(a)(13) of the act (relating to unlawful acts concerning taking of
				  furbearers), meat or animal products include artificial representation or
				  facsimiles.
Multiple projectile ammunition
-Cartridge or
				  shell ammunition that is loaded with shot pellets or multiple loose projectiles
				  designed to spread or scatter upon discharge from a firearm.
Muzzleloading firearm
-
(i) A firearm designed and manufactured to be
				loaded with loose ammunition components (projectile and propellant charge) from
				the muzzle or forward, open end of the firearm's barrel.
(ii) The term includes full or partial
				breech-loading rifles and handguns that fire loose ammunition components
				comparable to a muzzleloading firearm.
(iii) The term does not authorize a firearm
				that accepts cartridge ammunition that contains both the projectile and
				propellant charge.
Plugged shotgun
-For the purpose of section
				  2308(a)(4) of the act, any shotgun containing a one-piece plug, stop or filler
				  in the magazine to reduce ammunition capacity that is incapable of removal
				  without disassembling the shotgun or magazine.
Point
-An antler projection at least 1 inch
				  in length from base to tip. The main beam tip shall be counted a point
				  regardless of length.
Protected birds
-See §
									133.2 (relating to protected
				  birds).
Protected deer
-A deer not defined as an
				  antlered deer or an antlerless deer.
Protected mammals
-See §
									133.1 (relating to protected
				  mammals).
Regular firearms deer season
-The designated
				  period of time when deer may be hunted and taken by any person who possesses a
				  General Hunting License or a General Hunting License and Antlerless License
				  only.
Regular small game hunting season
-The
				  designated period of time when resident small game species may be hunted and
				  taken.
Rifle range
-An area where paper targets are
				  placed on or affixed to a stationary backer and targeted by a shooter using a
				  firearm that discharges single projectile ammunition.
Shotgun patterning range
-An area where paper
				  targets are placed on or affixed to a stationary backer and targeted by a
				  shooter using a firearm that discharges multiple projectile ammunition.
Shotgun range
-A firearms range designated by
				  the Commission as a clay bird range or shotgun patterning range.
Single projectile ammunition
-A cartridge or
				  shell ammunition that is loaded with a single projectile designed to remain
				  intact upon discharge from a firearm.
Special firearms deer season
-Any firearms
				  deer season, except muzzleloader season, that precedes the regular firearms
				  dear season.
Straight-walled cartridge
-A cartridge having
				  straight or slightly tapered walls down to the projectile. This term does not
				  include bottle-necked cartridges.
Sustained yield
-As used in section
				  546(b)(2) of the act (relating to limitation on expenditures for deterrent
				  fencing), continuous and planned forest production through accepted forestry
				  management practices.
Venison
-For the purpose of section 2312 of
				  the act (relating to buying and selling game), any meat derived from a
				  white-tailed deer.
The provisions of this § 131.2 amended under
					 34 Pa.C.S. §§
												721(a),
					 2102,
					 2722(g)(2) and
					 2901(b).
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
											143.243 (relating to general); 58
					 Pa. Code §
											147.121 (relating to definitions);
					 58 Pa. Code §
											147.555 (relating to antlerless
					 deer only); 58 Pa. Code §
											147.662 (relating to application);
					 58 Pa. Code §
											147.722 (relating to definitions);
					 and 58 Pa. Code §
											147.804 (relating to
					 general).