SOLANCONEWS.com -- Cutler's Commentary

Cutler's Commentary: Turkey Hunting With Dogs Has Its Day
By Bryan Cutler, State Representative, 100th Legislative District
HARRISBURG -- I realize that November is the generally accepted time for talking turkey, but changes are afoot this month for the wild turkeys of Pennsylvania’s forests. The turkey is prized by hunters, and in Pennsylvania the wild turkey is actually classified as “big game,” along with elk, deer and bear. Current Pennsylvania law prohibits the use of dogs in hunting big game, but one proposal seeks to allow the use of dogs in turkey hunting.

Senate Bill 580 would provide an exception to the Commonwealth’s game laws by allowing the use of dogs to pursue, chase, scatter and track turkeys during the fall wild turkey season. This legislation was approved by the Senate on May 1 and then by the House on June 26. If signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell, turkey hunters would be able to use turkey dogs by the start of the fall turkey season.

The use of the dogs in turkey hunting is an accepted practice in 24 other states. Dogs are mainly used to scatter the flock, and once this is accomplished, it then becomes the hunter’s job to call in a bird as the flock regroups. Dogs could also be used to recover injured turkeys, which hunters are required by law to make every reasonable effort to retrieve.

It is believed that this measure will make the sport of turkey hunting safer during the fall, as hunters will no longer have to scatter the flock through means such as discharging their firearms into the air. It is important to note, however, that any dog used for this type of sport will have to be highly trained, and to my knowledge there is no entity in the Commonwealth that provides such specialized instruction.

For more information on wild turkey hunting, Pennsylvania’s hunting laws and regulations, and general hunting safety, you can access the State Game Commission’s Web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Editor's Note: Cutler's Commentary is a monthly column, written by Rep. Cutler.

Past Articles:
Cutler's Commentary: Wishing You an S.O.S. – Summer of Safety!
Cutler's Commentary: A Thank You to Those Who Keep Society Moving
Cutler's Commentary: Hoping to Keep a Deer Friend
Cutler's Commentary: Seeking Citizens' Suggestions
Cutler's Commentary: A Review of My First Month in Office