The Pennsylvania Game Commission voted 6-3 on Sept. 5 to amend section 147.804 of its regulations so mentored youth who are under 7 years old at the time of application may receive big-game harvest tags when they obtain a mentored hunting permit.

Commission staff and supporters said the change aligns the mentored program’s tag-issuance process across age groups and removes the need for a mentor to transfer a personal harvest tag to a child in the youngest cohort. The board’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection presented a regulatory history showing the program’s many changes since its creation by Act 86 of 2005 and said the change would simplify regulations and better fit modern licensing systems.

Jason Dacascos, bureau director of wildlife protection, reviewed the program’s legislative and regulatory milestones and noted that the commission’s audit of citation records identified two incidents possibly associated with the mentored program out of 2,185 citations reviewed. “We’re not seeing any abuse of the program as it currently sits,” Dacascos said, and recommended eliminating the special transfer rule that applies only to mentored youth under 7.

Public commenters spoke both in favor of expanding access and in support of keeping safeguards. John Klein, representing Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Ralph Martone, a former commissioner, urged approval, saying Pennsylvania’s mentored program has historically grown cautiously and expanding tag access would improve opportunities and consistency. Several farm and hunting organizations also addressed the board during public comment on related topics, including hunter access and youth participation.

Some commissioners pressed staff for data showing whether changes to the mentored program are increasing long-term hunter recruitment. Commissioner [last-name as spoken in transcript] asked for metrics on “pickup rates” — how many mentored permit holders later buy hunting licenses — and for evidence that the change would meaningfully increase participation.

Commissioner Denny Forodoro offered an amendment during the meeting that would have kept the current age break (7 and older receive tags directly) while giving mentored children under 7 only spring and fall turkey tags; that amendment failed on a roll call. On the final vote to adopt the proposed regulatory amendment as presented by staff, the roll call recorded six commissioners in favor and three opposed; the board chair announced the motion carries.

The board noted that a second adoption vote is required at a later meeting before the regulation becomes final. Commission staff also reminded the public that the rule change will not affect the current hunting season during the calendar year in which the amendment was proposed; implementation and any changes to electronic licensing plans will be timed by staff and will be reported when final adoption occurs.

For context, the bureau told the board it sold more than 27,000 mentored hunting permits last year. Current mentored-permit fees discussed in the presentation were $5 for resident applicants and $40 for nonresidents (plus transaction fees for issuing agents). The bureau also noted that modernizing licenses toward a digital system remains a goal and that removing an exception for physical transfer of tags simplifies future electronic licensing.