[Grundsau]

Do we have to wait till 7/1 to use a semi for groundhogs?
Or do the new regulations take effect immediately?

 

[timberdoodle]

The board today amended that measure, giving final approval to hunting small game and furbearers with semiautomatic rifles beginning in the 2017-18 seasons.


July 1st would be the beging of the new season

 

[Grundsau]

Thanks.
Wonder why they couldn't have made it effective immediately since it is already determined what is, and isn't legal?

 

[South872]

the rules of what is and isnt legal is in the hunting digest, which is already out for the current season. having it effective 7/1 for the new hunting year gives them time to add all the rules and regulations to the new hunting digest.

 

[huntr4477]

There IS no new hunting digest. All regs will be available on-line only. The PGC "can't afford" to print the regulations anymore!

 

[bohunr]

seriously...so we have to look it up online ? what if people dont have a computer or the internet ? why not simply raise the price of the ads in the digest ?

they want to increase the cost to the hunters but not advertisers ?

got a link to that story ?

 

[Joles]

Yes, 7/1 as mentioned above.

No complete digest with your license. You will receive a "pocket guide" with information to be determined. If you want a full digest you will have to pay $5 for one. I reference mine frequently, so I'll put up the money for a copy for myself.

 

[bohunr]

where does it say i have to buy the digest ? i know 7/1 is when the new regulations start but where did you see we will have to pay for the digest or look everything up online ?

 

[tdd]

On 3/27 at an HTE instructor meeting, we were told by the WCO that there WOULD be a digest given with the purchase of a license.

He also added the in the future they were considering going back to a small format digest as in years past (long ago, the little digests we used to get), an accordion-style fold-out with all the seasons/times/etc, but no biological info/etc, or some other option.

Cost of printing was the issue, and that ad revenue doesn't cover the entire digest cost.

This is a big deal for HTE, as we give out digests in class and use them in class.

He informed us on 3/27/2017, though, that there would be a digest provided with each license purchase, but that tons of extras weren't getting printed (apparently there were a lot printed to be made available in other avenues? I don't know.)

 

[tdd]

I emailed PGC to get their answer to this question. Here is what they just sent me:

As a cost saving move, the PGC will not be providing full copies of the Digest to all license buyers free of charge. Instead, all hunters will be receiving a “pocket guide” that contains the season dates and bag limits, a map of the state with the WMUs, a shooting hours chart, the regulations for fluorescent orange, and the contact information for the Game Commission and all Regional Offices. For those who prefer the full Digest, it will be available to purchase for the cost of $5. It will also be available, for free, online and in a smartphone app.

 

[Marcus99]

Seems legit to me, although the $5 charge is somewhat off putting in a way. They could probably realize a savings just by making it so you have to contact the PGC via mail, phone, whatever to get a paper copy. I bet the percentage of requests to licenses sold would be small.

I think they should also include in the pocket guide the short section usually on the first page of the digest where it tells you what the NEW changes are for that year. For me that it one of the most important parts of the book. Many of us know the ground rules, but it's the yearly changes we need to keep up on.

 

[casey]

I emailed PGC to get their answer to this question. Here is what they just sent me:

That is correct but digests will still be available to students attending HTE classes.

 

[tdd]

I asked them that, SPECIFICALLY, in my email, and the answer was "The HTE course remains unchanged."

Was hoping for a "yes, they will get digests."

The answer I got wasn't terribly definitive. The reason I asked that was that AT our HTE meeting the WCO, with PGC HTE staff on hand, said as of 17/18 there'd be no digests given for HTE students.

 

[bohunr]

I asked them that, SPECIFICALLY, in my email, and the answer was "The HTE course remains unchanged."

Was hoping for a "yes, they will get digests."

The answer I got wasn't terribly definitive. The reason I asked that was that AT our HTE meeting the WCO, with PGC HTE staff on hand, said as of 17/18 there'd be no digests given for HTE students.

so students pass the HTE course and have to play "seek and find" to learn the rest of the rules so they dont violate the law during hunting season.

will we be able to buy the digest at the local wal mart or do we order them online ?

gotta remember, not every hunter in the State has a computer or smart phone. if they are not available in the stores gonna be a bunch of people not knowing some things.


what about the big pink envelope for mailing in the anterless license application? do we have to buy that too ?

 

[tdd]

Honestly, those envelopes are the most ridiculous waste of money.

I'd gladly pony up my own plain envelope to mail my app in and provide another to mail back my antlerless tag if those stupid pink enevelopes would go away.

 

[Marcus99]

so students pass the HTE course and have to play "seek and find" to learn the rest of the rules so they dont violate the law during hunting season.

will we be able to buy the digest at the local wal mart or do we order them online ?

gotta remember, not every hunter in the State has a computer or smart phone. if they are not available in the stores gonna be a bunch of people not knowing some things.


what about the big pink envelope for mailing in the anterless license application? do we have to buy that too ?

It will be available online for free, you can print it yourself if you want. It doesn't sound like walmart is going to have them. Im interested to see how this shakes out. I do agree that it should be provided to any HTE classes, although every ---- kid probably has a smart phone. I think there is going to be a backlash from older folks who may not use a computer. I could see some changes being made next year. The only thing that ticks me off is the $5 charge. I get that it costs money to mail it and print it or whatever but I just cant see charging for it. I assume that the advertisements will now go bye bye.

I would have to see the numbers but I feel that a savings could be realized if they only printed 1/4 or less of what normally gets printed. Then provide copies to HTE, and whatever is left over would be mailed out upon written request only (max 1 per household) at no charge.

 

[Marcus99]

The digest needs to be self funding or i am never buying a license again!!!!!!

 

[bohunr]

Honestly, if they dont raise the rates on the advertisers, i wont buy and i wont look it up online. i will go with the booklet they give me when i buy my license.

if they dont put any significant changes in that booklet, i think you would have a good challenge based on YEARS of "past practice" but then again, maybe not.

could be a round about way of increasing income from fines. might be sarcastic, might not.

how can they change the law and then decide they are not going to tell you what the changes are ? go look it up.

i agree, the older folk, myself included do not have smart phones. i may not even have the internet by this summer. so what do they plan on doing for those that have no smart phone or the internet ? has to be in the store.

still wont buy it if they dont raise advertising rates.

whats next, charge a fee to answer questions when you call, e-mail, or talk to a WCO ?

 

[Marcus99]

Honestly, if they dont raise the rates on the advertisers, i wont buy and i wont look it up online. i will go with the booklet they give me when i buy my license.

if they dont put any significant changes in that booklet, i think you would have a good challenge based on YEARS of "past practice" but then again, maybe not.

could be a round about way of increasing income from fines. might be sarcastic, might not.

how can they change the law and then decide they are not going to tell you what the changes are ? go look it up.

i agree, the older folk, myself included do not have smart phones. i may not even have the internet by this summer. so what do they plan on doing for those that have no smart phone or the internet ? has to be in the store.

still wont buy it if they dont raise advertising rates.

whats next, charge a fee to answer questions when you call, e-mail, or talk to a WCO ?

There is no advertisement in the online version, and I doubt that many advertisers will be buying ads now that distribution will take a nose dive. I'm merely guessing but I think that they're probably going to do away with advertisements all together and that's why they're going to charge a fee and not give them away for free.

As they say in law enforcement "ignorance is no excuse". You're required to know the law regardless of whether or not someone gives you a booklet every year. You don't get a copy of the auto/traffic laws every year but you're expected to know them.

 

[R. S. B.]

Honestly, those envelopes are the most ridiculous waste of money.

I'd gladly pony up my own plain envelope to mail my app in and provide another to mail back my antlerless tag if those stupid pink enevelopes would go away.

The pink envelopes are to aid the Post Office and County Treasurers in knowing what it is so it gets processed through the system in the correct and most time efficient manner.

If people could send them in a plain white envelope the County Treasurers would not know if it was an antlerless application or other official business to the point it would be extremely hard for them to keep the antlerless process separated from normal day to day business. That would undoubtedly result in both antlerless applications/issuance and other business matters getting delayed and even lost in the paper shuffle process.

Dick Bodenhorn