34 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21

in effect

34 Pa.C.S. § 2101 Administration of title.

The commission shall have the authority to administer and enforce this title and all laws of this Commonwealth relating to the encouragement, promotion and development of game or wildlife conservation interests and the protection, propagation, distribution and control over game or wildlife.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2102 Regulations.

(a) General rule.--The commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this Commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking, and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this Commonwealth. (b) Seasons, possession, bag limits and devices.-- (1) The commission shall promulgate regulations relating to seasons and bag limits for hunting or furtaking, the possession of certain species or parts thereof, the number and types of devices and equipment allowed, the identification of devices and the use and possession of devices. (2) If in any year the commission fails to establish seasons or bag limits or fails to establish other hunting or furtaking regulations under authority of this title, the open seasons and bag limits for game or furbearers, unless otherwise provided by this title, and all other hunting or furtaking regulations adopted under authority of this title, shall be the same as set by regulation of the commission for the previous license year, and all seasons shall open and close one calendar day earlier than the previous license year. In the event the commission fails to establish seasons and bag limits for a license year beginning in a leap year, the seasons shall open and close two calendar days earlier than the previous license year. (c) Transportation, sale and disturbance of game or wildlife.--The commission shall promulgate regulations concerning the transportation, introduction into the wild, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale or purchase of game or wildlife or the disturbing of game or wildlife in their natural habitat. (d) Traps, firearms, ammunition and other devices.--The commission shall promulgate regulations stipulating the size and type of traps, the type of firearms and ammunition and other devices which may be used, the manner in which and the location where the devices may be used, the species the devices may be used for and the season when the devices may be used. (e) Penalties.-- (1) Unless otherwise specifically provided, any person convicted or pleading guilty to or pleading nolo contendere to any violation of any regulation promulgated under this title where any game or wildlife is unlawfully possessed, killed or taken or any attempt is made to unlawfully kill, take or possess any game or wildlife shall be subject to the penalties imposed under section 2307(d) (relating to unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife). (2) Unless otherwise specifically provided, any other violation of any regulation of the commission is a summary offense of the fifth degree. (July 9, 2025, P.L.122, No.36, eff. 60 days) 2025 Amendment. Act 36 amended subsec. (b)(2). Cross References. Section 2102 is referred to in section 322 of this title.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2103 Applicability of Federal laws.

(a) General rule.--The provisions of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703 et seq.) or Federal Duck Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. § 718 et seq.) are hereby made a part of this title. Federal regulations shall not apply if commission regulations or other provisions of this title prescribe stronger or more detailed restrictions for the taking of migratory birds, nongame birds or game or wildlife. (b) Penalty.--Any violation of the regulations which the commission is authorized to promulgate pursuant to these Federal laws and which is not otherwise specifically covered in this title is a summary offense of the fifth degree.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2121 Killing game or wildlife to protect property.

(a) General rule.--Subject to any limitations in this subchapter, nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit any person from killing any game or wildlife: (1) which the person may witness actually engaged in the material destruction of cultivated crops, fruit trees, vegetables, livestock, poultry or beehives; (2) anywhere on the property under the person's control, including detached lands being cultivated for the same or similar purposes, immediately following such destruction; or (3) where the presence of the game or wildlife on any cultivated lands or fruit orchards is just cause for reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction. Lands divided by a public highway shall not be construed as detached lands. Any person who wounds any game or wildlife shall immediately make a reasonable effort to find and kill the game or wildlife. Every person shall comply with all other regulations in this subchapter pertaining to the method and manner of killing, reporting the killing and the disposition of game or wildlife and their skins and carcasses. (b) Protected game or wildlife.--Before any game or wildlife, which may be designated by regulation of the commission, or any bird or animal classified as threatened or endangered may be killed, every reasonable effort shall be made to live trap and transfer such game or wildlife. The trapping and transfer shall be done in cooperation with a representative of the commission. (c) Definition.--As used in this subchapter, the word "person" shall be limited to any person cultivating, as a primary means of gaining a livelihood, any lands for general or specialized crop purposes, truck farming or fruit orchard or nursery being regularly maintained, as either the owner, lessee or a member of the family of the owner or lessee assisting with the cultivation of the land, or a domiciled member of the household of the owner or lessee or an employee of the owner or lessee, regularly and continuously assisting in the cultivation of the land or other person as authorized by commission permit. (July 3, 2007, P.L.79, No.26, eff. 60 days) 2007 Amendment. Act 26 amended subsec. (c). Section 2 of Act 26 provided that Act 26 shall apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of section 2. Cross References. Section 2121 is referred to in sections 2124, 2503 of this title.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2122 Report to commission officer.

Any person who kills any game or wildlife, other than raccoons, under the provisions of this subchapter shall, within 24 hours, report, orally or in writing, the killing to an officer of the commission. The report shall set forth the date, time and place of the killing, the number of species killed, the sex of the species and the location of each carcass. The commission shall establish a self-reporting system that allows a person assigned to remove deer for crop damage purposes to report each harvest to an officer of the commission via a toll-free telephone number, online application or publicly accessible Internet website. (June 30, 2025, P.L.83, No.26, eff. 60 days)

34 Pa.C.S. § 2123 Safekeeping edible carcass pending disposition.

Unless otherwise directed by an officer of the commission, the entire carcass intact, less entrails, of each edible bird or animal killed under the provisions of this subchapter shall be held in a place of safekeeping pending final disposition pursuant to this chapter.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2124 Retention of edible carcass for food.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the carcass of one deer, bear or elk killed under the provisions of section 2121 (relating to killing game or wildlife to protect property) may be retained for food. All portions of the carcass generally considered edible shall be consumed only within the household of a person having authority to kill and possess the game or wildlife. No additional animals may be retained for food until the entire carcass of the animal previously retained has been entirely consumed. The head and hide of each deer, bear or elk killed and retained for food shall be properly salted, placed in safekeeping and turned over to a commission officer. (b) Exceptions.--No carcass, or any part or parts thereof, of any deer, bear or elk shall be retained for food, by any person, if the animal was killed upon: (1) Land located within a game or wildlife deterrent fence provided by the commission. (2) Land, or any part thereof, on which access for hunting purposes is denied at any time.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2125 Surrender of carcass.

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the entire carcass, including the head and hide, of all big game animals and the entire carcass of any other game or wildlife, other than raccoons, less entrails, shall be made available, unless otherwise directed by an officer of the commission, intact, to any commission officer calling for them or delivered to a processor for final disposition. As used in this section, the term "processor" means a location specified by the commission that is willing to accept donations of animals taken under this chapter. (June 30, 2025, P.L.83, No.26, eff. 60 days)

34 Pa.C.S. § 2126 Unlawful activities.

(a) Violations.--It is unlawful for any person while acting under the provisions of this subchapter to: (1) Place any salt, bait or food of any kind or quantity or use any artificial means for the purpose of attracting or luring any game or wildlife upon any lands. (2) Use any method not approved by the commission except that traps may be used to take furbearers and groundhogs. (3) Use any firearm except a center fire propelling a single all-lead, lead alloy or expanding bullet or ball to kill or attempt to kill any big game animal. (4) Fail or neglect to report the killing of any game or wildlife other than raccoons. (5) Fail or neglect to care for the carcass, or any part thereof, of any game or wildlife other than raccoons. (6) (Deleted by amendment). (7) Fail to produce satisfactory evidence that material damage was done within the preceding 15 days and that there was just cause for reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction. (8) Fail to relinquish to any officer the entire carcass, less the entrails, of any game or wildlife, other than raccoons, killed to which the person killing the game or wildlife is not legally entitled thereto. (8.1) Fail to obtain written permission to hunt on a Sunday. (9) Fail to comply with any other provision of this subchapter. (b) Penalties.-- (1) A violation of this subchapter pertaining to big game animals is a summary offense of the fourth degree. (2) A violation of this subchapter pertaining to any other game or wildlife, other than raccoons, is a summary offense of the seventh degree. (3) Each bird or animal involved in a violation constitutes a separate offense. (4) A violation of this subchapter pertaining to written permission is a summary offense of the third degree. (June 30, 2025, P.L.83, No.26, eff. 60 days; July 9, 2025, P.L.122, No.36, eff. 60 days) 2025 Amendments. Act 26 deleted subsec. (a)(6) and Act 36 amended the heading of subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (a)(8.1) and (b)(4).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2141 Killing game or wildlife to protect person.

(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for a person to kill any game or wildlife as a means of protection unless it is clearly evident from all the facts that a human is endangered to a degree that the immediate destruction of the game or wildlife is necessary. (b) Report, safekeeping and investigation.--A person killing any game or wildlife under this subchapter shall report the event to an officer as soon as possible following the incident but in no case later than 24 hours, provide for safekeeping of the game or wildlife intact at the place where it was killed and be available for interview by the officer. (c) Exoneration.--At the conclusion of any investigation when any game or wildlife is allegedly killed as protection to a person, the officer may exonerate the person for the otherwise unlawful killing of the game or wildlife. In all cases the officer shall seize and dispose of the game or wildlife as required by this title or upon instructions of the director. (d) Prosecution.--Any officer making an investigation when game or wildlife was allegedly killed as a protection to a person shall proceed with prosecution as though the game or wildlife was unlawfully killed if the officer is dissatisfied with the explanation of the person killing the game or wildlife or if the physical facts of the killing do not support and sustain the facts alleged by the person killing the game or wildlife. (e) Penalties.--A violation of this section relating to: (1) Threatened or endangered species is a misdemeanor. (2) Elk or bear is a summary offense of the first degree. (3) Deer is a summary offense of the second degree. (4) Bobcat or otter is a summary offense of the third degree. (5) Wild turkey or beaver is a summary offense of the fourth degree. (6) Any other game or wildlife is a summary offense of the fifth degree. (Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days; June 30, 2025, P.L.83, No.26, eff. 60 days) 2025 Amendment. Act 26 amended subsec. (b). 2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (e)(1).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2161 Commonwealth actions for damage to game or wildlife.

(a) Declaration of policy.--The Commonwealth has sufficient interest in game or wildlife living in a free state to give it standing, through its authorized agents, to recover compensatory and punitive damages in a civil action against any person who kills any game or wildlife or who damages any game or wildlife habitat. The proprietary ownership, jurisdiction and control of game or wildlife living free in nature is vested in the Commonwealth by virtue of the continued expenditure of its funds and its efforts to protect, propagate, manage and preserve the game or wildlife population as a renewable natural resource of this Commonwealth. (b) General rule.--The commission, as the agency of the Commonwealth authorized to regulate, protect, propagate, manage and preserve game or wildlife, may, in addition to the penalties provided in this title, bring civil actions on behalf of the Commonwealth for compensatory and punitive damages for any game or wildlife killed or any game or wildlife habitat injured or destroyed. In determining the value of game or wildlife killed or habitat injured or destroyed, the commission may consider all factors that give value to the game or wildlife or habitat. These factors may include, but need not be limited to, the commercial resale value, the replacement costs or the recreational value of observing, hunting or furtaking. In addition, the commission may recover the costs of gathering the evidence, including expert testimony, in any civil action brought under this section where the defendant is found liable for damages. (c) Concurrent authority.--The commission shall have concurrent authority to enforce the act of November 26, 1978 (P.L.1375, No.325), known as the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, and the regulations thereto, with respect to encroachments and water obstructions only if a violation would, in the opinion of the commission, negatively impact upon a swamp, marsh or wetland. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 26, in the event the commission shall bring a civil action suit pursuant to section 21 or a criminal proceeding pursuant to section 22 of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, any moneys recovered by the commission shall be deposited in the Game Fund instead of the Dams and Encroachments Fund. (d) Exemptions.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to include normal or accepted practices which have been conducted within guidelines set forth by the State or Federal agency having jurisdiction over such actions or any activities arising from lawful activity by other land uses, including farming, mining, oil and gas drilling, habitat management practices, forestry practices, recreation or real estate development.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2162 Disturbance of game or wildlife.

(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for any person to drive or disturb game or wildlife except while engaged in the lawful activities set forth in this title. (b) Nonapplicability.--This section shall not apply to any owner of land, any member of the commission, the director, any representative of the commission or any other law enforcement officer engaged in any otherwise lawful action. (c) Penalty.--A violation of subsection (a) shall be a summary offense of the first degree.

34 Pa.C.S. § 2163 Unlawful importation of game or wildlife.

(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for any person to bring or, in any manner, to have transported into this Commonwealth from any other state or nation, any living game or wildlife or the eggs of any bird, the importation of which is prohibited by the commission or under the provisions of any Federal law, or to release within this Commonwealth any game or wildlife reared in captivity or in a domestic state, the importation of which is prohibited. (b) Further restrictions.--It is unlawful to bring into, sell or possess any game or wildlife or the eggs of any bird or to release within this Commonwealth, for any purpose, imported game or wildlife or game or wildlife reared in captivity or in a domestic state in this Commonwealth contrary to any regulations the commission promulgates to safeguard the native game or wildlife of this Commonwealth. (c) Penalties.-- (1) Except for endangered or threatened species, a person importing, selling, releasing or possessing game or wildlife or the eggs of any bird contrary to any of the provisions of this section, or causing them to be released or imported, commits a summary offense of the fifth degree. Each bird, egg or animal involved in a violation constitutes a separate offense. (2) A violation of this section relating to any endangered or threatened species is a misdemeanor. Each bird, egg or game or wildlife involved in the violation constitutes a separate offense. (d) Contraband.--Any game or wildlife or egg possessed by any person contrary to this section is contraband. (Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days) 2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (c)(2).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2164 Unlawful taking and possession of protected birds.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person at any time to kill or attempt or conspire to kill or take or attempt, assist, aid or abet in the taking of any protected birds or possess protected birds, or any part thereof. (b) Hawks, falcons or owls.--It is lawful for protected hawks, falcons or owls to be taken and possessed for use in falconry. Protected hawks, falcons or owls shall not be bought, sold or bartered, or offered for sale or barter, or held in possession for sale or barter. (c) Mounting or retention in possession.--Except pursuant to a permit issued by the commission, no protected bird or part thereof shall be mounted or retained in possession. (d) Penalties.-- (1) A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree for each protected bird or part thereof. (2) A violation of this section relating to birds which are listed as threatened or endangered is, in addition to any other penalties, a misdemeanor. (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a violation of this section relating to birds listed under 16 U.S.C. § 668 (relating to bald and golden eagles) that results in the killing of a bald eagle or golden eagle is, in addition to any other penalties, a summary offense punishable by a fine of $2,000. (e) Contraband.--Any game or wildlife or egg possessed by any person contrary to this section is contraband. (Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days; May 8, 2024, P.L.49, No.13, eff. 60 days) 2024 Amendment. Act 13 added subsec. (d)(3). 2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (d)(2).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2165 Possession or interference with active nests or eggs of birds.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to take or have in possession or under control either the active nest or any egg of any game bird or protected bird or to interfere with or destroy the active nest or egg. (b) Penalties.-- (1) A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree for each active nest or egg possessed or interfered with. (2) A violation of this section relating to birds which are listed as threatened or endangered is, in addition to any other penalties, a misdemeanor for each active nest or egg possessed. (c) Contraband.--Any active nest or egg possessed by any person contrary to this section is contraband. (Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days) 2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (b)(2).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2166 Unlawful sale of protected birds and plumage.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person, acting either for personal interest or as the agent or representative of another, to have any protected bird or any bird which belongs to the same family as those protected birds found in a wild state in this Commonwealth or is similar in appearance to any native protected bird, the eggs or any part from such birds, in possession or under control for the purpose of sale or barter, or to offer or expose them for sale or barter, or to transport, ship or remove, or attempt to transport, ship or remove, from this Commonwealth, for any purpose, any such bird, either living or dead, or the eggs or any part thereof. (b) Penalties.-- (1) A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fourth degree for each bird or part thereof. (2) A violation of this section relating to birds which are listed as threatened or endangered is, in addition to any other penalties, a misdemeanor for each bird or part thereof. (c) Contraband.--Any protected bird or any egg or any part thereof possessed contrary to this section is contraband. (Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1205, No.150, eff. 60 days) 2012 Amendment. Act 150 amended subsec. (b)(2).

34 Pa.C.S. § 2167 Endangered or threatened species.

(a) Changes to list.--The commission may, by regulation, add or remove any wild bird or wild animal native to this Commonwealth to or from the Pennsylvania native list of endangered or threatened species. (b) Possession, transportation, capturing or killing.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person, acting either for himself or as the representative of another, to bring into or remove from this Commonwealth, or to possess, transport, capture or kill, or attempt, aid, abet or conspire to capture or kill, any wild bird or wild animal, or any part thereof, or the eggs of any wild bird, which are endangered or threatened species. It is the duty of every officer having authority to enforce this title to seize all wild birds or wild animals, or any part thereof, or the eggs of any wild bird, which have been declared endangered or threatened. (c) Purchase, sale, barter or exchange.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person, acting either for himself or as a representative of another, at any time to buy, sell, barter or exchange, or to offer for sale or barter, or to have in possession for sale or barter, or to aid, abet or conspire in the possession, sale, barter or exchange, or to give away any endangered or threatened species or subspecies of wild birds or wild animals, or parts thereof. It is the duty of every officer having authority to enforce this title to seize all endangered or threatened wild birds or wild animals, or any part thereof. This subsection shall not be construed to permit any individual or agency other than the commission to sell the skins or parts of game or wildlife or the plumage or parts of birds killed as a protection to crops or accidentally killed upon the highways or seized as contraband. (d) Penalties.--A violation of this section shall be graded as follows: (1) A first violation is a misdemeanor of the second degree and may result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of seven years. (2) A second violation within a seven-year period or during the same criminal episode as the first violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree and may result in the forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of ten years. (3) A third or subsequent violation within a seven-year period or during the same criminal episode as the first or second violation is a felony of the third degree and may result in the forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of 15 years. (4) In addition to any other penalty, a violation of subsection (b) that results in the killing of a protected bird listed under 16 U.S.C. § 668 (relating to bald and golden eagles) shall be graded one degree higher than the penalty provided under paragraph (1), (2) or (3). (July 9, 2010, P.L.387, No.54, eff. 60 days; May 8, 2024, P.L.49, No.13, eff. 60 days) 2024 Amendment. Act 13 added subsec. (d)(4). 2010 Amendment. See section 6 of Act 54 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to public notice. Cross References. Section 2167 is referred to in section 2924 of this title.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=34Fetched: 10/16/2026