The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation views the passage of a house bill (2042), which allows hunters to harvest an additional wild turkey with a special license, as a win-win situation for everyone.

The measure passed the state House of Representatives by a vote of 186-1, and currently awaits consideration by the Pennsylvania Senate.

The proposed legislation, which would allows hunters to purchase a special wild turkey hunting license, will not change the current turkey hunting license back tags for one spring gobbler and one fall turkey obtained when turkey hunters purchase their Pennsylvania Hunting License.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has reviewed the details of house bill with Rep. Merle Phillips, sponsor of the legislation, the PA Chapter NWTF leadership, and PA Chapter NWTF Board of Directors.

The PA Chapter NWTF Board of Directors voted to support this legislation in March as written and passed by the House of Representatives. PGC and NWTF wild turkey biologists have reviewed this legislation, and using the PGC "Management Plan For Wild Turkeys In Pennsylvania" as their guideline, support this legislation.

"One of the keys of this program for wild turkey management is establishing field data, hunter harvest rates, and population assessments for future wild turkey management decisions," said Don Heckman, PA Chapter NWTF Executive Officer. "This legislation will help support turkey management data collection and management decisions as developed and outlined in the PGC ‘Management Plan For Wild Turkeys In Pennsylvania.’ This information is vital to success of the wild turkey management plan and our future turkey hunting opportunities."

The last research to study turkey population growth was done in the late 1960s through the mid-1980s by PGC biologists Jerry Wunz and Arnie Hayden. A new study could provide on-the-ground field data and research data to help make better turkey management decisions for the future.

Another positive aspect of the PGC’s turkey management plan promotes further educate turkey hunters, thereby promoting the recreation and safe hunting practices.

The licenses for a second turkey are proposed to cost $20 for residents and $40 for non-residents.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is a statewide organization with more than 25,000 members.