07/21/2025
At a recent PA Game Commission/Elk Outfitter meeting the PGC put out some new regulatory clarifications of the game laws as they pertain to tracking dog handlers. THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THAT THE TRACKING DOG HANDLER NO LONGER NEEDS THE LICENSE/PERMIT OF THE SEASON TO TRACK IN ANY SPECIFIC SEASON. All a tracking dog handler needs is a general hunting license to track any big game, including elk. Here is a summary of those clarifications:
Related to the use of tracking dogs. Please see the summary below from Mark Ternent (North Central Regional Director) and Howie Malehorn (North Central Law Enforcement Supervisor).
A dog handler can assist in the tracking of big game (i.e., they were not the shooter) as long as they posses a valid general hunting license. See the highlighted sentence below. All regulations pertaining to tracking dogs are also provided as reference.
1. Fluorescent Orange. Any person involved in leashed tracking dog activities shall comply with the fluorescent orange requirements for the applicable big game season as set fo1th in 58 Pa. Code § 141.20 (relating to protective material required.
2. Party Size. Any person involved in leashed tracking dog activities shall comply with the party size limitations for the applicable big game season as set forth in 34 Pa.C.S. § 2324 (relating to parties hunting big game) and 58 Pa. Code § 141.42 (relating to parties hunting big game).
3. Arms and ammunition.
a. Same. If the hunter inflicting the mortal wound on the big game is the same person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities, the person shall comply with standard arms and ammunition limitations for the applicable big game season as set forth in 58 Pa. Code§§ 141.43, 141.44, and 141.47 (relating to deer seasons; bear seasons; and elk seasons).
b. Separate. If the hunter inflicting the mortal wound on the big game is a different person from the person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities:
1. If properly licensed for the applicable big game season, the person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities shall comply with standard arms and ammunition limitations for the applicable big game season as set forth in 58 Pa. Code§§ 141.43, 141.44, and 141.47 (relating to deer seasons; bear seasons; and elk seasons). See also 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 2301 and 2325 (relating to prima facie evidence of hunting; and cooperation after lawfully killing big game) and 58 Pa. Code§ 141.43(e) (relating to deer seasons).
11. If not properly licensed for the applicable big game season, the person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities shall not possess a loaded firearm or other implement of take. However, do observe that this limitation remains subject to the overriding allowances of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2525 (relating to possession of firearm for protection of self or others), if applicable.
4. State game lands. Any person involved in leashed tracking dog activities on State game lands shall comply with commercial activity limitations applicable to these lands and waters as set forth in and 58 Pa. Code§ 135.41 (relating to State game lands). This specifically means that, absent a guiding permit, the person involved in leashed tracking dog activities is required to obtain sperate permitting from the Commission to authorize this type of commercial activity on State game lands. See also 34 Pa.C.S. § 722 (relating to use of property).
5. Licensure.
a. Same. If the hunter inflicting the mortal wound on the big game is the same person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities, the person shall comply with standard licensure requirements for the applicable big game season as set forth in 34 Pa.C.S. § 2705 (relating to classes of licenses).
b. ************************Separate. Notwithstanding the broad licensure requirement set forth 34 Pa.C.S. § 2701 (relating to license requirements), if the hunter inflicting the mortal wound on the big game is a different person from the person conducting the leashed tracking dog activities, the person involved in leashed tracking dog activities shall only be required to possess a resident or nomesident (whichever is applicable) hunting license. No add-on licenses otherwise required for the applicable white-tailed deer, bear, or elk season shall be required. This is specifically intended to waive the requirement of archery, muzzleloader, antlerless, bear, and elk licenses where otherwise applicable.***********************
6. Hunting Hours and Season Closure. Any person involved in leashed tracking dog activities shall comply with hunting hours and seasons closures as set forth in 58 Pa. Code§§ 139.4 and 141.4 (relating to seasons and bag limits for the license year; and hunting hours). Similar to hunters, a person involved in leashed tracking dog activities may request authorization from the Commission to continue to track a white-tailed deer, bear, or elk (whichever is applicable) after the applicable season has closed for day (hunting hours closure) or for the season (season closure) in an attempt to recover the animal which has otherwise been legally killed or wounded during the open season. This relaxation shall not include any authorization to carry implements of take or any authorization to kill the applicable white-tailed deer, bear, or elk found wounded and alive.
