USA -(Ammoland.com)- Goose hunters in the 2017-18 license year must apply online or in person to enter the drawing to hunt from goose blinds at Middle Creek and Pymatuning Wildlife Management Areas.
An electronic goose blind application has replaced the paper application traditionally found within the Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest, which no longer is provided to all license buyers.
Applicants can apply online by visiting the Goose Blind Application website.
Those who do not have internet access can fill out the electronic application in person at the following locations:
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Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center
100 Museum Road
Stevens, PA 17578 -
Pennsylvania Game Commission Northwest Regional Office
1509 Pittsburgh Road
Franklin, PA 16323 -
Pennsylvania Game Commission Headquarters
2001 Elmerton Ave.
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797
An individual may apply to only one area per year. The electronic application must contain the applicant’s 2017-18 hunting license Customer Identification Number (CID). Applications are not accepted by telephone or through U.S. Mail.
Applications will be accepted electronically through Sept. 1, 2017.
Public drawings are scheduled to be held Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center and Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area to select applicants to hunt from goose blinds in those areas.
The number of applications to be drawn will be established prior to the drawing.
One shooting day each at Middle Creek and Pymatuning will be designated as a youth-only day. Adults who accompany a junior license hunter on this day may assist the junior hunter, but are not permitted to shoot or harvest waterfowl. Applications received from junior hunters will be drawn prior to the other applications on the established drawing date for the management area. Unsuccessful applicants for the youth shooting day then will be placed with all other applications and the drawing will proceed until all shooting days are filled.
A drawing for a special hunt for qualifying veterans with disabilities will be conducted for Pymatuning. Applicants must hold a Resident Disabled Veteran Hunting License or Resident Reduced Fee Disabled Veteran License to qualify, and up to three guests may accompany the disabled hunter.
For qualifications, see the License Information section Hunting & Trapping Digest, found online.
A separate drawing is held for blinds that accommodate hunters with disabilities. Applicants must type in their current Disabled Person Permit (permit to hunt from a vehicle) number issued by the Game Commission in the space provided on the application.
Blinds at Middle Creek and Pymatuning will not be operational during the September season.
Shooting days at Middle Creek are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Shooting days at Pymatuning are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Specific dates are listed on the electronic application.
Persons may hunt only once per year on a goose blind reservation, either as a blind holder or a guest. Persons may hunt more than once per year in the controlled goose hunting program, but only if unclaimed permits exist after the first no-show drawing. Successful applicants will be mailed a hunting reservation entitling them to be accompanied by a maximum of three guests.
Applicants can also check their permit status online by visiting their website and clicking on the Goose Blind Application link.
Any hunters who have questions regarding the online application process can contact the respective Wildlife Management Areas at the contact information below:
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Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
717-733-1512
GooseBlindMC@pa.gov -
Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area
Northwest Regional Office
814-432-3187
GooseBlindPYM@pa.gov