Purple Paint Law
A change to the state Crimes Code, gives landowners the option of using purple paint, rather than signs, to post their properties and alert others that lands are private and trespassing isn’t permitted.
This law is effective in all but Philadelphia and Allegheny counties.
Landowners using purple paint to post their properties use vertical purple lines that are at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. The bottom of the mark must be no less than 3 feet or more than 5 feet from the ground. And painted marks are not more than 100 feet apart.
Now that the “purple paint law” is effective, hunters and trappers should know they might encounter purple markings on trees and that these marks are meant to define the boundary of an adjoining private property that’s posted against trespassing.
The new law also authorizes unarmed persons to go onto private property for the sole purpose of retrieving a hunting dog.
In Pennsylvania, failure to obey purple painted marks, as well as signs or verbal commands to keep out, is considered defiant trespass, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. If trespassing occurs while hunting, additional game-law violations – and additional penalties and revocation – also might apply.
A legislative act has provided the Game Commission the authority to investigate trespassing complaints and enforce trespassing violations as a primary offense, even if game-law violations aren’t alleged, and the agency will do so.
Appalachian Trail & Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area
Hunters are reminded that hunting or discharging firearms, and use of off-road vehicles, including ATVs, are prohibited on National Park Service (NPS) lands acquired for the protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Individuals can possess firearms on national park or refuge lands if they are legally permitted to carry a firearm in the state and municipality where they are located.
Sections of the Appalachian Trail that run through State Game Lands are not subject to the listed regulations.
Please be advised that State Game Lands regulations require any group consisting of 10 or more people using the game lands, including trails, to obtain a Special Use Permit.
Maps that show NPS lands where hunting is prohibited can be viewed at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Regional Office in Boiling Springs, Pa. (717-258-5771).
Small open fires for cooking or warming purposes may be kindled, used and maintained by persons exercising the privileges of a valid hunting, furtaker or fishing license and through-hikers within the corridor of the Appalachian Trail.
This exception to the prohibition on fires is applicable only where the small fires are located at places where adequate precautions are taken to prevent the spread of fire, and the index rating used by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is not High, Very High or Extreme for that area.
The Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area (DEWA) is a unit of the NPS. Trapping, hunting over bait, hunting in standing unharvested crops and spotlighting are prohibited. Only portable tree stands can be used and must be removed each day. A PA hunting license is required to hunt in the PA portion of the park. A NJ license is required to hunt in the NJ portion of the park. Most areas of the DEWA are open to hunting. Check the Compendium of Regulations for closures and details at nps.gov/dewa/learn/management/compendium.htm.
GREEN MEANS GO
On State Game Lands, the recreational riding of horses and bicycles is allowed only on designated trails, marked by the GREEN signs above. Trails that are closed are marked with YELLOW signs. Recreational off-trail riding is not permitted.
Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased only in designated hunting areas during the seasons state recreation areas are open to hunting. Target shooting is restricted to designated shooting ranges only. The feeding of wildlife or laying or placing food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt, or other mineral is prohibited on state park and state forest lands.
The Bureau of State Parks may restrict hunting and trapping areas or hunting and trapp ing seasons in state parks. Hunting and trapping by licensed hunters and furtakers is permitted in designated areas in compliance with Game Commission regulations and State Park Rules and Regulations. Contact the park office for hunting and trapping information for each park. In park areas not open to hunting, or during closed hunting season, firearms and archery equipment must be kept in the owner’s car, trailer or camp.
The placement of traps is prohibited within 50 feet from the edge of all State Parks designated trails, paths, sidewalks, roads and parking lots.
Groundhog hunting is prohibited in state parks. Dog training is permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas.
For more information about hunting in state parks, contact the Bureau of State Parks, 1-888-PA-Parks, visit pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks, write State Parks, P.O. Box 8551 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551, or call your nearest state park office.
The Bureau of Forestry welcomes hunters and trappers to more than 2.2 million acres of state forests. Only small areas around occupied buildings are posted.
Overnight camping is permitted only in areas designated by the district forester.
Ground blinds and tree stands may be placed on state forest lands subject to following the requirements set forth in the Bureau of Forestry Rules and Regulations.
Required permits are available from local forest offices.
The Bureau opens gated administrative roads annually for hunter access, participates in DMAP and offers an interactive map online.
Current information related to hunting on state forests can be found online at pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/what-to-do/hunting.
For more information or maps concerning hunting and recreational activities on state forests, contact the Bureau of Forestry, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552. Phone: 717-783-7941, visit pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-forests or call your nearest forestry office.
Sunday hunting in state parks is permitted on Sundays approved by the Game Commission, except State Parks and Preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, where Sunday hunting is limited to Nov. 15, Nov. 22, and Nov. 29 in areas designated open to hunting. State forests continue to permit hunting on all Sundays approved by the Game Commission.