Let's not jump the gun - no pun intended. Although Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation making it legal to use semi-automatic rifles for hunting, we don't yet know when we hunters will be able to use them, or what species we may hunt with them.

Some early stories were misleading, because hunters were told that the change wouldn't take place "in time for deer season." In fact, it's extremely unlikely that hunters will be allowed to use semi-automatic rifles during deer season. Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthrew Hough has said he'd like to see the use of semi-automatic rifles restricted to hunting coyotes, foxes and woodchucks; also, that he'd like to see a five-shot limit on magazine size.So, when will we know? Wolf's bill gives the PGC authority to make those decisions. The process would include a vote by the commission board for preliminary approval, a public comment period, and a second commission board vote. The board meets in January and April; the matter would have to be decided by mid-May, when the hunting digest with season dates and regulations is printed.Pennsylvania law current allow the use of semi-automatic shotguns - one shot for each trigger pull, and the next cartridge goes into the firing chamber automatically. Under current law, rifles must be manually operated. Interestingly, semi-automatic rifles are allowed for use by hunters (for various species and seasons) in every other state except Delaware.Another change hunters will see in 2017 is a reduction in the number of stocked pheasants, from about 240,000 in 2016 to 170,000 in 2017. In mid-December, the game commission announced the closures of two pheasant raising farms; the Crawford County Western Game Farm and the Lycoming County North Central Game Farm. Two game farms will remain in operation, Lycoming County's Loyalsock Game Farm and Armstrong County's Southwest Game Farm.The PGC made the decision citing a $8 million budget shortfall. The pheasant farm closures are estimated to save the PGC $1.5 million. During 2016, the PGC asked for a license fee increase (there hasn't been one for 18 years), and asked that the license fee rates be controlled by the PGC. Neither request was granted. The PGC is considering adding a $25 pheasant hunting permit, an addition which would have to be approved by the General Assembly.Mike Martz, operator of Martz's Game Farm, a premier bird hunting facility in Schuylkill County, said that the closure of the game farms is not good for anybody."I believe that any reduction in released pheasants by the PGC is a negative for the industry as a whole in the long-term," Martz said. "Some people may believe that this will result in a boon for preserves because more hunters may frequent preserves - while this may be true in the short-term but I believe in the long-term this will result in reduced interest in upland game bird hunting in general."Martz also theorized that fewer hunters would purchase bird dogs. He said he supports the PGC's pheasant propagation program, hopes it continues and believes the PGC does a very good job of raising birds."By the same token while it may be politically incorrect to say because I have a vested interest in such decisions, they could save money by allowing private suppliers to supply some or all of their mature birds for game lands," Martz said. "This is not a knock on anyone working for the PGC because they do a fine job given how they are required to raise their birds - this is however the truth."Hough said that the closures may be just the first of many cuts as the PGC struggles to balance its budget."It's difficult for me because of the impact these cuts have on our employees," Hough said. "All reductions in programs and services the PGC provides affect our hunters, trappers and citizens - unfortunately without a license increase additional programs will have to be reduced or eliminated."