Some of northeastern Pennsylvania's prime turkey habitat in Pike County will be open for the begging of the fall turkey season, Saturday, Nov. 1.

Earlier this week the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced it has lifted within all of Pike County the temporary prohibition on hunting and trapping because of the manhunt for Eric Frein, the lone suspect in the sniper killing of a Pennsylvania state policeman. In announcing the lifting of the ban PGC executive director Matt Hough said it was done after consultation with the PSP, who have determined restrictions that previously prohibited hunting and trapping in all or parts of Blooming Grove, Porter, Greene and Lehman townships, all in Pike County, now can be lifted.This order also restores public access to all parts of State Game Lands 183, located in Blooming Grove Township, Pike County. Also, all Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lands in Pike County now are reopened to hunters, trappers and other recreational users.With the amendment, hunters within portions of Pike County who had to abide by special fluorescent-orange requirements may now return to the statewide fluorescent-orange requirements as outlined on Pages 63 and 64 of the "2014-15 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest." Still retained is the temporary prohibition on hunting and trapping activity on all public and private lands within Price, Barrett and Paradise townships, Monroe County, which are all are in Wildlife Management Unit 3D.In WMUs 4E and 4C turkey hunters are likely to continue seeing large flocks because of favorable nesting conditions and an abundance of food sources. This was the second year in a row for favorable nesting conditions after following four consecutive years of below-average conditions.Decreasing populations in WMUs 3A, 3B and 3C prompted the board of game commissioners to adopt a two-week fall turkey season in those WMUs. Previously, there had been a three-week season there, but the statewide three-day season that opens Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, and continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29, will continue in the three WMUs.This year marks the fourth and final year of the hen harvest rate and survival rate study so those WMUs in the study area will continue with the same season lengths of recent years. Also retained by the BOGC is a three-day fall season in WMU 5A, but shifted it from midweek to a Thursday-through-Saturday timeframe within the framework of these statewide dates for male and female birds:WMU 1B, Nov. 1-8 and Nov. 27-29; WMU 2B (shotgun and bow only), Nov. 1-21, and Nov. 27-29; WMUs 1A, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B and 3C, Nov. 1-15, and Nov. 27-29; WMUs 2C, 2E, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E, Nov. 1-21, and Nov. 27-29; and WMU 5A, Nov. 6-8. WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D will remain closed for the fall seasons.Although wild turkey populations statewide are less than their record high in 2001 of approximately 280,000 birds, population of approximately 186,000 birds is consistent with recent years and is higher than the record low of approximately 182,000 in 2010. PGC wild turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena said she anticipates turkey hunters to enjoy success rates similar to or even higher than 12 percent.Casalena reminds hunters to report any turkeys with leg bands or radio-transmitters, which are stamped with a toll-free number to call and provide information for the research project being conducted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Penn State University. This project is funded by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Chapter of NWTF, and rewards for reporting marked turkeys are made possible by donations from the National Wild Turkey Federation.In most parts of the state, hunters participating in the fall turkey season are required, while moving, to wear at least 250 inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined. Orange must be visible from 360 degrees. Hunters may remove their orange once in a stationary location, providing that a minimum of 100 square inches of fluorescent orange is posted within 15 feet of the location and is visible from 360 degrees.Unlike most of the state where rifles are legal to hunt fall turkey, WMU 2B is open to shotgun and archery hunting only and hunters, while moving, must wear a hat containing at least 100 square inches of solid fluorescent orange material, visible from 360 degrees. While fluorescent orange is not required at stationary locations in WMU 2B, it is strongly recommended.Archery hunters who are hunting either deer or bear during the overlap with fall turkey season also must wear a hat that contains at least 100 square inches of solid, fluorescent orange, visible from 360 degrees, when moving and may be removed once in a stationary location. Adult hunters may transfer their fall turkey tag to youngsters 11 years old or younger participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.