Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Game Commission board backpedaled on a motion that would’ve allowed e-bikes to be used on state game lands during the July 25 meeting.
After preliminary approving a motion in January to allow Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles, or e-bikes, on game lands, the commissioners rejected the motion by a 5-3 vote.
While it remains unlawful to operate e-bikes on game lands, the 2020-21 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest erroneously states on Page 16 that Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are permitted on game lands. All e-bikes continue to be prohibited everywhere on game lands, including on roads normally open to public travel. E-bikes cannot be used on game lands while hunting or trapping.
A Class 1 e-bike is defined as a two-wheeled bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts (1 horsepower) or less that provides assistance only when the rider is actively pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 mph.
A Class 2 e-bike is defined as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and a throttle-actuated 750-watt motor that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 mph. The bike can operate without pedaling.
Commissioner Michael Mitrick said he had several concerns about the use of e-bikes, and topping the list was preserving wild places that are found on game lands.
“By allowing motorized access to these places violates the sanctity and wildness of game lands,” Mitrick said. “Game lands are a place for wildlife and hunting. By approving e-bikes, I was concerned game lands would become a place to ride instead of a place to enjoy wildlife.”
In addition, Mitrick said he was also concerned about those who hike back into game lands being disturbed by e-bikes, and he said it’s been reported that people using the motorized bicycles can approach game closely.
“We just didn’t want to open that can of worms,” Mitrick said.
Brian Hoover voted in favor of allowing e-bikes on game lands, and he was joined by commissioners Stanley Knick and Timothy Layton. Hoover said the use of e-bikes would allow older hunters to venture into the interior of game lands, and their use would be limited to roads and designated paths. E-bike users would also need a hunting license to use them on game lands, he added.
“This wasn’t for recreational use,” Hoover said, adding he believes the e-bikes issue will be re-visited by the board at some point.
“The future is murky as we get older, and our game lands managers are doing everything to get people back into the game lands. E-bikes was one idea to help with that.”
The board also unanimously voted down a proposal that would have established 24-caliber as the minimum caliber for hunting deer and bear with centerfire rifles.
At a previous meeting, commissioner Dennis Fredericks asked that the proposal be drafted, and since then the agency has received significant feedback. Board president Charles Fox said the comments swayed the board to back off from the measure.
While Fox agreed that the e-bike issue could be re-visited, he added it will be a long time before the board considers a minimum caliber regulation again.
“I was amazed at the number of people who responded, telling us they use a .22-250 for deer. And the .223 is real popular with kids, according to the comments,” Fox said.
The .223 and .22-250 were two of the calibers that would’ve been prohibited for deer and bear had the proposal passed.
Mitrick acknowledged that several commissioners were concerned about the likelihood of wounding game with a smaller caliber, and the feedback, while not a surprise, was substantial.
Mitrick said the agency will shift gears and launch an educational effort on the importance of shot placement for a humane kill. The outreach will be similar to the initiative the agency has taken to educate hunters about treestand safety, he said.
Hoover said he has never been in favor of a minimum caliber regulation.
“With the new cartridges out there, there’s never been a problem with the caliber,” Hoover said. “We vetted this issue many times and it always failed because the public isn’t interested.”
Charles Ziegler, a hunter from New Columbus, Luzerne County, has been vocal in his opposition to the minimum caliber proposal from the start. He said such a restriction isn’t necessary because of changes to bullet design and powder formation over the last 20 years.
“That’s propelling these small missiles at astonishing speeds that are creating very high foot pounds of energy and they create wound channels that are more effect than the old heavy slugs,” Ziegler said.
- This story originally appeared in PA Outdoor News.
