Changes in store for Pennsylvania hunters

Changes are in store for Pennsylvania hunters taking to the state’s 1.5 million acres of game lands this season, including new and canceled programs offered by the state Game Commission.

During the 2015-16 season, 937,000 hunters purchased licenses or mentored permits in Pennsylvania, a slight decrease from the previous year.

Game Commission statistics show that more than 10 percent of that number was from female purchasers, with 96,555 licenses or mentored permits bought by women or girls.

A tight budget has the Game Commission monitoring its spending. It is considering an increase in hunting and furtaker license fees. And it has canceled its autumn driving tours because of financial constraints.