The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners believes that a new change will reverse the trend of declining turkey populations.
At their most recent meeting the board gave final approval to a measure to eliminate the use of rifles for turkey hunting.
The length of fall turkey season has previously been shortened however turkey populations are still declining in a majority of Wildlife Management Units. Although only 14 percent of fall turkey hunters use rifles, those who do are responsible for 33 percent of the harvest.
The plan should not affect the majority of hunters but still reduce the fall turkey harvest by an estimated 20 percent.