The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to a measure that will allow mentors hunting with a mentored youth to accompany up to two additional hunters, be they mentored youth, junior hunters or mentored adults.

Previously, no additional junior or mentored hunters could accompany a mentor hunting with a mentored youth. There was a required one-to-one mentor/mentee ratio.

That limit has now changed to three.

The requirement that limits mentors and mentored youth from possessing only one sporting arm between them remains. The mentor must carry the sporting arm at all times while moving. Junior hunters and mentored adults may possess their own sporting arms while accompanied by a common mentor.

This change will become effective after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, usually within 60 days, and in time for the fall hunting seasons.

Prior to a vote, the Game Commission had evaluated relevant safety data and determined the amendments would not create an unreasonable safety risk.

Since its inception in 2006, the mentored hunting program gradually has grown and expanded to include new hunting opportunities and groups eligible to participate. With each progressive expansion, the program has come into closer alignment with the Game Commission’s traditional hunting license structures.