The PA Game Commission has put a lot of new changes in place for the 2019-20 hunting and trapping seasons in the Commonwealth.

It all started with the new opening day of general deer season being changed from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This would allow hunters three Saturdays of rifle season for the first time in 50 years.

Honestly, it has been met with mixed reviews by Pennsylvania's hunters with some in favor and others saying don't mess with tradition. I personally like the extra Saturday and the opportunity it gives to those who work on the opening Mondays. Sometimes, I just might need an extra day of hunting!

The hunters who have wanted an elk archery season will have their wish as well. The PGC will have three distinct elk seasons for the first time with an archery season (September 14-28), a general season (November 4-9) and a late season (January 4-11).

Each season will have a separate entry fee of $11.90 and you can apply for one or all three seasons with the entry fee for each. No matter what season you apply for, you are only permitted to accept one tag. Anyone who has drawn a bull tag in a previous hunting year must wait five years before trying to draw another tag. Cow tags are eligible to be drawn yearly, even if you were successful.

The PGC is increasing the allotment of licenses by 14 percent and the deadline for the elk drawing is July 31. A public drawing of the 2019 licenses will be held at the Elk Country Visitor Center-Elk Expo on Aug. 17. You can request specific zones as long as a tag remains open. Once your zone of preference is filled, you will be randomly placed in other remaining open spots in other zones.

I know it seems like a long shot to draw a tag, but it does happen. I know because I pulled one last year!

Waterfowl hunters will have some changes in their limits and season-length on Canada Geese (two daily) in the Atlantic Fly Zone and Mallard ducks with daily limits being reduced to two ducks (including one hen) for 2019-20.

Check the federal laws for this year and be aware of the reductions. There has been a population decrease and the changes are being made to reflect the negative count of waterfowl.

How about the use of tracking dogs to recover wounded deer, bear and elk now in effect? The dogs must be leashed and with their handler to help recover wounded game.

Remember that you cannot carry a firearm after dark when tracking game. You will need to locate them quickly or head out at first light. It can be a problem when a season closes or it's a Sunday the next day.

That's why making a good shot is so important as well as using enough firepower to make a clean kill. The PGC has rules on what caliber you are to use for big game in Pennsylvania and it should be followed. Standard calibers such as the 7mm's, 30-06, .308, .270, .30-30 and the heavier magnums will do the job.

Getting the fluorescent orange rules straight for 2019-20! This is the latest information for all hunters with wearing fluorescent orange. You must wear 250 square inches of orange when these seasons are taking place; all small game seasons, deer, bear and elk firearms seasons, early muzzleloader season.

An orange cap must be worn while hunting groundhogs and when using a blind, a fluorescent orange band must be tied to the stand or tree near you.

There is no required orange for archery seasons for deer, elk or bear unless it overlaps into rifle season. Crow hunters, waterfowl hunters, dove hunters, spring turkey or furbearer trappers are required to wear the orange.

Coyote hunters must wear it if they are hunting coyotes during deer or other big-game seasons. I have no issues with wearing fluorescent orange when coming in to my stand or out of the woods for safety.

Until we meet again, get that new license and don't forget to check out all of the new options available to PA hunters and trappers.

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle