The Pennsylvania Game Commission expanded the mentored youth hunting program to allow hunters under age 7 to hunt bears with an adult mentor.

The board of game commissioners voted to allow mentored hunters ages 7 and older to purchase their own bear licenses. Those under age 7 must receive a bear license through transfer from an adult mentor.

Commissioners also approved mentored youth waterfowl hunting, in which mentored youth must obtain a Pennsylvania migratory bird license, in addition to their mentored hunting permit. Mentored hunters ages 16 and older also will need a federal duck stamp.

The measure adopted by the board also enables mentored hunters ages 7 and older to buy their own special spring turkey licenses, and allows those licenses to be transferred from their original holders to a mentored hunter under age 7.

With the additional opportunities, mentored hunters will be able to hunt rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, mourning doves, bobwhite quail, pheasants, crows, squirrels, porcupines, woodchucks, coyotes, deer, waterfowl, bears and wild turkeys in the coming seasons.

The expanded youth hunting opportunities approved by the board July 24 will not become effective until they are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in six to eight weeks.