The Allegheny County Airport Bow Hunting Program

The Allegheny County Airport Authority is piloting a program that will allow archery-only hunting in designated zones on Pittsburgh International Airport property.  Hunting will run Oct. 5 to Jan. 11 and will be limited to archery-only -- no firearms, according to an airport news release.

A lottery system will be used to assign a limited number of permits to hunters who submit an application.  Hunters who receive a permit will have roughly 2,362 acres available to hunt.

 

The airport authority will issue permits and permitted hunters will be restricted to hunting only within designated zones. Hunters will also be cited for trespassing if they are found to be hunting elsewhere on airport property.  "All authorized hunters are subject to Pennsylvania Game Laws at all times," the airport authority said in a news release. "It is anticipated that the PA Game Commission will periodically patrol the areas in order to ensure compliance with game laws." 

State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, and Senator Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, both applauded the decision to reopen a portion of airport land to archery hunting.  The two legislators worked with Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, the airport authority board and the hunting community.

"This is a good example of government at several levels listening to the concerns of the residents and addressing those concerns,” Mustio said.  Anyone interested in applying for a permit can visit www.FlyPittsburgh.com/archery.