HARRISBURG, Pa. (September 30) — Just in time for the fall hunting and fishing seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) are excited to announce the offering of the new PA Sportsman license plate!
The specialty plate, available now through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is adorned with artwork featuring iconic Pennsylvania hunting, fishing, and boating imagery including the white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and anglers fishing from a kayak on a scenic river. The license plate costs $40 plus the registration fee, of which $14 will be deposited into a Youth Hunting and Fishing Restricted Account to be allocated evenly to the PGC and PFBC for the purpose of promoting youth hunting and fishing activities.
“The outdoors are important to so many Pennsylvanians, and our state's outdoor resources – both now and in the future – depend upon the people who care enough to protect them," said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. “Hunters, trappers, boaters and anglers play an active role in conserving fish and wildlife and their habitats, but the torch they carry ultimately will be passed to the generations to come, highlighting the continual need to involve youth in these activities and shape them as stewards who one day can pass the torch to those who follow. With this license plate, sportsmen and sportswomen can help that cause while showing their pride in the things that make it all possible."
PFBC Executive Director Tim Schaeffer reinforced the value of growing youth education programs around conservation-based recreational activities and stressed the importance of safety for those who enjoy the woods and the water.
“Fishing and boating are year-round lifetime activities for individuals and families in Pennsylvania," said Schaeffer. “It's critical that we introduce young people to outdoor recreation and instill a conservation ethic early on. Equipped with the skills needed to enjoy all that Pennsylvania's waters have to offer, they are also more likely to become stewards of our aquatic resources. To me, the best part of the license plate may be that the adult and child depicted are wearing their life jackets. It will be great to have that public safety reminder on roadways across the Commonwealth."
Both the PGC and PFBC have youth education programs that encourage interest in outdoor recreational activities including hunting, trapping, fishing, boating, and conservation.
Popular PFBC youth programs include Trout in the Classroom (TIC), which provides educational experiences for students and teachers who raise Rainbow Trout from eggs to fingerling-size fish in aquariums as part of their school curriculums. During the 2023-24-25 school year, 57,114 students in 417 classrooms across 61 counties participated in TIC. Additionally, each year on the Saturday before the statewide opening day of trout season in April, the PFBC holds its Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day. This special day is offered annually to allow youth participants ages 15 and under to learn how to become successful, ethical anglers while fishing with their licensed adult mentors.
The PGC reaches into more than 300 schools statewide through its administration of the National Archery in the Schools Program and offers educational curricula through its Wildlife on WiFi and Seedlings for Schools programs. Junior Game Warden Camps held each summer provide an opportunity for youth to experience the broad scope of work performed by conservation officers, while organized Junior Pheasant Hunts might give young hunters their first glimpse of the action that awaits them afield.
These programs are just a snapshot of each agency's involvement with youth.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) offers several special fund registration plates, including the PA Sportsman plate. These plates support various causes across the Commonwealth from preserving Pennsylvania's heritage to honoring veterans.
“Our goal was to help create a design that resonates with everyone who enjoys the outdoors while serving as a reminder of Pennsylvania's abundant wildlife," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “When you display this plate, it tells other Pennsylvanians and people throughout the country that you're a dedicated hunter, an enthusiastic fisherman, or someone who supports the state's natural resources."
The PA Sportsman license plate was created through Act 51 of 2024 which was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro on July 8, 2024. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (PA-35), designates the funds generated by sales of the plates to youth hunting and fishing programs in Pennsylvania.
“This license plate allows our rich heritage of hunting and fishing to be proudly displayed by motorists while raising money for future generations of hunters and fishermen," said Langerholc. “I look forward to seeing these beautiful license plates displayed on vehicles as I travel throughout my district and beyond, knowing that we're keeping kids involved in the outdoors."
Members of the Pennsylvania Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation (Youth Council) joined in celebrating the offering of the PA Sportsman license plate, noting the need for additional funding for programs that engage their young peers in outdoor recreational opportunities.
“Empowering youth through access and opportunity to outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing not only builds a deeper connection to our natural resources but also builds Pennsylvania's next generation of conservation leaders," said Grace Ziegmont, Youth Council President. “Programs supported by this license plate will reach a wide diversity of Pennsylvania's youth and help empower them to protect and steward our fish and wildlife resource for generations yet to come."
To purchase a PA Sportsman specialty license plate, visit the PennDOT website, choose Special Fund, and select the PA Sportsman option.
For more information on youth hunting, fishing, and boating education programs, visit the PGC and PFBC websites.
Video of this event is available here.
Images are courtesy of PennDOT.
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Media Contacts:
Travis Lau, PA Game Commission, (717) 705-6541 or trlau@pa.gov
Mike Parker, PA Fish and Boat Commission, (717) 585-3076 or michparker@pa.gov