Anyone who has served in the military has heard the phrase Keep It Simple Stupid, or KISS for short. As you have probably deduced, it refers to making things as simple as possible, not only to avoid unnecessary complications but also to make them easy to understand. This is a lesson that fish and wildlife agencies nationwide should heed.

In my 25 years as a Conservation Officer, I have noticed a trend, and it is one that no one should be proud of. Over that time, I watched as regulations grew in number and complicity. In the 1990s, both fishing and hunting regulations could fit in a pocket-sized booklet that sportsmen could put in a jacket pocket or throw in a tackle box tray. Over time, they continued to grow. The number of regulations increased, and many became harder and harder for the average sportsman to decipher. Honestly, I soon found myself checking the rules before entering the field myself. This does not promote the recruitment of new sportsmen or the retention of those who only hunt or fish a few times a year.

Current fishing regulations include 9 Special Regulations Areas for trout, the Big Bass Program, Catch & Release Bass areas, Brood Stock Lakes, and Panfish Enhancement waters. This does not include individual waters covered under area-specific regulations, such as Catch & Release Lakes, Pymatuning Reservoir, Conowingo Reservoir, the Delaware River, and Lake Erie. Of course, the Game Commission is not without blame either.

Although the 2024-25 Season saw a step in the right direction with the simplification of fluorescent orange regulations, which once covered several pages and required diagrams to understand, there is still a need for improvement. For example, there are six counties subject to special regulations regarding baiting, allowable firearms, the use of fluorescent orange, and even specific seasons. Statewide, there are different antler restrictions, CWD areas with special restrictions, and varying safety zone requirements depending on the season or type of weapon being used.

Right about now, some of you are thinking, “But some of those regulations need to be different,” and you would be correct. In some situations, it is necessary to have special or different regulations to protect a specific species or the public. Safety zones are a prime example of this. While larger areas need to be protected from stray bullets than arrows, it still causes confusion among hunters, especially when the 50-yard archery safety zone increases if near a school, playground, nursery school, or daycare center. Even the necessary regulations can be simplified.

But the biggest concern are the species-specific regulations that limit sportsmen to specific gear or methods. Many of these are the result of biologists attempting to improve population or size, however, they are also used to provide exclusive areas for specific classes of sportsmen. Plus, many of them have little or no actual biological advantage. On paper, they sound good or have been successful in other states, but in practice, they do little other than exclude and confuse sportsmen.

Do not get me wrong, this is not a Pennsylvania-specific issue. Almost every state has jumped on the regulation bandwagon, with many making our own state look like beginners. However, this doesn’t make it right, nor does it make it any less confusing. Although neither Commission is responsible for the increased focus on special regulations, they could be a nationwide leader in reversing the trend. Simplifying regulations could go a long way toward recruiting new sportsmen, retaining current sportsmen, and preventing otherwise law-abiding individuals from becoming accidental defendants.