Hunting & Trapping Digest 2024-2025Deer Hunting Regulations

DEER_H_RArms & AmmunitionArchery Deer Seasons

Long, recurve, compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds), and crossbows with broadheads of cutting-edge design. An arrow and crossbow bolt must be equipped with a broadhead.

Magnifying scopes and red-dot sights can be used on crossbows.

A broadhead is a fixed or mechanical tip affixed to the fore end of an arrow or bolt having sharpened cutting edges consisting of metal or naturally occurring stone. The broadhead must have an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch, and the length may not exceed 3.25 inches.

Persons hunting deer in the archery seasons may not possess a firearm, except those individuals who have a License to Carry Firearms, and then only those firearms authorized by the permit (most sporting arms are not authorized). Muzzleloading firearms also can be carried by bowhunters during any muzzleloading season, including muzzleloader bear season with a bear license, providing the hunter has an archery license and a muzzleloader license and meets the fluorescent orange requirements of the muzzleloader season.

Firearms Deer Seasons

Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all-lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact.

Semiautomatic centerfire shotguns that propel single-projectile ammunition.

Muzzleloading long guns of any type, .44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun .50 caliber or larger; and

Long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows with broadheads of cutting-edge design.

See Special Regulations Areas section for restrictions that apply there.October Antlerless Muzzleloader Season

Any single-barrel muzzleloading long gun with flintlock, in-line or percussion ignition .44 caliber or larger, .50 caliber or larger handgun, or an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech, with the bullet loaded from the muzzle. Scope sights permitted. Archery gear can be carried by muzzleloader hunters providing they have an archery license and necessary fluorescent orange.

Special Antlerless Deer Only Firearms

Arms and ammunition permitted during the Regular Firearms Deer Seasons can be used in this season.

Flintlock Muzzleloader Season

Flintlock ignition, single-barrel long gun, .44 caliber or larger, or .50 caliber or larger handgun, using single-projectile ammunition. It is unlawful to use telescopic sights. Peep sights are permitted.

FLUORESCENT ORANGERegular and Special Firearms Deer Seasons

During the regular, special firearms and extended deer seasons, all hunters must wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined (example: orange cap and coat/vest visible 360 degrees). Camouflage fluorescent orange may satisfy this regulation if the total orange content is at least 250 square inches.

Archery Deer Seasons

Fluorescent orange is not required while hunting for deer during archery seasons. Orange is required, however, by hunters using archery equipment during regular firearms deer season. The requirement to wear fluorescent orange during all overlap periods when archery hunters were required to wear varying amounts of orange while moving or post orange while in a fixed position has been eliminated. The use of fluorescent orange, though, is highly recommended for all seasons, whether required or not.

Muzzleloader Deer Seasons

During the late flintlock deer season, muzzleloader hunters are not required to wear or display fluorescent orange. However, during the October antlerless muzzleloader deer season, hunters are required to wear the same 250 square inches of fluorescent orange required of all big-game season hunters. See the Special Regulations Areas section for more details.

Extended Antlerless Firearms Season

250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined, and visible from 360 degrees, is required at all times.

Dividing Rule TIPS FOR A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL BIG-GAME DRIVE

Plan your drives – Be organized. Everyone must know their role. Decide how many drivers are needed and where standers will be located.

Communicate – Stay in constant communication with other drivers so that you know the location of those around you. The use of handheld radios or cell phones to alert other hunters of the presence or movement of game or wildlife while hunting is prohibited.

Know your zone – Be aware of your zone of fire. Identify the areas in front of you where you can safely attempt a shot, knowing that those areas are changing as you move across the landscape.

When in doubt, don’t shoot – If forced to make a split-second decision about whether it is safe to take a shot, err on the side of caution and don’t shoot.

CWD UpdateInformation on Chronic Wasting Disease in Pennsylvania, restrictions that apply within Pennsylvania’s Disease Management Areas (DMAs) and its Established Area (EA), and management of the disease can be found in the purple section that follows. Additional information, including updated maps of the state’s DMAs and EA, is available atwww.pgc.pa.gov/cwd
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