Antlerless deer licenses can be purchased anywhere licenses are sold. This year, antlerless licenses for all WMUs will go on sale to Pennsylvania residents the first day of general hunting license sales – Monday, June 23 at 8 a.m. One antlerless deer license in any WMU is guaranteed to resident hunters who buy at any time until Monday, July 14 at 7 a.m., at which time no remaining antlerless licenses are guaranteed. Sales to nonresidents begin at 8 a.m. July 14. Licenses will be sold first come, first serve until the license allocation for the WMU is exhausted. No hunter may purchase more than one antlerless license in the first round of sales, or exceed more than three antlerless licenses by the close of the third round. In the fourth round, hunters can buy additional licenses to reach their personal limit of six unfilled antlerless licenses, or 15 unfilled antlerless licenses in WMUs 5C and 5D. Sales of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits begin in the third round of sales, on Monday, Aug. 11 at 8 a.m.
ANTLERLESS LICENSE SALES LOCATIONS
Resident and nonresident antlerless deer licenses can be purchased online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov or at any issuing agent, including County Treasurer offices and Game Commission offices. Resident Disabled Veteran and Resident Armed Forces Antlerless Deer Licenses are available only at County Treasurer offices and Game Commission offices. There is a validation process when purchasing online. Resident Disabled Veteran antlerless deer licenses are now available to Disabled Veterans who have a disability rating of 60-99% through Veterans Affairs. Resident and nonresident Landowner Antlerless Deer Licenses must be obtained at a County Treasurer office. Landowners seeking such licenses should contact their local County Treasurer for address information and hours of operation.
BUYING AN ANTLERLESS LICENSE
Each antlerless license costs $6.97 for Pennsylvania residents and $26.97 for nonresidents.
Antlerless licenses can be purchased anywhere licenses are sold, including online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov.
Hunters must select a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) preference in purchasing an antlerless license. An antlerless license may be used to hunt antlerless deer only within the WMU for which it’s issued. General information about WMUs and specific boundary descriptions, can be found at www.pa.gov/pgc.
A limited number of antlerless licenses is allocated in each WMU. While Pennsylvania residents are guaranteed a license until 7 a.m. on July 14, after this period, antlerless license sales for any WMU end when the allocated number of licenses sells out. In those cases, a hunter seeking a license must pick a different WMU where licenses remain available.
If purchasing an antlerless license from an issuing agent, please review your antlerless license before leaving the location. No refunds will be issued.
If ordering antlerless licenses online, please review your selection before checking out. Allow at least 15 business days to receive antlerless licenses through the mail. There may be additional delays during periods of high sales. If needed immediately, hunters must purchase a replacement for $6.97 over the counter at any issuing agent.
PERSONAL LICENSE LIMITS
All hunting license holders may obtain up to six antlerless deer licenses (15 in WMUs 5C and 5D) before the start of the fall deer hunting seasons. Those who hold mentored hunting permits – which are different than hunting licenses – may obtain only one antlerless deer license total in a license year. The number of antlerless deer licenses made available in each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) is allocated by the Game Commission based on staff recommendations and scientific data on deer populations. With limited numbers available, licenses for at least some WMUs could sell out before the second or third round of sales begins. Consequently, most hunters will never reach their personal limit of unfilled antlerless deer licenses. But in WMUs where licenses remain, enabling more hunters to purchase antlerless licenses increases their opportunity and helps to achieve deer-management goals. Hunters who obtain their personal limit of antlerless deer licenses may buy additional licenses, if available, as they harvest deer and report them. Hunters who report harvests online through www.HuntFish.PA.gov or call the Customer Support line at 1-800-838-4431 instantly become eligible to purchase another license, if any are available. Those reporting by mail will not be eligible to buy another license until their report is logged.
ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSE REGULATIONS
Antlerless deer licenses are WMU-specific. An antlerless deer license is valid only in the WMU for which it is issued. The use or attempted use of an antlerless license in another WMU is a violation of the law.
All hunters must have a valid antlerless deer license or permit to harvest an antlerless deer. Exception: During the after-Christmas flintlock season, a properly licensed flintlock hunter may use his or her unused antlered tag to harvest an antlerless deer anywhere in the state. A valid WMU-specific antlerless license, DMAP permit or Ag Tag is required for each additional antlerless deer harvested.
Archers must have a valid antlerless deer license or permit to harvest an antlerless deer. Muzzleloader hunters must have a valid antlerless deer license or permit to participate in the antlerless-only muzzleloader deer season (Oct. 18-25).
Licensed seniors, junior license holders, mentored permit holders, qualified active-duty military personnel, and persons with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind must have a valid antlerless deer license or permit to participate in the antlerlessonly Special Firearms season (Oct. 23-25).
Each antlerless deer license includes its own ear tag.
LANDOWNER ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Qualified resident and nonresident applicants for landowner antlerless deer licenses (see license section in the back of this digest for qualifications) must apply directly to the County Treasurer of the county where the qualifying acreage is located.
These licenses are available the 3rd week in June, a Monday if not a state-observed holiday, and should be applied for prior to the start of the regular application period, which begins the 4th Monday in June. If the qualifying acreage is located within a county with two or more WMUs, the applicant selects the desired WMU.
If the applicant or his or her agent cannot apply in person, a completed application, proper remittance ($6.97 for residents, $26.97 for nonresidents), proof of ownership and a Landowner Antlerless Deer License Application/Affidavit (available from County Treasurers, Game Commission offices or www.pa.gov/pgc) should be mailed to the Treasurer in a plain envelope marked “Landowner Antlerless Application.”
Applicants who apply by mail must include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope. Do not mail antlerless requests directly to the Game Commission.
Landowner antlerless deer licenses will be available for sale as long as WMU licenses remain available.
DISABLED VETERAN ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Qualified resident applicants who have a service-incurred 60-100% disability, or the loss of use of one or more limbs, may apply to any County Treasurer or Game Commission office for the WMU in which they desire to hunt. Regardless of allocations or application deadlines, only one antlerless deer tag is guaranteed per license year.
ARMED FORCES RESIDENT ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Qualified residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, or within 60 days from honorable discharge, may apply to any County Treasurer for the WMU in which they desire to hunt.
Regardless of allocations or application deadlines, only one antlerless deer license is guaranteed.
REPLACEMENT ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES
Applicants who lose their antlerless deer license may obtain a replacement at any license sales location. Do not mail replacement requests directly to the Game Commission.