This year, Pennsylvania residents can avoid long lines for antlerless deer licenses. A resident is guaranteed one antlerless deer license in any Wildlife Management Unit as long as they buy it before 7 a.m. July 14. After that, all licenses will be sold first come, first serve until the number allocated for the WMU sells out. The sales schedule can be found on the Antlerless Licenses pages. Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit sales once again start with the third round of antlerless license sales, which opens Monday, Aug. 11 at 8 a.m. The extended firearms season for antlerless deer will be open on all DMAP properties from Dec. 26-Jan. 24, as well as within certain WMUs. If the extended season is open within a WMU, a hunter may use either an antlerless license or a DMAP permit on a DMAP property. If the extended season is not open within a WMU, hunters on DMAP properties need a valid DMAP permit for the property they’re on to take part in the extended season. Those hunting in the extended season are required to wear fluorescent orange. Orange is recommended for those hunting in the late archery and flintlock seasons. There have been changes to the Ag Tag program, which helps farmers address deer damage through hunting. The antlerless-only Ag Tag season is set for Aug. 1-April 15. Previously, Ag Tags could be used only outside of established deer seasons. Now, they can be used within those seasons, too. More information on the Ag Tag program can be found on page 30 of this digest. The statewide archery bear season has been shortened to one week and will run Oct. 18-25, an acknowledgment that the early bear seasons established to increase harvest have been effective in recent years. The total number of elk licenses allocated for the upcoming seasons is 140; 65 bull tags and 75 cow tags. The only change to the season structure involves the special licenses awarded through RMEF’s auction or KECA’s raffle. The season to use those tags now is two months longer, running July 1-Nov. 8. Lengthening the season could, in cases, help address crop damage caused by bull elk. Additionally, several changes to the elk license application process will take effect next year. Among them, hunters will need a valid Pennsylvania hunting license before applying for an elk tag, and no more than 10% of available elk licenses will be awarded to nonresidents. There is now a season limit for snowshoe hares. A hunter can take three hares per season. Previously, there was a daily limit of one throughout the six-day season. The reduction in maximum possible harvest per hunter protects against overharvest in isolated segments of the hare population. Bag limits have changed for Canada goose and northern pintail. In the Atlantic Population Zone in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Canada goose daily bag limit during the regular season has been reduced from three birds to one. And during the regular season for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three, an increase. Through adjustments to the Mentored Hunting Program, a mentor can accompany up to three additional hunters – any combination of junior or mentored hunters. Previously, a mentor could accompany only one mentored hunter, sometimes creating issues for families with additional young hunters. This change took effect in 2024, but after publication of the digest. The personal limit of unfilled antlerless licenses has increased for hunters in WMUs 5C and 5D. Hunters in these WMUs now have a personal limit of 15 unfilled licenses. In the remainder of the state, the personal limit is six. Increasing the personal limit in these highly developed WMUs allows hunters to hold more tags and better seize opportunities to harvest deer. The minimum age for a general class falconry permit has decreased from 18 years old to 16 years old, which is the minimum age established by federal regulations. Mentored hunters of all ages will be eligible to obtain permits to hunt in the snow goose conservation season. And lastly, a Social Security number no longer is used at the point of sale when buying hunting licenses. Hunters will use either the Customer Identification (CID) number that appears on their license, or their driver’s license number, unless they have another form of state identification. A Social Security number still is required when creating a HuntFish.PA.gov account.
TRAVIS LAUEditor
L NEELY MITCHELLAssociate Editor
BOB FRYEAssociate Editor
JACOB DINGELCover Photo
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The Game and Wildlife Code protects all of Pennsylvania’s wildlife. The code classifies wildlife as follows:
Black bear, cottontail rabbit, elk, squirrel (red, gray, black and fox), snowshoe hare, white-tailed deer and woodchuck (groundhog)
Brant, bobwhite quail, coot, gallinule, geese, grouse, merganser, mourning and Eurasian collared dove, pheasant, rail, snipe, swan, wild ducks, wild turkey and woodcock
Badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, pine marten, raccoon, red and gray fox, striped skunk, weasel and porcupine
Bear, elk, white-tailed deer and wild turkey
Game birds and game animals not classified as big game
Wild mammals not classified as furbearers or game animals (For example, chipmunks are protected)
Wild birds not classified as game birds
Protection is removed from wildlife, except migratory birds, big game and threatened or endangered species, when personal property, other than an agricultural crop, is being destroyed or damaged. Wildlife may be taken only by the owner or person in charge of the personal property affected. Wildlife taken to protect personal property must be surrendered to a Game Commission representative.
This digest is not the Game & Wildlife Code or its attendant regulations, and should not be considered final on legal interpretation. The Game & Wildlife Code can be viewed in full at www.pa.gov/pgc by clicking on “Hunt & Trap,” then “Law.” Questions about laws can also be directed to the Centralized Dispatch Center at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD.
