Today marks the first day of rifle deer season in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates that half a million hunters will head out into the woods across the state for the harvest. Hunters are allowed one deer a year, plus one antlerless deer for every wildlife management unit-specific antlerless deer license or deer management assistance program permit.
The Game Commission estimates that this year’s numbers will be about the same as last year’s. In the 2023-24 hunting seasons, hunters harvested over 430,000 white-tailed deer, including over 171,000 bucks and over 258,000 antlerless deer. The regular firearms deer seasons lead all the seasons with an estimated 254,000 deer taken during that time.
Hunters are reminded to wear their orange and remember to fix a tag to their harvest on the ear, not the antlers. It’s recommended that hunters use a large safety pin for that purpose, and make sure the tag is filled out. Hunters must then report their harvests to the Game Commission within 10 days. Harvests can be reported online at www.huntfish.pa.gov, by calling 1-800-838-4431 or by mailing in the postage-paid cards that are provided in the digest.
Nonhunters who might be afield during deer season and other hunting seasons should consider wearing orange, as well. And on state game lands between now and Dec. 15, nonhunters are required to meet the 250-square-inch fluorescent orange requirement.
