BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There’s less than 100 days until the opening day of Pennsylvania's deer hunting season, and for the first time in decades, there are no pink envelopes.
- Antlerless deer licenses can no longer be purchased by mail
- They can only be bought online or at a participating retailer
- The schedule for sale has been moved up, with the first round of antlerless tags available June 26
That’s because the state Game Commission officials this year voted to only sell antlerless deer licenses for the 2023-2024 online or at a retailer — and they’ve also moved up the schedule for sales.
The state Board of Game Commissioners in April voted to remove the mail-in application process for antlerless licenses, as well as move up the sale to the fourth Monday in June, the first day of license sales. This year, it lands on June 26.
Hunters must purchase 2023-2024 antlerless licenses online at HuntFish.pa.gov or any in-store hunting license issuing agent.
In Northampton County, hunters can go to the county's Revenue Division on the second floor of the Northampton County Government Center, 669 Washington St. in Easton. A map of retailers can be found here.
The switch to online licensing was made possible by Senate Bill 431, sponsored by state Sen. Daniel Laughlin, R-Erie and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in November. Before that, state law had required antlerless licenses be issued only by county treasurers.
“A simpler, more convenient system is better for hunter satisfaction, and ultimately, hunter recruitment."Bryan J. Burhans, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
“A simpler, more convenient system is better for hunter satisfaction, and ultimately, hunter recruitment,” said Bryan J. Burhans, executive director of the state Game Commission, in a news release announcing the changes. “We thank Sen. Dan Laughlin for championing this change, which will fully modernize the process for issuing antlerless licenses.”
Important Antlerless Deer License Dates:
- Antlerless licenses will go on sale during the first day of license sales, the fourth Monday in June (Monday, June 26 this year) at 8 a.m. for residents and the second Monday in July (July 10) for nonresidents.
- A second round will begin the fourth Monday of July (July 24). Residents and nonresidents are eligible.
- A third round will begin the second Monday of August (Aug. 14). The sale of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits also will begin on this date.
- Then, in the fourth round beginning the fourth Monday of August (Aug. 28), a hunter can buy additional licenses until reaching their personal limit of six.
During the previous season, which ended in January, hunters across Pennsylvania harvested an estimated 376,810 white-tailed deer, including 145,320 bucks and 231,490 without antlers, according to the state Game Commission.
Resident antlerless deer licenses cost $6.97, while nonresident antlerless deer licenses cost $26.97. The 2023-2024 deer season starts on Sept. 16 and ends Jan. 27.
