As we enjoy a week of summer-like heat, it’s time to shift our focus to the upcoming fall deer hunting season and what’s new for 2024.
General hunting licenses will be available for purchase starting this Monday, and there have been notable improvements since last year, particularly with the sale of antlerless deer licenses.
Last June marked the first year that antlerless licenses were sold over the counter and online, a departure from the longstanding mail-in application process. This change saw hunters eagerly lining up online on the first day of sales to secure licenses for their respective regions.
This year, hunters outside of the three Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) where licenses typically sell out quickly are guaranteed an opportunity to obtain a doe tag if purchased before 8 a.m. on July 8th.
Antlerless deer licenses will go on sale at 8 a.m. this Monday, exclusively to Pennsylvania residents in the high-demand WMUs: 1B, 2G, and 3A. WMU 1B and 2G have seen increases in their license allocations compared to last year, while WMU 3A remains unchanged at 21,000 tags.
These licenses will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until quotas are met. Residents of the remaining 19 WMUs can purchase licenses starting June 27 at 8 a.m., with no rush as availability is guaranteed until 7 a.m. on July 8th. Non-residents can also purchase licenses starting July 8th at 8 a.m., with all remaining licenses sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each hunter, resident or non-resident, is limited to one antlerless license during the initial sales phase. General hunting licenses for residents are priced at $20.97, while each antlerless deer license costs $6.97. Non-residents pay $101.97 for a general hunting license and $26.97 for an antlerless tag.
Subsequent rounds of sales commence on July 22nd and August 12th, with the option for hunters to purchase additional licenses from August 26th onwards, up to a personal limit of six antlerless licenses at a time.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has allocated 1,186,000 antlerless deer licenses statewide for the 2024-25 season, an increase from last year’s 1,095,000.
For online license purchases at huntfish.pa.gov, customers must opt-in to receive a regulations digest due to cost-saving measures. Shipping charges apply, increasing slightly after July 14th due to postage rate adjustments.
Shooting range permits, priced at $31.97, are an alternative for those who only seek firearm range privileges on state game lands without the need for a hunting license, which costs $20.97 for residents and $101.97 for non-residents.
These licenses and permits support wildlife management efforts funded through the Pittman-Robertson Act, ensuring sustainable habitat preservation and enhancing Pennsylvania’s share of federal conservation funding.
For more details, visit www.pgc.pa.gov and ensure you’re prepared for a successful hunting season ahead.
