Tom Venesky

This year, everyone can get an antlerless deer license in Pennsylvania.
Hunting licenses will go on sale June 23 and, for the first time, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is guaranteeing an antlerless license for all resident hunters in any wildlife management unit. The purchase must be made during the first round prior to July 14. The guarantee is the latest in a progression of changes since the agency first sold antlerless licenses over the counter three years ago.

The Game Commission has been working with personnel from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to remove deer in parts of Carbon and Luzerne counties.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission moved to expand deer hunting opportunities to address deer depredation and chronic wasting disease issues.
During the April 12 quarterly meeting, the board granted approval for an extended firearms deer season on all Deer Management Assistance Program properties statewide from Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026, with participating hunters needing a valid DMAP permit for the property they’re hunting.