The long-awaited firearms deer season begins in just over a week. This season has the highest hunter participation of any Pennsylvania hunting season. However, increased archery deer harvests in recent years and fewer hunters overall have made that participation much lower than it was 40 years ago. That could change somewhat this year.
This fall, rifle deer season runs from Saturday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 11 — including three Saturdays and a Sunday. While this is similar to last year’s firearms deer season, there are two main differences for hunters — the length of the concurrent (buck or doe) season and how extended bear season is scheduled. Combined, these two factors should increase hunter participation this fall.
Both Wildlife Management Units that include parts of Centre County, WMUs 4D and 2G, will have a full two weeks of concurrent antlered and antlerless deer season.
Last year, those license holders hunting in WMU 2G (Centre County north of I-80) had only the second week of the season as concurrent. However, the two-week concurrent season is statewide this fall. If hunters possess a valid antlerless deer license or Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit, they can harvest a buck, a doe, or both on any day of the 14-day season.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the statewide concurrent deer season is not intended to increase the overall antlerless deer harvest. That harvest is largely controlled by the number of antlerless permits issued for each WMU.
The PGC allocates antlerless licenses based on the size of the deer population within a WMU. Biologists annually assess the quality of deer habitat and reported farm damage to estimate the number of deer that should be harvested to meet population objectives within each WMU. If the season is lengthened by five days, fewer tags will be required to meet the population objectives than in a shorter season.
Appropriately, with the extended season in WMU 2G, the PGC has decreased the number of antlerless permits from 27,000 to 23,000. In WMU 4D (Centre County south of I-80), the number of permits has been increased from 45,000 to 55,000. The objective in that area involves lowering the deer population to help slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.
The second big change is that the starting date for extended bear season has been moved up to the opening day of the concurrent deer season. If you have a bear license, in addition to the regular season, bears will be legal game in WMU 4D for eight days from Saturday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 4. Since WMU 2G has no extended bear season, bear hunters might decide to seek their prey in southern Centre County.
Last year, only deer were legal game on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, and extended bear season started the next day. This year, extended bear season includes Sunday, Nov. 28.
Making the most of your 14-day firearms deer season depends on your personal goals as a hunter. If you have an antlerless deer license or a DMAP permit, you are in the driver’s seat as to when you want to harvest a deer.
If your main interest is putting lean, antibiotic-free meat in the freezer, you might want to shoot the first legal deer that you see. Having an antlerless permit provides maximum opportunity during the entire 14-day season. The same might apply if you have a limited time to hunt.
If you are interested in maximizing your time in the deer woods, then you have 14 days to do it. You can be as picky as you choose, both in deer size and antler size, or the quality of your shot. While there is satisfaction in a successful harvest, there is also satisfaction in centering your crosshairs on a six-point buck and deciding not to shoot. It all depends on your goals.
Some older hunters have harvested enough smaller bucks in their lifetime that they might only have an interest in a larger-racked buck. They might choose to only harvest a doe for the freezer.
If a hunter in WMU 4D has an antlerless license or DMAP permit and a bear license, then he or she should always be on maximum alert, because there are three types of legal game that could present a shooting opportunity.
Finally, all Centre County hunters should visit www.pgc.pa.gov/CWD for the latest rules and information regarding the boundaries of Disease Management Area 2. This CWD control zone has been expanded northward into Centre County since the Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest was published. Special rules apply to hunters who harvest a deer within a DMA. Free CWD testing is offered for deer harvested within the DMA. Approved deer processors, testing drop box locations and regulations can be found at the same website.
Mark Nale writes about the outdoors for the Centre County Gazette.
