Hunting & Trapping Digest 2008-2009 - (Page 52) Antlerless & Unsold Deer Licenses Only one deer may be taken in a license year unless a person has a valid antlerless, or where available, unsold antlerless tag. Statewide, only one regular antlerless license may be applied for and received. Unsold antlerless tags will be available in wildlife management units with licenses still on hand starting Monday, Aug. 25. An individual may apply for only one unsold tag on Aug. 25, and if available, a second unsold tag on Monday, Sept. 8, for a total of not more than two anywhere in the state. Hunters may apply for unsold licenses only in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, as specified by the Executive Director. 2008 Antlerless Deer License Allocations (2007) WMU 1A 1B 2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 2G 3A 3B Licenses 42,000 (42,000) 30,000 (30,000) 55,000 (60,000) 68,000 (68,000) 49,000 (49,000) 56,000 (56,000) 21,000 (21,000) 28,000 (28,000) 26,000 (26,000) 26,000 (29,000) 43,000 (43,000) WMU Licenses 3C 27,000 (27,000) 3D 37,000 (38,000) 4A 29,000 (29,000) 4B 23,000 (23,000) 4C 35,000 (39,000) 4D 40,000 (40,000) 4E 30,000 (38,000) 5A 19,000 (22,000) 5B 51,000 (53,000) 5C 92,000 (84,000) 5D 22,000 (20,000) Total 849,000 (865,000) Antlerless Deer License Regulations 1. All antlerless deer licenses are WMU specific. 2. All hunters must have a valid antlerless deer license to harvest an antlerless deer. Exception: During the regular statewide flintlock muzzleloader deer season, Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2009, a properly licensed flintlock hunter can use his or her unused antlered tag to harvest an antlerless deer anywhere in the state. 3. Each antlerless deer license includes its own ear tag and harvest report card. 4. Archers must have a valid antlerless deer license to harvest an antlerless deer. Muzzleloaders must have a valid antlerless deer license to participate in the special muzzleloader antlerless deer season (Oct. 18-25). 5. Junior and Senior license holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services must have a valid antlerless deer license to participate in the Oct. 23-25 statewide antlerless deer season. 6. Once obtained, an antlerless deer license may be used in any season that it is legal to harvest an antlerless deer, by a properly licensed hunter. 7. An individual purchasing a muzzleloader license is not required to give up his or her antlerless license application. Hunters with a muzzleloader license can harvest one deer of either sex, statewide, during the late, regular flintlock season, Dec. 26-Jan. 10, 2009, provided they did not harvest an antlered deer in a prior season (archery or regular firearms). Antlerless License Application Process All antlerless license applications are to be sent to the Game Commission’s Headquarters in Harrisburg. The PGC will distribute applications to county treasurers — who are required by law to issue antlerless licenses — based on the percentage of county land contained in the Wildlife Management Unit. Hunters will apply for a license to hunt in a management unit, not a county, with an antlerless license application received when they purchased a general hunting license. On this application the hunter enters the WMU number where he or she desires to hunt. A guide to WMUs, including boundary maps, are found elsewhere in this Digest. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. No drawings will be held. The completed application and a check or money order payable to “County Treasurer” must be mailed Regular First Class in the yellow official antlerless deer license envelope provided. The envelope will have an attachment containing mailing labels for all 22 WMUs. The applicant must attach the appropriate WMU label to the front of the envelope. Each WMU will have its own post office box in Harrisburg. Each day during the application period, envelopes will be collected from these boxes by PGC staff. Envelopes will be inspected, counted, allocated and shipped to county treasurers daily. County treasurers will review applications for completeness and a check or money order in the proper amount. If an application is not complete and/or proper remittance is not enclosed, it will be rejected and returned to the applicant. If the applicant failed to provide return postage, the envelope will be placed in a dead letter file. Hunters can retrieve their dead letters by contacting the License Division at 717-7872084, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Do not call prior to September 2, when information will be available. If the license allocation in a WMU is sold out, the application will be returned to the hunter. If the envelope is returned with “Box Closed” stamped on it, it means licenses are sold out for that WMU. Using a new envelope, the hunter may apply to another WMU with licenses available. Hunters in northcentral PA during deer seasons are advised that elk inhabit a primary range in Cameron and Elk counties. Be sure not to mistake an elk for a deer. Elk are considerably larger than deer, with distinctive coloration and marking differences. First Days for Applications By Mail Only Antlerless License (residents) Antlerless License (nonresident) Unsold Antlerless, 1st round, one per applicant Unsold Antlerless, 2nd round, one per applicant Aug. 4 Aug. 18 Aug. 25 Sept. 8 Sept. 8 Nov. 3 Over-the-Counter Sales Antlerless License, WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D All Other WMUs Regular antlerless licenses and first round unsold licenses should be mailed to successful applicants no later than the third Monday (Sept. 15) in September. Second round unsold licenses should be mailed no later than October 1.
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.