​Pennsylvania Game Commission Announces Updated Antlerless License Process for 2023-24 Hunting Season

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners recently met in Harrisburg to discuss and adopt the 2023-24 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, among other business.

One significant decision made during the meeting was the restructuring of the state's process for obtaining antlerless deer licenses. The new process aims to modernize the system and increase convenience for hunters, in accordance with the new state law, Act 148 of 2022.

The changes to the antlerless license purchasing process were announced at the Game Commission's Board of Commissioners meeting, held April 14-15, 2023. 

Below we outline some of the most notable changes to the PA Doe Tag purchase process, including important dates for sales, additional tag rounds, available antlerless deer license totals by WMU, and more.

New Antlerless License Process:

Previously, Pennsylvania state law required antlerless licenses to be issued only by county treasurers.

Hunters would apply for and receive their licenses through the mail, which was considered an outdated and inflexible process.

With the enactment of Act 148 of 2022, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has modernized and simplified how antlerless deer licenses are sold.

This means that hunters in the 2023-24 license year will be able to purchase them online at HuntFishPA or at any in-store hunting license issuing agent, such as Kinsey's Outdoors.

The Board of Commissioners has now finalized the process by which licenses will be sold, with the following key points:

1. Antlerless licenses will be available for purchase online and at issuing agents (such as Kinsey's Outdoors and other retailers); no application by mail will be required.
2. Antlerless licenses will go on sale on the first day of license sales, which falls on the fourth Monday in June (Monday, June 26 this year).
3. Initially, only residents can apply for the licenses.
4. Nonresidents will be able to apply starting the second Monday in July (July 10).
5. Hunters can only obtain one license in the first round.
6. A second round will begin the fourth Monday of July (July 24), with both residents and nonresidents eligible.
7. A hunter can get a second license in the second round for any Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) where tags are available.
8. A third round will begin the second Monday of August (Aug. 14), with the sale of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits also starting on this date.
9. Hunters can get a third license in the third round.
10. In the fourth round, starting the fourth Monday of August (Aug. 28), hunters can buy additional licenses until reaching their personal limit of six. Additional licenses, if available, can be purchased after the season begins, as hunters harvest antlerless deer and report them.
11. In each round, antlerless license sales will not begin until 8 a.m.

Preparing for the New Process:

The Game Commission will make several announcements to inform hunters about the new process for obtaining antlerless licenses.

Hunters are encouraged to review their HuntFishPA customer profile information to ensure their contact information, including address, phone number, and email, is correct and up-to-date.

This will enable the PA Game Commission to communicate directly with hunters.

Additionally, the agency will be mailing all hunting license buyers a postcard with information related to the new process.

Cost of Antlerless Deer Licenses:

Resident Antlerless Deer Licenses will cost $6.97, while Nonresident Antlerless Deer Licenses will cost $26.97.

2023 PA WMU Updates:

WMU 2H in Pennsylvania is no longer available, as the area has merged with WMU 2G. 

The state now offers a total of 22 Wildlife Management Units for hunting purposes.

2023 Antlerless Deer License Totals by WMU:

The Game Commission has revealed that 1,095,000 antlerless deer licenses will be allocated across Pennsylvania for the 2023-24 season, an increase from the 948,000 licenses allocated in 2022-23. 

Allocations for each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are provided, with previous year allocations shown in parentheses.

It is important for hunters to be aware that WMU 2H has been eliminated, with its area now incorporated into WMU 2G, and the 2022-23 allocation for 2G combines both 2G and 2H.

WMU 1A – 46,000 (43,000)
WMU 1B – 37,000 (34,000)
WMU 2A – 46,000 (39,000)
WMU 2B – 53,000 (49,000)
WMU 2C – 88,000 (67,000)
WMU 2D – 86,000 (74,000)
WMU 2E – 52,000 (42,000)
WMU 2F – 49,000 (37,000)
WMU 2G – 35,000 (31,000)
WMU 3A – 21,000 (19,000)
WMU 3B – 32,000 (33,000)
WMU 3C – 40,000 (37,000)
WMU 3D – 41,000 (41,000)
WMU 4A – 61,000 (50,000)
WMU 4B – 46,000 (34,000)
WMU 4C – 32,000 (31,000)
WMU 4D – 77,000 (55,000)
WMU 4E – 54,000 (42,000)
WMU 5A – 40,000 (31,000)
WMU 5B – 60,000 (60,000)
WMU 5C – 70,000 (70,000)
WMU 5D – 29,000 (29,000)

Once the sale of antlerless deer licenses begin, you can see PA doe license availability by WMU on HuntFishPA here.

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans believes that the new, modernized process will increase convenience for hunters seeking antlerless deer licenses. He said, "A simpler, more convenient system is better for hunter satisfaction, and ultimately, hunter recruitment." Burhans also thanked Sen. Dan Laughlin for championing the change, which will fully modernize the process for issuing antlerless licenses.

For more information on antlerless deer licenses and applications – visit the Pennsylvania Game Commissions Website Here.

To shop our full line of archery, hunting, firearms, and outdoor gear and accessories – visit our website, or better yet,  stop by our retail store in person at 1658 Steel Way Drive, Mount Joy, PA 17552. 

We're conveniently located off the Rheems/Elizabethtown exit of Route 283.