Just in case you haven’t already heard, the 2023-2024 hunting licenses for Pennsylvania became available for purchase this past Monday, the 26th of June. The licenses are available through the usual sources – online, sporting goods stores, the Pennsylvania Game Commission office in Jersey Shore, or wherever you usually purchase your license. But, the big news is the change in the purchasing procedure of the Antlerless licenses.
BIG CHANGE TO ANTLERLESS LICENSE PURCHASING:
New this year is a big change as to how you can purchase your antlerless licenses for Pennsylvania. Basically, you can purchase your antlerless license online at http://www.huntfish.pa.gov or from any of the usual Licensing Issuing Agents. Resident hunters can purchase one antlerless deer license in person or online beginning June 26, 2023 (last Monday). Because of the new procedure and to help with any possible confusion, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has created a video (available on their website pgc.pa.gov ) that guides the viewer step by step on how to purchase the antlerless license.
If you are purchasing your hunting and antlerless license online, it is also recommended to download and print the 2023-24 hunting and trapping menu on the PGC website, thus avoiding the wait times with any nearby license issuing agent.
A further breakdown of the adoption of the new antlerless license purchasing procedure is as follows:
It was at the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board of Commissioners meeting held April 14-14, 2023, that they adopted the new, and hopefully simpler, purchasing procedure. Now, antlerless licenses will go on sale during the first day of license sales, which will be the fourth Monday in June (this year, Monday, June 26) at 8:00 a.m. for residents (at a cost of $6.97) and the second Monday in July (this year Monday, July 10) for nonresidents (at a cost of $26.97).
A second round for purchasing will begin on the fourth Monday in July (this year, July 24), during which both resident and nonresident hunters will be eligible. A third round begins on the second Monday in August (this year, August 14). The sale of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits will also begin on this date. Finally, a fourth-round begins on the fourth Monday in August (this year, August 28), when a hunter can buy additional licenses until reaching their personal limit of six antlerless licenses for the season.
The exception for the beginning of the sales period is for Landowner Antlerless Deer license buyers. Resident and Nonresident Landowner Antlerless licenses will be available for purchase at participating county treasurer locations only.
Every hunter has the same personal limit; one antlerless deer license per round in the first three rounds. In round 4, a resident or nonresident hunter is eligible for UP TO six antlerless deer licenses total.
The various deer seasons in this 2023 -2024 Deer Season start September 16, 2023, and run through to January 27, 2024.
