PITTSBURGH (Newsradio KDKA) - The biggest change this year is the return statewide to a concurrent season for antlered and antlerless deer, meaning a properly licensed hunter with valid tags can harvest a buck or doe at any point throughout the season.
This change gives hunters more opportunity to fill their tags, though fewer antlerless licenses were issued statewide to adjust for the additional time.
Other changes include:
1. The extended bear season, which overlaps part of the firearms deer season in many parts of the state, is open on the first day of deer season, and bears can be hunted by properly licensed hunters on the opening weekend.
2. There are two points to make about tagging harvested deer that deal with new changes. One, hunters now have the opportunity to download and store on a smart device - digital versions of some of their licenses. However, they must continue to carry their paper deer and bear harvest tags which must be attached to the animal’s ear following harvest. Also, there is a new requirement to cut the date into the tag by making two marks on a grid. That requirement will make it tougher for lawbreakers to hunt with an invalid tag.
3. In most of the state’s Special Regulations Areas, which includes WMU 2B around Pittsburgh, hunters may now use straight-walled centerfire rifle cartridges, in addition to other approved sporting arms and ammunition.
Listen to our interview with Travis Lau, Director of Communications at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, above to learn more.