Insights on Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer License Market

Major Changes to Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Antlerless Deer License Sales Process

After significant frustration last year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has made a major change to its antlerless deer license sales process for 2024. This year, general hunting license sales and the first round of antlerless deer license sales will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 24. Residents will only be able to purchase antlerless deer licenses for three Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) - 1B, 2G, and 3A on the first day of sales.

New Sales Process Benefits Hunters

PGC Director of Communications, Travis Lau, shared that last year's sales saw a significant demand with some WMUs selling out quickly. This year, there are 37,000 antlerless licenses available in 1B, 21,000 in 3A, and 37,000 in 2G. Additionally, the PGC is aiming to improve the purchasing experience for hunters by ensuring that most hunters are guaranteed an antlerless license eliminating the need to wait in line. This change allows hunters to buy licenses at their convenience.

The sales process for antlerless deer licenses will run through early July, with non-residents getting the opportunity to purchase licenses on July 8. Subsequent rounds of sales will take place on July 22, August 12, and August 26. During the first three rounds, hunters can purchase only one antlerless deer license per round, and a hunter cannot possess more than six antlerless licenses at a time.

The Game Commission aims to streamline the license-buying process by opening sales in high-demand WMUs first and guaranteeing licenses to residents in other WMUs from June 27 to July 8. This change is intended to reduce long lines and give hunters more flexibility in purchasing licenses. Sales for the remaining 19 WMUs will begin on Thursday, June 27, and non-residents can purchase any leftover licenses from July 8 onwards.

New License Year Begins July 1

Hunting and furtaker licenses for the current year will expire on June 30, and hunters will need to purchase new licenses for the 2024-25 license year starting July 1. The sales schedule and process for the new licenses are similar to last year, with sales starting at 8 a.m. on the first day of each round.

In conclusion, the changes made by the Pennsylvania Game Commission are aimed at improving the license purchasing experience for hunters and ensuring a smoother process for obtaining antlerless deer licenses. By guaranteeing licenses in high-demand WMUs and spreading out demand over multiple days, the Commission hopes to address the frustrations faced by hunters in previous years.