The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates that there were 476,880 deer taken this past season statewide. That’s up about 11% from 430,010 the previous year.

There were an estimated 175,280 antlered deer and 301,600 antlerless deer taken. Most of the increase was due to the antlerless harvest which was up 17% over the previous year and 21% over the three-year average.

The increased take was due to three management objectives. The first is to decrease the number of deer in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) where Chronic Wasting Disease is present. The second is to lower the population where it is too great for objectives. The last is to limit the number where the deer are contributing to deforestation.

The Commission noted that they use a long-term approach to herd management and that people should not focus on any individual year’s data. To arrive at the estimates, the Game Commission used data from the 147,000 hunters that reported their harvest as well as from 27,000 deer that were checked at processors throughout the state.

Interestingly, about 28% of hunters were successful in taking an antlered deer. The Game Commission reports that is the highest success rate since the 1980s. Because of antler restrictions, two-thirds of the antlered deer were 2.5 years old, a dramatic change from decades ago when most were 1.5 years old.

About 26% of antlerless tags were filled. Around 69% were adult females, which is consistent with prior years.

The majority of deer were taken during the rifle season (estimated at 283,760, of which 86,530 were antlered and 197,230 were antlerless).

Archers accounted for an estimated 87,540 antlered deer and 90,600 antlerless. Hunters using muzzleloaders accounted for 1,210 antlered and 13,770 antlerless deer. 

Full details of the harvest are on the PA Game Commission’s website. There is a full breakout by WMU.

Congratulations to all of the successful Pennsylvania deer hunters. Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.