With the detection of CWD in a free-ranging deer in Dauphin County, PA, and to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from spreading, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has extended the deer season in this and surrounding counties.

Dear hunters will be able to take advantage of additional days afield within the recently created DMAP Unit 6396, which encompasses more than 140,000 acres in Dauphin, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties. 

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has extended the late archery and flintlock muzzleloader deer seasons within this unit, and also will hold an extended firearms season for antlerless deer there.

These after-Christmas seasons all will run from December 26th to January 27th, 2024, within the DMAP Unit 6396, as well as in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D.  

The extended firearms deer season is for antlerless deer only. Hunters participating in this season must wear at all times the fluorescent orange clothing requirements.

Within the DMAP Unit 6396, hunters seeking antlerless deer in this season must have either a valid DMAP Unit 6396 permit or a valid antlerless license for the Wildlife Management Unit where they are hunting. 

Hunters in the extended firearms deer season have the same firearms options as in the regular firearms deer season.

The late archery and flintlock deer seasons are open for antlered and antlerless deer hunting. A hunter must be properly licensed to hunt in these seasons and must have a valid antlered deer harvest tag to qualify to take a buck. 

Flintlock hunters may harvest an antlerless deer and tag it with their unused antlered deer tag. This is the only circumstance in which an antlerless deer harvest tag is not needed in the harvest of an antlerless deer. 

The additional hunting opportunities within the DMAP Unit 6396 serve to help limit the establishments and spread of CWD in this area.

Each hunter may purchase up to two DMAP Unit 6396 permits while supplies last. Each cost $10.97 and can be used to harvest one antlerless deer.  

Hunters harvesting deer within a CWD established area, can have them tested for CWD free of charge by placing the heads from harvested deer in any CWD collection bin, provided by the Game Commission within that area. 

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said, “increasing opportunities to harvest deer within the DMAP area demonstrates our commitment to using hunters as the first line of defense against the spread of CWD.” 

Many hunters believe there has to be a better way to control the spreading of CWD than just decreasing the deer population.

Wishing all a Happy & Healthy New Year!