Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The Pennsylvania Game Commission has finalized a new process for antlerless deer license sales, taking the process away from counties and moving it online and to the state’s license issuing agents. This deer was seen last week on Follett Run Rd.

It’s been standing practice ensconced in state law that antlerless deer licenses had to be acquired through a county’s treasurer’s office.

A change in state law late last session shifted that process away from counties to the state’s automated licensing system.

And the Pennsylvania Game Commission has signed off on a process to formalize that shift.

In a statement in the wake of the decision, the Commission outlined that those seeking antlerless licenses have had to send applications and receive licenses by mail in a process they described as “outdated and inflexible.”

The change in the law will allow all license-issuing agents to sell antlerless licenses, meaning hunters starting with this 2023-24 license year will be able to purchase the licenses online or at places where licenses are sold.

The Commission’s recent action sets the first day of license sales June 26. The sales will be limited to Pennsylvania residents until July 10 and hunters will be restricted to one license in the first round.

A second round, open to residents and non-residents, will open July 24 for any wildlife management units where tags are available.

That will be followed by a third round starting Aug. 14, when the sale of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits will also begin.

Hunters can acquire up to six licenses and a fourth round starting Aug. 28 will open up that option.

Each round will open at 8 a.m.

“A simpler, more convenient system is better for hunter satisfaction, and ultimately, hunter recruitment,” PGC Executive Director Bryan Burhans said. “We thank Sen. Dan Laughlin for championing this change, which will fully modernize the process for issuing antlerless licenses.”

The Game Commission recommends that between now and the start of sales that hunters seeking to use the online option review their HuntFishPA customer profile information for accuracy.

The Commission also approved changes to expand options for deer processing for hunters that harvest deer in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD).

There is an existing CWD Disease Management Area in the north and northeastern parts of Warren County.

The Commission’s action will begin the development of a statewide list of cooperating processors and taxidermists.

“Any hunter who harvests a deer out-of-state or within a DMA… will be able to take it directly to a cooperating processor or taxidermist anywhere in the state,” according to the Commission. “Under previous regulations, a hunter harvesting a deer within a DMA or EA, for example, was limited to using a processor or taxidermist within or near that area.

“For a hunter living somewhere else, that likely meant making a return trip to pick up their meat or mount. Now they will be able to drop off their deer somewhere closer to home.”