Hunters’ deer harvest was slightly higher than in previous season

Hunters in Pennsylvania dropped more deer during the 202324 seasons than in the year before.

On Tuesday, the state Game Commission released harvest estimates for five months of whitetailed deer seasons ending in January. The data shows 171,600 bucks and 258,410 antlerless deer were taken, totaling 430,410 deer. That’s 2% more than during the 2022-23 seasons (422,960), and 4% higher than the combined three-year average harvest estimate.

The figures are estimated because some hunters do not submit their required deer harvest reports.

“These numbers show that we’re managing deer and their habitat in ways that are sustainable over the long haul,” said Byran Burhans, Game Commission executive director. “That’s not only best for deer, but for deer hunters, too.”

Deer are a keystone species impacting all of the flora and fauna surrounding them by eating a disproportionate amount of browse and reproducing faster and in greater numbers than the habitat they dominate. As in all other states and Canada, regulated hunting is the primary tool used by government to manage regional deer populations.

Harvest estimates are calculated using available hunter harvest reports as well as additional data including counts by Game Commission crews at deer processing stations, said David Stainbrook, deer and elk section supervisor.

“Last year, 31 teams of trained deer agers visited more than 400 processors across the Commonwealth during the statewide firearms season, to collect data, age deer based on tooth replacement and wear, and record information from harvest tags,” Mr. Stainbrook said.

In addition to a general Pennsylvania hunting license that allows the harvest of one antlered deer, an additional antlerless hunting permit is required to kill a doe. The state manages deer numbers by raising, decreasing or maintaining the number of doe tags made available in each of 23 wildlife management units.

Traditionally hunters purchased antlerless permits at county treasurer offices. A state law passed in 2022 enabled hunters for the first time to purchase doe tags for the 2023-24 seasons at the same time and places where general licenses are sold. More hunters purchased doe tags, but not enough females were killed to result in a glut of dead does. The Game Commission increased the statewide allocation of antlerless permits available in the management units.

About 69% of deer harvested were adult females. The Game Commission said 16% were button bucks (males with small unrecognized antler buds) and 14% were doe fawns, numbers that are in line with long-term averages. About one in four antlerless permits resulted in a harvest.

The 2023-24 buck harvest was 5% higher than in the previous season, and up 6% over the three-year average. Overall, 27% of deer hunters harvested a buck, a marginal increase over the 2022-23 success rate of 26% but significantly higher than the 15% success rate seen as recently as 2007-08.

The general firearms season accounted for most of the 2023-24 harvest. Firearm hunters took an estimated 254,710 deer — 86,260 bucks and 168,450 does. Archers using vertical bows or crossbows took an estimated 154,850 whitetails (83,370 antlered deer and 71,480 does). Muzzleloader hunters took about 1,970 bucks and 18,480 does, totaling 20,450 deer.

The controlled archery hunt in Pittsburgh parks ended in January. Harvest figures have not been released.