Healthy Forests. Healthy Deer

Begin Main Content Area

The Pennsylvania Game Commission uses antlerless hunting, controlled by a strategic license allocation for each wildlife management unit (WMU), to adjust deer populations and reach management goals.

This fall, hunters can help contribute to healthy forests and healthy deer in Pennsylvania by filling their antlerless tags. 

Harvest for Habitat

Deer populations that are too high can lead to habitat damage like over-browsing that reduces food available for deer, prevents forest habitat regeneration, and threatens deer and other species.

If deer have eaten most of the forage within their reach, the habitat is over-browsed and can’t continue to support the number of deer present. Severe crop damage can also be a sign that deer density and quality habitat are out of balance. If the forest where you hunt looks like this, harvesting does can help restore balance.

Unless deer numbers are reduced, the habitat will continue to degrade and support even fewer deer into the future.

In addition to setting allocations, the Game Commission strategically manages state game lands to help support deer with balanced habitat that includes early successional forest. This not only produces abundant forage for deer but also improves habitat for other species like grouse. Zoom in here to find areas with recent timber cuts, herbaceous openings, and more.

The Game Commission also offers programs to help landowners better manage their properties for healthy habitat and deer populations, including the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP).

Whether you’re hunting on state game lands or managing your own private property, harvesting does is critical to healthy habitat.

Harvest for Herd Health

Healthy habitats with plenty of food and cover can help produce bigger, healthier deer that produce healthier fawns that are better equipped to survive brutal winter conditions.

Reducing deer abundance through harvest can also help slow the spread of diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD).

This fall, hunters can take three steps to help slow the spread of CWD and provide valuable insight into the health of Pennsylvania deer:

Harvest an antlerless deer.
Properly dispose of high-risk parts.
Get your deer tested.

Before you hunt, be sure to review the updated DMA boundaries and check the latest regulations. Download Printable CWD Chart

Hunters can enjoy expanded hunting opportunities this fall, including DMAP permits for both private and public lands. For the 2024-25 season, 7,000 DMAP permits are available for over 360,000 acres across 41 game lands. The Game Commission also added an extended firearms season in three WMUs where CWD has been found: 4A, 4D, and 5A.

Harvest for the Hunting Future

Harvesting does isn’t just important for promoting healthy habitat and deer this year — it’s critical to the future of hunting in Pennsylvania.

The Game Commission is better able to effectively manage for a stable deer population when hunters are willing to fill their antlerless tags. Without hunter harvest, deer and deer hunting won’t see the long-term benefits of proper management.

Contrary to common misconception, harvesting does early in the season won’t have a negative impact on your rut hunting. In fact, many hunters and biologists believe it could increase competition and rut activity.

Harvesting does early will also leave fewer mouths to feed as food sources dwindle in winter, potentially keeping bucks bedding on the property you’re hunting.