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The 2019 rifle deer season is in the sights of Pennsylvania hunters. For the first time in over 50 years, the firearm season opens on a Saturday, rather than the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Before you head out into the woods, it’s a good idea to go over all the rules and regulations of rifle season so you can safely and legally hunt for a trophy buck.
The rifle season opens on Saturday, Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 14. For the majority of the state, the first six days of the season are reserved for antlered deer (bucks) only. The second Saturday of the season traditionally kicks off antlerless deer (doe) season.
However, in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D, you can hunt doe all through the season.
The times in which you can be in the woods works on a sliding scale that is based on the changing sunrises and sunsets.
During rifle season, hunters are required to wear a total of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on their head, chest and back at all times. This can be accomplished with a hat and vest.
It’s important to understand what actually qualifies as a point when talking about antler requirements for bucks.
According to the Game Commission, a point is defined as any antler projection (including the brow tine) at least one inch in length from base to tip. The brow tine is the point immediately above the antler burr.
An antlerless deer will remain defined as a deer without antlers, or a deer with antlers, both of which are less than three inches in length.
In most of the state, hunters can harvest any buck with three points on one side of the rack, including the brow tine.
However, in the western part of the state, in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D, hunters must abide by the “three up” rule, which means hunters can only harvest buck with three points on each side, excluding the brow tine.
If you hunt in a Disease Management Area, it is unlawful to:
High-risk parts include the brain, eyes, teeth, spleen and spinal column. These parts hold the proteins that carry CWD.
The Game Commission offers free CWD testing within DMAs. Hunters may get their harvested deer tested by placing the deer’s head in a CWD head-collection container. If you harvest a deer outside of a DMA but want to get it tested, you can do so at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab in Harrisburg for a fee.
Any person who accidentally kills a deer (an antlerless deer in mistake for an antlered deer, an antlered deer in mistake of an antlerless deer or an antlered deer that does not meet point requirements) must surrender the entire carcass, minus entrails, within 24 hours to a game warden in the county in which the deer was killed. The hunter must then make a written, sworn statement explaining how, when and where the mistake kill took place. Hunters must still tag the deer before moving the carcass.
Once the deer is turned in to the officer, restitution of $25 for each mistake kill must be paid and the hunter will be issued another tag to pursue another deer. Failure to report/deliver a mistake kill can carry a fine of up to $1,500 and a loss of license.
It’s unlawful to hunt within 150 yards of any occupied residence, camp, industrial or commercial building, school or playground without the permission of the occupants. It is also illegal to shoot into a safety zone, even if you are posted outside the zone.
Putting on “drives” for deer within a safety zone is also illegal without permission, even if you are not carrying a firearm.
Estrous, lures and other non-food source cover scents are legal for deer, except in Chronic Wasting Disease Management Areas.
Scents or lures that contain any form of natural or artificial food traces, including, but not limited to corn, apples and acorns are not legal.
Drip devices and electronically heated scent dispensers are legal as long as they contain legal scents.
