PA Game Commission releases 2024-25 deer harvest estimates
The statewide 2024-25 harvest is estimated at 476,880 deer — 175,280 of them antlered deer and 301,600 antlerless.
By comparison, the statewide 2023-24 harvest was estimated at 430,010 deer.
Most of that year-over-year increase is attributable to the antlerless deer harvest.
The 2024-25 buck take was up 2% over the year before, and 9% over the most recent three-year average.
The 2024-25 antlerless harvest increased 17% over the year before and 21% over the three-year average.
Far from cause for concern, that was partly by design, said Game Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor David Stainbrook. The Game Commission's objective was to reduce deer numbers in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) impacted by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), where deer impacts on forest health are occurring and where populations are increasing, contrary to objectives.
Each and every year, however, hunters play a critical role in managing Pennsylvania's deer populations, said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. By buying their hunting licenses, obtaining available antlerless deer tags and filling them, hunters help guide local deer populations toward target levels.
As deer populations rise, the task becomes all the more important, Smith said.
The Game Commission's harvest estimates are calculated using antlered and antlerless harvest reports submitted by hunters in combination with data from deer checked by crews at processors across the state, Stainbrook said. Last season, hunters reported 147,000 deer — by far most often using the online reporting form — and Game Commission personnel checked more than 27,000 deer at processors around the state.
Across the state, about 28% of hunters took an antlered deer. That's the highest success rate since at least the late 1980s. And, as has become the norm since the implementation of antler point restrictions, most of those bucks were older ones. Two of every three were at least 2.5 years old. That's a huge change from decades ago, when most of the harvest was made of up 1.5-year-old deer.
Meanwhile, hunters turned about 26% of antlerless tags into a harvested deer. That's consistent with past seasons. So, too, is the fact that about 69% of those deer were adult females.
Looking at the harvests by season, hunters once again took more deer overall in the regular statewide firearms deer season than in any other. It accounted for an estimated 283,760 deer, counting 86,530 antlered and 197,230 antlerless.
Archers, meanwhile, took an estimated 87,540 antlered deer and 90,600 antlerless, while muzzle-loaders got an estimated 1,210 antlered deer and 13,770 antlerless.
A map showing a breakdown of the harvest can be found on the Game Commission's website — www.pa.gov/pgc.
PA Game Commission delivers annual report
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith this week testified before the House Game and Fisheries Committee and presented the agency's annual report to the General Assembly.
To view a copy of the agency's annual legislative report, visit — www.pa.gov/pgc — and click "About Us," then, "Reports and Surveys."
Rep. Walsh announces change in fishing regulations at Harris Pond
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is alerting anglers that it has temporarily lifted all seasons, size and daily limits for all species of fish at Harris Pond in Sweet Valley, Luzerne County, according to Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township.
These regulations took effect on Saturday, March 22, and will remain in place until Jan. 1, 2026.
The PFBC has found this action is necessary and appropriate to reduce the number of fish in advance of a draw-down of the lake for a future dam project.
The temporary modifications to fishing regulations will be posted in the vicinity of the lake.
Harris Pond is a 30-acre impoundment owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the PFBC for public fishing and boating.
State launches grant program to help schools and childcare facilities eliminate lead in drinking water
The Shapiro Administration is launching a no-cost water sampling program for eligible schools and childcare facilities across the Commonwealth to eliminate lead in drinking water and reduce childhood lead exposure.
Testing water in schools is important because children spend a significant portion of their days in these facilities. The longer water remains in contact with lead plumbing, the more opportunity exists for lead to leach into water.
As a result, facilities with on again/off again water use, such as schools, may have elevated lead concentrations in their water. Testing the water at each facility is the only sure way to find out if the water contains too much lead.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received federal funding for the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program through the EPA's Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Program.
"We know the health risks associated with childhood lead exposure, which is why we're committed to seeing it eliminated whenever possible," said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. "The WIIN program is a win/win for Pennsylvania's children because it helps find where the problems are and helps eliminate them. By continuing to take action to get lead out of our drinking water, this grant program will promote a healthier, safer Commonwealth."
Eligible schools and childcare facilities can apply to test and/or remediate lead in their drinking water. Eligible lead reduction activities may include purchasing and installing hydration stations, point-of-use (POU) devices designed to remove lead, and replacement of faucets. DEP has contracted with Terraphase Engineering to perform the lead testing.
To qualify, applicants must have drinking water sample results demonstrating an exceedance of the EPA's remediation trigger level (5 parts per billion) within 36 months of the date of their application. Recipients may be eligible for reimbursement up to $3,000 per installed hydration station.
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