HARRISBURG, PA — Celebrations are in order as the Pennsylvania Game Commission reports favorable results for the 2023-24 deer seasons that concluded this past January. With hunters boasting estimated harvests of 430,010 white-tailed deer, Pennsylvania’s deer hunting scene is alive and thriving.
Notably, the success spans statewide. The buck harvest contributes an impressive 171,600, while the antlerless harvest adds a considerable 258,410 to the overall total. Compared to the 2022-23 season’s figures, this represents a 2% increase in the total harvest. Furthermore, the statistics reflect a 4% elevation on the total harvest observed traditionally over a three-year average.
David Stainbrook, Supervisor at the Game Commission Deer and Elk Section, explains that these estimates are calculated meticulously. They stem from a combination of hunters’ antlered and antlerless harvest reports and data from deer checked by teams at processors across Pennsylvania. This combination provides a robust estimation of the reporting rates.
“These figures are not merely plucked from thin air,” assures Stainbrook, “During the statewide firearms season, our 31 teams of trained deer agers visited more than 400 processors across the Commonwealth to collect data, age deer based on tooth replacement and wear, and record information from harvest tags.” In the process, the teams examined an impressive tally of over 24,000 whitetails.
On a granular level, hunters reported capturing over 134,000 deer. The choice tool? The Game Commission’s online reporting system, accounting for 74% of all reports received. Report cards and phone calls made up the remainder, contributing 18% and 8% of reports respectively.
A fine-grained look at the buck harvest raises intriguing insights. Numbers rose in 2023-24, increasing by 5% from the previous season and showing a robust 6% increase over the three-year average. Overall, an impressive 27% of deer hunters harvested a buck. This represents a symbolic increase from the previous 26% success rate observed in 2022-23 and a marked rise from the 15% observed as recently as 2007-08.
Interestingly, times are changing for deer too, as the majority of bucks harvested are older than in previous decades. Prior to antler point restrictions, most of the bucks harvested were yearling deer, those 1.5-years-old. However, 2023-24 proved different; 64% of bucks taken were at least 2.5 years old.
For antlerless deer, the harvest displayed a pattern consistent with long-term averages. Adult females formed 69% of the harvest, button bucks made up 16%, and doe fawns accounted for 14%. Furthermore, about one in four antlerless licenses issued for the season resulted in a harvest—a significant benchmark by any measure.
Bryan Burhans, Game Commission Executive Director, is encouraged by the results. According to Burhans, the health of the deer hunting scene is a testament to the agency’s effective deer management program. The program doesn’t only benefit the deer population but also offers hunters sustainable opportunities.
“There’s no denying this is a fantastic time to be a Pennsylvania deer hunter,” says Burhans, “But best of all, these numbers show that we’re managing deer and their habitat in ways that are sustainable over the long haul. That’s not only best for deer but for our hunters too.”
As usual, the regular firearms deer season led the charge. Firearms hunters took an estimated 254,710 deer, comprised of 86,260 bucks and the rest antlerless. Bowhunters aren’t trailing too far behind, accounting for a little over a third of the total deer harvest, taking an estimated 154,850 whitetails (83,370 bucks and 71,480 antlerless deer) with either bows or crossbows. Estimated muzzleloader harvest was a respectable 20,450 (1,970 bucks and 18,480 antlerless deer).
Thus, Pennsylvania’s 2023-24 deer hunting season stands as a testament to the Game Commission’s sustainable management practices. It’s a delicate balancing act, one that ensures the continuity of both a healthy deer population and a vibrant hunting culture. It’s a fantastic time indeed to be a Pennsylvania deer hunter, with even better days forecasted ahead.
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