Deer Management in Pennsylvania

As we move toward planting time, white-tailed deer continue to be a problem for farmers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The presence of deer creates crop and yield loss, along with farmer stress, among many other issues. The commonwealth has five deer management programs that we will outline below. We recommend establishing a working relationship with your local Pennsylvania Game Commission Warden, just as you would with your local agronomy educator. For a lengthy discussion on these programs, check out the Agronomy Highlights Podcast (Season 3 Episode 20), where our hosts, Justin Brackenrich and Ryan Spelman, interview Lieutenant Brian Singer from the Southwestern Region Office.

Regular Deer Season

What it is:
"Allowing properly licensed hunters access to the property under your control during the open season for taking of that species can provide a free and desirable solution to alleviate wildlife damage through actual take, but also includes increased pressure placed upon wildlife by the mere presence of hunters pursuing the wildlife." – Lieutenant Brian Singer

Deer season for many around the state is considered a holiday, but with a business-minded approach, you could fill your tag and harass the deer away. Like any other animal, if deer get spooked enough in a spot, they will have difficulty returning to that area until they feel it is "safe." So, gather and invite properly licensed hunters whom you trust to help tag and spook the deer away.

The Game Commission also announced that 1,312,000 antlerless deer licenses will be allocated statewide for 2025-26, up from the 1,186,000 licenses allocated for 2024-25.

Allocations by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses.

• WMU 1A – 46,000 (46,000); 
• WMU 1B – 44,000 (37,000);
• WMU 2A – 44,000 (46,000); 
• WMU 2B – 59,000 (53,000); 
• WMU 2C – 93,000 (93,000); 
• WMU 2D – 96,000 (102,000); 
• WMU 2E – 51,000 (54,000); 
• WMU 2F – 51,000 (55,000); 
• WMU 2G – 57,000 (37,000); 
• WMU 3A – 21,000 (21,000); 
• WMU 3B – 53,000 (34,000); 
• WMU 3C – 57,000 (40,000); 
• WMU 3D – 52,000 (41,000); 
• WMU 4A – 64,000 (61,000); 
• WMU 4B – 60,000 (60,000); 
• WMU 4C – 51,000 (53,000); 
• WMU 4D – 83,000 (77,000); 
• WMU 4E – 61,000 (61,000); 
• WMU 5A – 46,000 (40,000); 
• WMU 5B – 86,000 (67,000); 
• WMU 5C – 98,000 (79,000); and 
• WMU 5D – 39,000 (29,000).

Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP)

What it is:
"By enrolling in this voluntary program with a management plan, you are eligible for one coupon per 50 deeded acres listed under the management plan. A licensed hunter may receive up to four DMAP coupons from you as the permittee to be redeemed for an antlerless license to harvest antlerless deer on only the property outlined in the management plan. This license allocation is outside and in addition to the wildlife management unit-specific antlerless deer allocation for each licensed hunter. (See Appendix A) (Ref Title 58 Sections 147.671-147.676)" – Lieutenant Brian Singer

DMAP is a unique program for the commonwealth. It allows property owners to hand out coupons to be redeemed at any retailer where you can buy a hunting license. Those retailers can be found at Purchase a Hunting and Trapping License. There is a potential for more coupons to be provided based on the thoroughness of an application. Include pictures and other deer damage for the wildlife biologist to review. Applications must be postmarked to the regional office by July 1. Applications for property owners can be found at Purchase a Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Permit.

DMAP season was recently extended through the after-Christmas firearm season that runs through January 24, 2026.

Agricultural Deer Management Assistance Program (ADMAP)

What it is:
"This voluntary program is similar to DMAP in that an eligible person qualified under Section 2121c of Title 34 Pa. C.S. may enroll in the program and receive one coupon per five cultivated acres under their control. The applicant can then grant up to four ADMAP coupons to each licensed hunter to be redeemed for an antlerless license to hunt only on the property for which the coupon was allocated. This program differs because season dates are exclusively outside of DMAP season(s), thus allowing licensed hunters to take antlerless deer nearly all calendar year long if enrolled in both programs." - Lieutenant Brian Singer

For older folks who remember the red tag and green tag program of years past, Ag Tag is similar, with some new twists. Farmers previously had to take care of the bookkeeping that went with the program, but the game commission has now turned that responsibility over to the hunters. When distributing coupons, make sure to give them to hunters whom you trust. You also don't have to hand out the coupons and can use them yourself. Ag tag season runs from February to April, and then from September to November. The commission has chosen those dates to protect antlerless deer while fawning.

Crop Damage Removal (Crop Shooting)

What it is: 
"Whereas, any 'person' defined in Section 2121c who cultivates, as a primary means of gaining a livelihood, any lands for general or specialized crop purposes. A 'person' may take wildlife that they see engaged in the material destruction of cultivated crops, immediately following destruction, or where their presence may cause reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction. Once qualified as a 'person,' the district warden must inspect the property for compliance with this section. This will be accomplished via invitation from the person seeking exemption under the statute. (See Appendix B - Ref Title 34 Pa.C.S Sections 2121 to 2126)" – Lieutenant Brian Singer

Crop shooting needs to go back to that introductory paragraph with the line about establishing a relationship with your local game warden. After establishing that relationship, notify them by calling central dispatch in advance to arrange for the pickup of the harvested deer. These deer will become a part of the food system, and it helps the wardens out by giving them time to place the deer into processing facilities. The key language above is that this person must be a family member or employee of the farm to participate in this deer removal tactic.

Agricultural Damage Depredation Permit (2nd Shooters Permit)

What it is:
"This permitted program is for applicants or 'persons' who qualify under Title 34 Pa.C.S Section 2121 to apply to get agency authorization to allow up to two additional persons or subpermittees who would not otherwise individually qualify as a 'person' under Section 2121c to take game or wildlife for agricultural depredation. (See Appendix C- Ref Title 58 Sections 147.761 to 147.765" – Lieutenant Brian Singer

The 2nd shooters Permit is similar to the management program in number 4, but this allows for a farmer to select an "applicant" to be the person in number 4. The applicant can be a friend or a trusted hunter you have worked with. They will need authorization from your regional office and local warden. Again, establishing a relationship and letting the local warden see your property is a great way to foster that relationship.

References

1. Pennsylvania Game Commission. "Final 2025-26 Seasons Adopted." Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, April 12, 2025.
2. Pennsylvania Game Commission. "Purchase Deer Management Assistance Program Permits (DMAP)." Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Accessed April 18, 2025. 
3. Spelman, Ryan, and Justin Brackenrich, hosts. "S3E20: Deer Management with the Pennsylvania Game Commission." Agronomy Highlights. Penn State Extension. Podcast audio, 59 min. Recorded March 5, 2025. Published April 2, 2025.
4. Singer, Brian C. Mitigation of Wildlife Impact. Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2024