Pennsylvania Deer Hunting Season Begins, Marking First with Sunday Hunting
Pennsylvania hunters are preparing for the 2025 firearm deer hunting season, which opens Saturday, November 29th, and extends through December 13th. This year’s season is notably noteworthy as it represents the first as the passage of legislation allowing hunting on Sundays, with designated hunting days on November 30th and December 7th.
More then half a million hunters are anticipated to participate in the annual tradition, a cornerstone of life for many families across the commonwealth. As State Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith noted, “Opening day of deer season here touches countless families, mine included, as well as offices, work sites and schools. It’s about more than recreation, though. Deer season is also conservation and compassion turned into action, as our hunters keep deer in balance with their habitat, while feeding themselves and hungry neighbors. There’s truly nothing like it.”
Last year, hunters harvested an estimated 476,880 deer statewide, with roughly 283,760 taken during the firearm season.Beyond personal sustenance,the hunt contributes significantly to food security for vulnerable populations. Through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program, nearly 284,000 pounds of venison – equivalent to approximately 1.1 million servings – was donated to food banks across 56 Pennsylvania counties via a network of over 100 licensed butcher shops.
Hunters are reminded of the regulations governing the season. According to the Game Commission, each hunter with a valid license may harvest one antlered deer.Additionally,one antlerless deer might potentially be taken per Wildlife Management Unity (WMU) with the appropriate antlerless license,Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit,or Agricultural Deer Control Permit. Safety remains paramount, with all hunters required to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material, visible from all angles, and hunting permitted only between a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset.
The inclusion of Sunday hunting represents a significant shift in pennsylvania’s hunting landscape. While thirteen Sundays were designated for hunting throughout the year, only two fall within the rifle deer season. However, hunters should be aware that hunting will not be permitted within Pennsylvania state parks on December 7th, though it remains permissible on state game lands, state forests, and private properties with landowner permission.
The cost of hunting licenses varies, with adult Pennsylvania residents paying $20.97 and nonresidents facing a fee of $101.97. Antler restrictions are specific to each WMU, and hunters are encouraged to consult the Game Commission’s website for detailed information regarding regulations and harvest reporting procedures. Hunters are required to immediatly attach harvest tags to any harvested deer and report their harvests to the Game Commission within ten days.
Why, Who, What, and How did it end?
Why: the 2025 Pennsylvania firearm deer hunting season is significant because it’s the first to include Sunday hunting, a change made through recent legislation. The season also serves important conservation and food security purposes.
Who: Over half a million hunters are expected to participate. Key figures include hunters themselves, State Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith, and the beneficiaries of the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program.
What: The firearm deer hunting season runs from November 29th to December 13th, with designated Sunday hunting days on November 30th and December 7th. Hunters can harvest one antlered deer and potentially one antlerless
