Harrisburg, PA – Offering white-tailed deer hunters more hunting opportunities across Pennsylvania, state forestlands and state parks are participating in the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP).
The program allows landowners to apply for permits to encourage antlerless deer harvests on their property, enabling the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and private landowners to manage white-tailed deer populations. Out-of-balance deer populations impact other wildlife and disrupt forest regeneration, which is vital to healthy, sustainable forested ecosystems.
“White-tailed deer play an important role in our forest ecosystems, but when populations grow too large, they can hinder regeneration and impact overall forest health,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Our state forest and state park staff regularly monitor habitat conditions and use science-based data to guide where and how DMAP is implemented. This program helps us maintain a healthy balance between sustaining deer populations and ensuring long-term forest vitality.”
DCNR is offering hunters 28,607 permits in 95 units totaling more than 1.2 million acres. This year, 27 state parks and 18 state forest districts are participating in the program.
DMAP tags are now on sale. Hunters obtain permits directly from license issuing agents or the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Requests for program-targeted areas, and the number of permits sought, are science-driven. DCNR has a statistically based vegetation sampling protocol, with more than 10,000 plots across 2.2 million acres of state forestland, which assists in determining where the program should be applied.
The department's goals for the Deer Management Assistance Program are to:
- Promote a diverse, healthy natural habitat that supports wildlife diversity and healthy deer populations.
- Provide additional hunting opportunities.
- Establish and maintain regeneration to support sustainable forestry practices with minimal need for deer fencing.
- Promote a healthy, sustainable forest and native, wild plant communities.
Applicants for DMAP permits can find Department of Conservation and Natural Resources tract locations and maps, availability numbers, past hunter success rates, and other information on an interactive map.
Sunday Hunting in State Parks and Forests
Earlier this year, Governor Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1431 into law, repealing Pennsylvania’s longstanding ban on Sunday hunting. This new bipartisan law delivers real freedom for Pennsylvania’s 850,000 licensed hunters, empowers the Pennsylvania Game Commission to expand Sunday hunting opportunities, and strengthens wildlife conservation efforts while growing rural economies across the Commonwealth.
DCNR announced a phased approach to expanding Sunday hunting in state parks and forests, ensuring that the rollout balances Pennsylvania’s rich hunting traditions with the recreational needs and safety of millions of visitors to public lands. Hunters planning to participate in DMAP hunting on DCNR lands should review all hunting regulations for their intended location and note that all Sunday hunting dates will be permitted in state forests but only on three Sundays in state parks for the 2025-26 season. The Sunday hunting dates in state parks are November 16, November 23, and November 30.
Extended Firearms Season
An extended firearms season for antlerless deer will be open on all DMAP properties from December 26, 2025, through January 24, 2026. An antlerless license can only be used in the extended firearms season within Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) with an open extended firearms season. On DMAP properties outside those WMUs, a hunter needs a valid DMAP permit for the property they’re hunting to take part. DCNR recognizes the need for adaptive management when tackling complex issues like forest health and deer management and will carefully evaluate changes to program engagement and DMAP harvest that arise from the extended season for DMAP tags.
DMAP areas have been established in 18 of the 20 forest districts across the state. Snowmobiling is permitted in all forest districts when conditions allow; however, the northcentral, northeast, and southwest regions typically offer the best conditions and highest usage in the Commonwealth. The Bureau of Forestry anticipates opening snowmobile season on schedule, following the conclusion of the statewide regular firearms deer season, which ends December 13, 2025, as established by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Hunters participating in the extended DMAP season should be aware that, depending on weather and snow conditions, snowmobile use may coincide with late-season hunting. This creates a period of dual use on state forest lands, particularly on joint-use roads and designated snowmobile trails.
Considerations for participating hunters:
- Snowmobile season depends on sufficient snow cover and may not begin immediately following deer season if conditions are not favorable.
- Snowmobile use is limited to designated trails and state forest roads.
- Hunters may encounter snowmobiles and trail grooming equipment during the extended DMAP season, so they should exercise caution and stay alert.
- Parking areas may be limited during peak snowmobile use or after significant snowfall.
- Hunters should review snowmobile trail maps to understand where trails are located within the areas they plan to hunt.
- Snowmobilers will be encouraged to wear orange during periods of joint use, but hunters should not rely on this. As always, clearly identify your target and what lies beyond it.
This overlap highlights the need for awareness and cooperation among all users of state forest lands to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Safety During Hunting Season
Hunters are reminded that hikers, bird watchers, skiers, cyclists, and other visitors may also be present in parks and forests and are not required to wear fluorescent orange. For everyone’s safety:
- Hunters should follow all hunting regulations, wear required orange, and use extreme caution.
- Visitors are encouraged to wear orange, stick to trails, and avoid dawn and dusk when visibility is low.
Tips for hikers and other visitors to be safe during hunting season:
- Wear fluorescent orange that is visible from 360 degrees to be easily seen by hunters.
- Stick to established trails.
- Avoid hiking during dawn and dusk.
- Increase your dog’s visibility with a bright orange vest, collar, or leash.
- Inform someone of your hiking plans and expected return time.
Visit DCNR’s website for more information and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands.
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