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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) in State Forests and Parks

    DCNR offers DMAP hunting opportunities in select state forests and parks to help maintain healthy deer populations and protect wildlife habitats.

    HuntFishPA
    Available DMAP Permits

    What is DMAP?

    A Deer Management Assistance Program​ permit can be used to harvest one antlerless deer in a designated area during any antlerless deer hunting season within the license year.

    Antlerless deer also may be taken on DMAP properties during the antlered-only firearms season. Hunters may not use DMAP permits to harvest an antlered deer.

    Hunters may obtain up to two DMAP permits per designated area, and must file a harvest report — even if no deer is taken.

    Report Your Harvest or No Harvest at HuntFishPA

    How to Get a DMAP Permit

    Permits go on sale during the third round of antlerless license sales (second Monday of August).

    DMAP harvest permits must be purchased from a license-issuing agent or through the HuntFishPA site.

    Before buying, find the DMAP unit number for your desired hunting area. Use the PA Game Commission's Interactive Map to find available DMAP areas on state forest and state park land.

    Permit Availability

    Check the remaining number of permits for specific DMAP areas on the HuntFishPA site.

    DMAP Areas in State Parks and Forests

    All or portions of Bald Eagle, Buchanan, Clear Creek, Elk, Forbes, Gallitzin, Michaux, Moshannon, Rothrock, Tuscarora, Weiser, and William Penn state forest districts, as well as several state parks, fall within a DMA. This includes all, or portions, of the following counties:

    • Adams
    • Armstrong
    • Bedford
    • Berks
    • Blair
    • Cambria
    • Centre
    • Clarion
    • Clearfield
    • Cumberland
    • Elk
    • Franklin
    • Fulton
    • Huntingdon
    • Indiana
    • Jefferson
    • Juniata
    • Lancaster
    • Lebanon
    • Mifflin
    • Perry
    • Snyder
    • Somerset
    • Westmoreland

    Hunters who harvest deer within the DMA should be aware that special rules and regulations apply, and they should have their deer tested for the Chronic Wasting Disease. Additional information on CWD — including impacted locations and approved processors — is provided by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

    Deer Study and Hunter Registration

    Hunter cooperation is needed as part of collaborative study with the:

    • Pennsylvania Game Commission
    • Penn State University
    • U.S. Geological Survey Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Study

    If you are planning to hunt antlered or antlerless deer in the areas below, please register prior to hunting:

    • Bald Eagle State Forest
      • Unit 2108
    •  Rothrock State Forest
      • Unit 1881
      • Unit 1883
      • Unit 2109
      • Unit 2110
    • Susquehannock State Forest
      • Unit 2101
      • Unit 2102

    These DMAP Units are part of a large-scale research study to better understand the role of deer in forest regeneration and how deer and forest management activities affect deer hunting. A critical part of this study is to understand:

    • Hunting effort
    • Hunter success rates
    • Deer harvests
    • Hunter opinions and observations

    After the hunting season, deer hunters will be mailed a survey to share their hunting success and experiences. Individual surveys will remain confidential.

    As part of this study, deer have been captured and fitted with satellite radio-transmitters or ear tags to monitor their movements, survival, and harvest rates. Any deer on these areas can be harvested if a hunter possesses the appropriate license or permit.

    Hunters are asked to report their harvest of radio-collared or ear-tagged deer by calling the toll-free number printed on the tag or collar. There is no cash reward for harvesting a radio-collared deer.

    For additional hunting information and individual maps of the state forests, contact the state forest districts.