October 16, 2024
By Josh Honeycutt
This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of Pennsylvania is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States Expectations Are Always High in the Keystone State Pennsylvania carries one of the nation’s richest deer-hunting traditions. For many years, work and school were even cancelled for the opening day of deer season. (Until opening day moved to Saturday, that is.)
With one of the nation’s largest whitetail harvests every year, the Keystone State is clearly a premier whitetail destination. Listed No. 5 in Game & Fish’s "America’s Top Whitetail States” rankings, Pennsylvania saw 430,010 whitetails harvested last year, and its five-year-average harvest number is second only to Texas.
Last year’s deer harvest marked a slight increase over 2022-23, and a four-percent increase over the three-year average, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said.
The state has between 650,000 and 675,000 deer hunters, and without question, a lot of deer hunters head afield can mean significant competition, heavy hunting pressure and challenging deer hunts.
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DID YOU KNOW?
PA HARVEST TOTALS Last year, Pennsylvania bowhunters harvested an estimated 154,850 whitetails (83,370 bucks and 71,480 antlerless). That’s 36 percent of the overall harvest.
Even so, it’s possible to find a good Pennsylvania buck. According to Game Commission Deer Biologist David Stainbrook, hunters should get ½ mile or further from parking areas and road access points. Do that, and you’re more likely to escape heavy hunting pressure.
Fortunately, this is hilly (and mountainous) big-woods country. Because of that, some hunters won’t or can't put in the effort to reach hard-to-access areas. Those who do should find themselves further from the most hindering hunting pressure.
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Bowhunters took 36 percent of the 2023-24 deer harvest in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Honeycutt Creative) THAT'S A FACT
TOP OF THE RECORD BOOK According to the Pennsylvania Big Game Record System, the largest whitetail ever taken by a hunter in the state is a non-typical buck killed by Edward Dodge in 1942 that scored 238-6 (B&C).
As for the 2024 deer season expectations, hunters should anticipate a good year. Stainbrook believes there should be high harvest totals and a decent number of bigger bucks taken during the harvest.
Pennsylvania deer harvest breakdown (overall 430,010): Firearms, 254,710 (59.2 percent); Archery, 154,850 (36 percent); Muzzleloader, 20,450 (4.8 percent). (Pennsylvania Game Commission) Get more info : Buy your hunting licenses, deer permits, etc. here . Check out the 2024 deer season dates here .