Archers who journeyed afield for opening day here in our corner of the state were greeted with cool morning temperatures and ideal conditions Saturday morning. I spent a few hours on stand that day and although I caught sight of a few distant does, I didn’t fill any of my tags. No rush – it’s a long season that goes deep into November.
Bowhunters not hunting in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2B and 5C and 5D will have to wait until Pennsylvania’s statewide archery deer season kicks off on Oct. 4 and runs through Nov. 21, then comes back in from Dec. 26 through Jan. 19.
While that’s all similar to last year, this season brings something different – expanded Sunday hunting. In 2024, Pennsylvania had just three Sundays when big game could be pursued, and only one of them fell within the statewide archery deer season. This year, because of the passage of Act 36 of 2025 more opportunity awaits.
The Game Commission in July revisited the already-established 2025-26 hunting seasons, authorizing hunting on 13 Sundays, from Sept. 14 through Dec. 7, as long as they fall within established seasons. Seven of those fall within the statewide archery deer season, nine within the archery deer season in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D.
There are still some things hunters need to be aware of. Within Pennsylvania state parks, for example, Sunday hunting only will be allowed this year on Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 – the three Sundays initially approved. There is no Sunday hunting for any migratory game birds. And those hunting on private property on Sundays must carry with them written permission from the landowner.
But that’s lots of opportunity, and history shows hunters use it well. In the 2024-25 season, the state’s 350,000-plus bowhunters harvested an estimated 178,140 deer – 87,540 of them antlered and 90,600 antlerless – to account for about one-third of all deer taken in Pennsylvania.
“We now have as many, if not more, bowhunters than any state in the country,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “It’s amazing – but not surprising to see how archery hunting has evolved in Pennsylvania. Mild weather, readily available antlerless tags, the kind of mature bucks that previous generations of hunters might only dream of, and the excitement of the whitetail rut are huge draws.”
David Stainbrook, the Game Commission’s Deer and Elk Section Supervisor, said all the pieces are in place for an archery deer season much like last year.
“I would expect the upcoming seasons to be very similar to our most recent ones, but with even more antlerless licenses available,” Stainbrook said. “There are certainly places with more deer than others, though, and time spent scouting can increase the odds of finding those places. If possible, look for those offering deer both food and cover in one location, then look for fresh sign to be sure deer are using it.”
If archers successfully fill tags, they’re only keeping up with their brethren across the region. According to the National Deer Association, bowhunting has grown to the point that archers typically harvest about one-third of all deer across what’s considered the Northeast region, a 13-state area stretching from Maine to Virginia.
Here as in all those places, archers play an especially important role in managing deer in areas that are more heavily urban and suburban, where firearms hunting is not always feasible.
Safety tips
The Game Commission reminds bowhunters venturing afield to hunt safely by offering these safety tips:
• Make sure someone knows where you’re hunting and when you expect to return home. Leave a note or topographic map with your family or a friend. Pack a cellphone for emergencies.
• Practice climbing with your tree stand before the opening day of the season, especially if you’ll be climbing in the dark. Consider placing non-slip material on the deck of your tree stand if it’s not already there.
• Always use a fall-restraint device – preferably a full-body harness – when hunting from a tree stand. Wear the device from the moment you leave the ground until you return. Don’t climb dead, wet or icy trees, and consider staying on the ground on blustery days.
• Use a hoist rope to lift your bow and backpack to your tree stand. Trying to climb with either will place you at unnecessary risk.
• Don’t sleep in a tree stand. If you can’t stay awake, return to the ground.
• Keep yourself in good physical condition. Fatigue can impact judgment, coordination and reaction time, as well as accuracy.
Always carry broadhead-tipped arrows in a protective quiver, especially when moving. Cocked crossbows should always be pointed in a safe direction. Know how to uncock a crossbow safely, too. If you use a mechanical release with a vertical bow, always keep your index finger away from the trigger when drawing.
Stiffer penalties for trespassing
When Act 36 of 2025 became law, it did more than just remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting. It also increased the fines for those caught trespassing on private property.
The penalty for trespassing while hunting has increased to a second-degree summary offense, in most cases. Trespassers who refuse to leave a property when asked, if convicted, will lose their hunting privileges for three years, while those convicted of a second or subsequent offense within seven years will lose their hunting privileges for five years. Hunters are reminded that property can be posted against trespass with signs or with purple paint used on trees, fence posts and the like.
Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for the MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com.
