Pennsylvania deer harvest rose 6% in 2025-26 hunting seasons, Game commission says
Updated: 2:20 PM EDT Mar 23, 2026
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has released deer harvest totals for the 2025-2026 hunting seasons. Video above: Deer herd moves through snowy woods in York County.Pennsylvania hunters harvested an estimated 505,600 deer during the 2025-26 hunting seasons, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.That total marked a 6% increase from the 2024-25 season, when the statewide deer harvest was estimated at 476,880.The 2025-26 harvest included:185,310 antlered deer.320,290 antlerless deer.”Pennsylvania has a strong hunting heritage, one that brings hundreds of thousands of hunters together in groups large and small each fall and winter to enjoy days with family and friends,” Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said in a statement. “But this is about more than just fun and tradition. Deer are one species that can impact the composition of their own environment, with consequences not just for themselves, but for our forests and fields and all the other wildlife that habitat sustains. Hunters, by managing deer, buoy not only deer, but all our other natural resources. Their time afield is a commitment to stewardship that deserves our thanks.”Deer harvest increased for both antlered and antlerless deerThe year-over-year increase was split evenly between the two categories.According to the Game Commission:Antlered deer harvest rose about 6%.Antlerless deer harvest also rose about 6%.Compared with the most recent three-year average:Antlered harvest was up about 9%.Antlerless harvest was up about 17%.Why Pennsylvania increased antlerless deer harvest goalsGame Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor David Stainbrook said the higher antlerless harvest was partly intentional.In most of Pennsylvania’s 22 Wildlife Management Units, the goal was to reduce deer populations.Officials said those efforts were tied to:Forest health concerns.The presence and spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.In some areas, both issues at once.To help meet those goals, the Game Commission offered additional antlerless licenses during the season.Deer hunter success rates in PennsylvaniaStatewide, about 29% of deer hunters harvested an antlered deer.The Game Commission said that was the highest antlered deer success rate since at least 2007.Most bucks harvested were older animals:Two out of every three antlered deer were at least 2.5 years oldHunters filled about 25% of antlerless deer tags, which was in line with recent years.About 70% of harvested antlerless deer were adult females.How Pennsylvania calculates deer harvest estimatesThe Game Commission said harvest estimates were based on:Hunter harvest reports.Data from deer checked at processors statewideDuring the 2025-26 season:Hunters reported more than 150,000 deer.Most reports were submitted through the online reporting form.Game Commission staff checked more than 25,000 deer at processors.Pennsylvania deer harvest by hunting seasonThe regular statewide firearms deer season again accounted for the largest share of the total harvest.Estimated harvest by season:Firearms season: 299,230 deer.89,980 antlered.209,250 antlerless.Archery season: 182,190 deer.94,290 antlered.87,900 antlerless.Muzzleloader season: 24,180 deer.1,040 antlered.23,140 antlerless.Archery hunting remained especially important in developed areasFirearms seasons made up the majority of the deer harvest in most Wildlife Management Units.However, archery harvests were the majority in more developed units, including:WMU 2B.WMU 5C.WMU 5D.In those areas, firearm use may be more restricted.Stainbrook said archery hunting remained critical to managing deer populations in suburban and developed parts of Pennsylvania.Estimated harvest by WMUThe Pennsylvania Game Commission uses WMUs, or Wildlife Management Units, to manage all game, except elk, waterfowl, and other migratory game birds.Estimated harvest by WMU for 2025-26, with 2024-25 estimates in parentheses for comparison:WMU 1A: 10,000 (8,900) antlered, 15,800 (16,600) antlerless.WMU 1B: 11,100 (9,200) antlered, 17,600 (14,100) antlerless.WMU 2A: 8,400 (8,800) antlered, 13,600 (13,800) antlerless.WMU 2B: 9,000 (8,000) antlered, 15,000 (14,300) antlerless.WMU 2C: 11,400 (10,400) antlered, 23,000 (21,700) antlerless.WMU 2D: 15,000 (13,400) antlered, 27,300 (28,800) antlerless.WMU 2E: 7,700 (6,800) antlered, 12,500 (14,900) antlerless.WMU 2F: 10,800 (11,100) antlered, 15,700 (17,700) antlerless.WMU 2G: 7,600 (9,300) antlered, 12,300 (8,200) antlerless.WMU 3A: 7,600 (6,300) antlered, 6,900 (6,600) antlerless.WMU 3B: 7,900 (7,100) antlered, 14,100 (8,500) antlerless.WMU 3C: 8,000 (10,500) antlered; 14,700 (12,300) antlerless.WMU 3D: 6,000 (5,600) antlered, 9,600 (7,700) antlerless.WMU 4A: 5,000 (4,000) antlered, 8,500 (9,700) antlerless.WMU 4B: 6,700 (6,200) antlered; 14,400 (12,600) antlerless.WMU 4C: 9,400 (8,000) antlered, 13,900 (12,000) antlerless.WMU 4D: 9,400 (8,600) antlered, 15,400 (15,800) antlerless.WMU 4E: 7,500 (7,400) antlered, 17,500 (15,900) antlerless.WMU 5A: 4,800 (3,900) antlered, 7,300 (8,300) antlerless.WMU 5B: 10,300 (11,200) antlered, 19,800 (17,200) antlerless.WMU 5C: 8,100 (7,700) antlered, 18,000 (17,000) antlerless.WMU 5D: 3,000 (2,300) antlered, 7,100 (7,700) antlerless.Unknown WMU: 610 (580) antlered, 290 (200) antlerless.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has released deer harvest totals for the 2025-2026 hunting seasons.
Video above: Deer herd moves through snowy woods in York County.
Pennsylvania hunters harvested an estimated 505,600 deer during the 2025-26 hunting seasons, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.That total marked a 6% increase from the 2024-25 season, when the statewide deer harvest was estimated at 476,880.The 2025-26 harvest included:185,310 antlered deer.320,290 antlerless deer.
“Pennsylvania has a strong hunting heritage, one that brings hundreds of thousands of hunters together in groups large and small each fall and winter to enjoy days with family and friends,” Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said in a statement. “But this is about more than just fun and tradition. Deer are one species that can impact the composition of their own environment, with consequences not just for themselves, but for our forests and fields and all the other wildlife that habitat sustains. Hunters, by managing deer, buoy not only deer, but all our other natural resources. Their time afield is a commitment to stewardship that deserves our thanks.”
Stan Tekiela Author / Naturalist / Wildlife Photographer
White-tailed deer at sunrise.
Deer harvest increased for both antlered and antlerless deer
The year-over-year increase was split evenly between the two categories.According to the Game Commission:Antlered deer harvest rose about 6%.Antlerless deer harvest also rose about 6%.Compared with the most recent three-year average:Antlered harvest was up about 9%.Antlerless harvest was up about 17%.
Why Pennsylvania increased antlerless deer harvest goalsGame Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor David Stainbrook said the higher antlerless harvest was partly intentional.In most of Pennsylvania’s 22 Wildlife Management Units, the goal was to reduce deer populations.Officials said those efforts were tied to:Forest health concerns.The presence and spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.In some areas, both issues at once.To help meet those goals, the Game Commission offered additional antlerless licenses during the season.Deer hunter success rates in PennsylvaniaStatewide, about 29% of deer hunters harvested an antlered deer.The Game Commission said that was the highest antlered deer success rate since at least 2007.Most bucks harvested were older animals:Two out of every three antlered deer were at least 2.5 years oldHunters filled about 25% of antlerless deer tags, which was in line with recent years.About 70% of harvested antlerless deer were adult females.How Pennsylvania calculates deer harvest estimatesThe Game Commission said harvest estimates were based on:Hunter harvest reports.Data from deer checked at processors statewideDuring the 2025-26 season:Hunters reported more than 150,000 deer.Most reports were submitted through the online reporting form.Game Commission staff checked more than 25,000 deer at processors.Pennsylvania deer harvest by hunting seasonThe regular statewide firearms deer season again accounted for the largest share of the total harvest.Estimated harvest by season:Firearms season: 299,230 deer.89,980 antlered.209,250 antlerless.Archery season: 182,190 deer.94,290 antlered.87,900 antlerless.Muzzleloader season: 24,180 deer.1,040 antlered.23,140 antlerless.Archery hunting remained especially important in developed areasFirearms seasons made up the majority of the deer harvest in most Wildlife Management Units.However, archery harvests were the majority in more developed units, including:In those areas, firearm use may be more restricted.Stainbrook said archery hunting remained critical to managing deer populations in suburban and developed parts of Pennsylvania.Estimated harvest by WMU
The Pennsylvania Game Commission uses WMUs, or Wildlife Management Units, to manage all game, except elk, waterfowl, and other migratory game birds.
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Pennsylvania Wildlife Management Units
Estimated harvest by WMU for 2025-26, with 2024-25 estimates in parentheses for comparison:
WMU 1A: 10,000 (8,900) antlered, 15,800 (16,600) antlerless.WMU 1B: 11,100 (9,200) antlered, 17,600 (14,100) antlerless.WMU 2A: 8,400 (8,800) antlered, 13,600 (13,800) antlerless.WMU 2B: 9,000 (8,000) antlered, 15,000 (14,300) antlerless.WMU 2C: 11,400 (10,400) antlered, 23,000 (21,700) antlerless.WMU 2D: 15,000 (13,400) antlered, 27,300 (28,800) antlerless.WMU 2E: 7,700 (6,800) antlered, 12,500 (14,900) antlerless.WMU 2F: 10,800 (11,100) antlered, 15,700 (17,700) antlerless.WMU 2G: 7,600 (9,300) antlered, 12,300 (8,200) antlerless.WMU 3A: 7,600 (6,300) antlered, 6,900 (6,600) antlerless.WMU 3B: 7,900 (7,100) antlered, 14,100 (8,500) antlerless.WMU 3C: 8,000 (10,500) antlered; 14,700 (12,300) antlerless.WMU 3D: 6,000 (5,600) antlered, 9,600 (7,700) antlerless.WMU 4A: 5,000 (4,000) antlered, 8,500 (9,700) antlerless.WMU 4B: 6,700 (6,200) antlered; 14,400 (12,600) antlerless.WMU 4C: 9,400 (8,000) antlered, 13,900 (12,000) antlerless.WMU 4D: 9,400 (8,600) antlered, 15,400 (15,800) antlerless.WMU 4E: 7,500 (7,400) antlered, 17,500 (15,900) antlerless.WMU 5A: 4,800 (3,900) antlered, 7,300 (8,300) antlerless.WMU 5B: 10,300 (11,200) antlered, 19,800 (17,200) antlerless.WMU 5C: 8,100 (7,700) antlered, 18,000 (17,000) antlerless.WMU 5D: 3,000 (2,300) antlered, 7,100 (7,700) antlerless.Unknown WMU: 610 (580) antlered, 290 (200) antlerless.