Pennsylvania deer hunters harvested a record 505,600 white-tailed deer in 2025-26 season

Pennsylvania hunters harvested an estimated 505,600 white-tailed deer during the 2025-26 season, marking a 6% increase over the previous year and a 14% rise compared to the three-year average, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s annual harvest report.

The total harvest comprised 185,310 antlered deer and 320,290 antlerless deer, the report said.

Antlered harvests rose 6% from 2024-25, while antlerless harvests climbed by the same margin.

The antlerless harvest was up 17% from the three-year average, which the Game Commission called “a huge win for herd balance” in a Facebook post.

“With increased antlerless tag allocations, hunters stepped up to help manage deer populations, promote healthy forests, and slow the spread of disease,” the Game Commission said.

Hunter success rates for antlered deer also reached a modern high — 29% of deer hunters harvested an antlered buck, up from 28% the prior season and significantly higher than the 16% recorded in 1987–88, despite the overall number of hunters declining from roughly one million in 1986 to fewer than 650,000 today.

The Game Commission said the 29% success rate for antlered deer hunters was the highest since 2007.

Among the state’s wildlife management units, WMU 2D posted the largest overall harvest at 42,300 deer, while WMU 5D had the smallest at 10,100. Several units saw dramatic year-over-year jumps, with WMU 3B surging 41% and WMU 2G rising 14%.

WMU 2D covers portions of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, and Venango counties in western Pennsylvania. WMU 5D consists of counties in and around Philadelphia.

Archery hunting accounted for 182,190 deer, regular firearms for 299,230, and muzzleloader seasons for 24,180, the report said.

Harvest reports were submitted by hunters predominantly online, with 76% filed digitally, according to the Game Commission.

The Game Commission uses a mark-recapture methodology — field-checking harvested deer and cross-referencing hunter report cards — to generate statistically reliable harvest estimates, a practice in place since the 2004-05 season.