The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has announced a two-day regulated deer hunt at Presque Isle State Park to help manage the park’s deer population and protect its ecosystem. The hunt is scheduled for December 9 and December 10.
According to DCNR officials, maintaining an appropriate deer population is essential to preserving the park’s habitat. When deer numbers exceed the area’s carrying capacity, damage to vegetation and other natural resources can occur.
Up to 85 hunters will be permitted to participate each day. Hunters may use non-semi-automatic shotguns loaded with slugs, black-powder muzzleloaders, or archery equipment while hunting both antlered and antlerless deer.
Applications for the hunt will be accepted beginning November 12. Interested hunters must register by calling the park office at (814) 833-7424 no later than 2 p.m. on December 4. The park has replaced its previous in-person registration process with phone applications. Calls will be accepted weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
Applicants must provide proof of a valid Pennsylvania hunting license along with unused WMU 1B tags or DMAP Unit 562 tags. Hunters who do not possess an antlerless tag may still participate in the antlered deer hunt if they have an unused antlered deer tag. Pennsylvania Game Commission antler restrictions for WMU 1B will remain in effect.
Selected hunters will receive safety information, maps of approved hunting areas, and hunt regulations by mail and email. Participants must also sign and return an orientation form acknowledging the rules of the hunt.
Hunters will be required to check in and out each day at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, where permits will be issued and collected daily. During the hunt, the public will still have access to the western portion of the park from the entrance to the Stull Center, with the entire park reopening after 2 p.m. each day.
For additional information about the hunt, residents can contact the Presque Isle State Park office at (814) 833-7424 or visit their website online here.