GAME COMMISSION SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM LICENSE-BUYERS

HARRISBURG –  The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking hunters to provide feedback on their antlerless deer license buying experience this summer.

License sales get underway Monday, June 24 at 8 a.m., when antlerless deer licenses will be available for the three Wildlife Management Units where demand is highest – WMUs 1B, 2G and 3A. Licenses in these WMUs will be sold on a first come, first serve basis until the allotted number of licenses sells out, and only Pennsylvania residents may purchase antlerless licenses initially.

Then, from Thursday, June 27 through Sunday, July 7, antlerless licenses for the remaining 19 WMUs will be available to residents. Those seeking licenses in any of these WMUs won’t need to wait in line for them; they’re guaranteed to get one, as long as they buy before 7 a.m. on Monday, July 8 – when the resident-only portion of the first round of antlerless license sales ends.

These changes should work to reduce wait times for hunters buying licenses throughout the first round. By opening antlerless license sales initially in the three WMUs that are likely to sell out the fastest, and taking the others out of the mix, demand can be better met for those license buyers who need it most. And guaranteeing an antlerless license to a resident hunter for any other WMU for more than a week largely eliminates the need to stand in line, allows demand to be spread out and gives hunters greater flexibility to buy at a time that’s convenient for them.

But the Game Commission wants to hear from hunters on how the process is working.

Hunters can provide feedbackOpens In A New Window through www.pgc.pa.gov by clicking on the red “Provide feedback on your antlerless deer license buying experience” button. Hunters will be asked to respond to a few questions and will be offered the opportunity to provide any additional comments. Participation is confidential, as no identifying questions will be asked.

Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said the feedback hunters provide will help analyze how well the changes work and identify potential improvements.

“It will take just a few minutes to share your comments, but doing so will go a long way in letting us know how well the new process is working, so please take the time,” Smith said. “We want to hear from you.”

Hunters may purchase no more than one antlerless deer license per round in the first, second and third round of sales. When the guaranteed license period ends, all remaining licenses will be sold first come, first serve.

The nonresident portion of the first round begins on Monday, July 8 at 8 a.m. The second round of sales begins on Monday, July 22 at 8 a.m. The third round begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12. Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits also go on sale when the third round begins. During the fourth round, which begins Monday, Aug. 26 at 8 a.m., a hunter may purchase more than one license for any WMU where licenses are available. No hunter may possess more than their personal limit of six antlerless licenses at a time.