Pa. hunting: Antlerless deer license applications could see big changes

Most of the chatter around Pennsylvania hunting legislation has surrounded the possible addition of Sunday hunting.

But the antlerless deer hunting landscape could be changing as soon as next summer.

Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, who sponsored the Sunday hunting bill, is sponsoring another bill that would change the way hunters apply for antlerless licenses.

Senate Bill 485 would provide for the sale of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System (PALS). This means hunters could potentially buy their antlerless licenses online or in person at the same outlet where they bought their original license.

Currently, hunters apply for antlerless deer licenses by sending a paper application with a check or money order to a county treasurer or similar applications in a timely manner.

Unlike the Sunday hunting bill, Laughlin believes SB 485 won't see any more movement in the Senate until the fall. 

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“It’s a pain, and I believe it’s keeping a lot of young people from even applying for antlerless licenses,” Laughlin said. “Most of the people I talk to that are under 25, their checking accounts are all online and they don’t even have paper checks. Then they have to get a money order.”

Laughlin said it would be up to the Game Commission to regulate how the system would determine when sales hit the allotted antlerless quota for each region in the state, but he thinks it could be worked into a “first come, first served” basis. When and how bonus antlerless tags are applied for would also need to be addressed.

“This is my attempt to modernize the antlerless license system. Almost everything else we do can be done online and you can buy with your phone,” Laughlin said. “Plus, you’d be able to buy them right at the sporting goods store where you buy a license using the Pennsylvania Automatic Licensing System.”

Laughlin said he has some opposition to the bill from county treasurers, but he believes this is in the best interest of Pennsylvania hunters.

“There’s a little pushback from the county treasuries because, from what I understand, they make a little money off the current system,” he said. “But that’s not really my concern. My concern is to make it as convenient as possible for people buying licenses.”

For years, the symbol of antlerless licenses has been the pink envelopes hunters must send in every summer in hopes of getting their tags for the fall. If Laughlin’s bill gets passed, those envelopes could become antiques as early as the next hunting season.

“I’m hoping that the pink envelopes become a collector’s item after this year,” he said. “I’m just trying to bring the sport into this century.”