Getting a doe permit has never been easier for hunters
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Another Pennsylvania hunting tradition has changed, yet I do not expect the usually angry outcry. For the first time, hunters will not only be able to purchase their license and doe tag online but residents will also be guaranteed a doe permit.
For years, Pennsylvanian hunters were required to purchase a hunting license and then wait. On the scheduled date, doe permits would go on sale and getting one -- especially in the busier Wildlife Management Units -- meant getting your application to a county treasurer's officer before the permits ran out.
For years, this system had remained relatively unchanged, but there were signs that it was about to change.
The first signal of future change was the implementation of the electronic license system. Adopted by both the Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this system not only eliminated paper licenses but was also explicitly designed to allow all related permits to be issued at the point of sale. Initially, sportsmen saw little change other than how the license was provided, but the ability was there, and the die had been cast.
Anglers were among the first to advocate for fully electronic licenses and permits. Although the initial program only included general fishing licenses and trout stamps, it quickly expanded to include launch permits and even permits for venomous snake hunting. Today, almost any license or permit an angler requires can be purchased and printed on the spot.
So back to the Game Commission.
Although hunters were still required to mail doe permit applications and wait to see if they were successful, cracks in the system were forming. A significant change was the ability to send your application to any treasurer, not just the ones covering the WMU where you wanted to hunt. This allowed hunters to select county treasurers who were less busy in the hope that the application would be processed more quickly.
However there was still a need to include the county treasurer in the process, which prevented the commission from fully leveraging the system. So why not cut the treasurer out? Believe me, it was discussed early and often, but the most significant hurdle was the treasurers themselves.
While you might think a county office would welcome the opportunity to lessen their workload, many of these treasurers relied on the issuing agent fees for important revenue. This meant the application process would remain in place, at least for a little while.
Finally, in 2022, Act 148 removed the regulation that restricted doe permit sales to PGC or county treasurer offices. Permits could now be sold over the counter, but a process still needed to be developed. During the 2023-24 season, hunters were finally able to purchase doe permits over the counter or online without mailing a paper application to the treasurer's office.
That first year was a significant step forward, but not without its difficulties. Many hunters spent hours online or in line, waiting for a permit. Many found the WMU they wanted was sold out. That too has now fallen to the wayside.
Now Pennsylvania hunters will not only be able to purchase general hunting licenses and related permits, including doe tags, all at the same time but they will also be guaranteed a doe permit without having to be first in line. A Pennsylvania resident who purchases a doe tag before July 14 will be guaranteed an antlerless tag for the Wildlife Management Unit of their choice.
Adding this guarantee and extending it for 21 days will eliminate the need to stand in line for hours and hope your WMU is not sold out. On July 14, remaining doe tags will go on sale to non-residents and as in previous years, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.