The Deer Management Assistance Program, commonly known as simply DMAP, was established by the Game Commission in 2003 to assist landowners in countering crop damage.

Over the years, the program has expanded and changed multiple times but remains a valuable tool in controlling local doe populations.

DMAP permits allow a hunter to harvest one doe, or antlerless deer, per tag in a pre-designated area. This area may be a specific property or a geographic area. Permits are obtained via the HuntFishPA website or a license issuing agent, the same as regular hunting licenses or antlerless permits.

They are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of DMAP permits a hunter can obtain depends on whether they first collect coupons from landowners. With coupons, a hunter may get up to four DMAP permits; without coupons, they are limited to tow permits. Each permit costs $10.97 for residents and $35.97 for non-residents.

By now, some of you are probably asking yourself but why? After all, there are more doe tags than ever, and the cost is significantly less than a DMAP permit. While this is true, the DMAP permit is still a valuable part of the overall deer management program.

DMAP permits allow for an increased harvest in a smaller geographic area than regular doe tags issued on a WMA basis.

Although there are more doe permits available than at any time in recent years, that does not mean that some popular WMAs will not sell out before some hunters obtaining the desired number of tags. DMAP permits will allow these hunters the opportunity to continue hunting in the desired areas.

Holders of DMAP permits are able to participate in a late-antlerless firearms season, which will run from December 26, 2025, to January 24, 2026.

When the DMAP program was first started, it was not the easiest to take advantage of. Research into participating landowners, determining the number of permits available, and completing the mandatory end-of-season report (required whether or not a harvest is made) were all confusing and time-consuming, especially for new users.

However, the Game Commission has done a great job of making all this information available at the click of a button.

Licenses and DMAP permits can be purchased online at www.huntfish.pa.gov.

Participating landowner maps can be viewed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website www.pgc.pa.gov

End-of-season reports can also be submitted electronically via www.huntfish.pa.gov.

One of the most significant changes to the original DMAP concept was the expansion to non-agricultural properties. What was once a means of addressing primarily crop damage is now used to address forest damage, as well as the isolated overpopulation of whitetail and CWD.

As such, DMAP permits are now available on an expanded number of properties, including DCNR State Parks and State Forests as well as PGC State Gamelands.