As the deer seasons head toward their close, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is issuing one last reminder for successful deer hunters to report their harvests.
Hunters who harvest big game in Pennsylvania are required to report their harvests to the Game Commission using one of three methods.
Hunters can go to the Game Commission’s Web site and report harvests online, they can make reports by phoning toll-free or they can fill out and return the postage-paid report cards included in the 2014-15 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest they received when they purchased their licenses.
Additionally, hunters who obtain antlerless deer permits through the Deer Management Assistance Program are required to submit a report, regardless of whether they harvested a deer.
Likewise, hunters who were issued Disease Management Area 2 antlerless deer permits must submit a report regardless of whether they harvested a deer.
Harvest reports are an important part of measuring the deer harvest, Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough said. The more hunters who report as required, the more accurate the agency’s deer harvest projections are, Hough said.
“Each hunter who submits a harvest report makes a valuable contribution to deer- management in Pennsylvania, and I thank all hunters who follow through on their obligation to report their harvests,” Hough said.
Hunters who have multiple antlerless deer licenses are reminded to make sure they file the correct report for the antlerless license used to tag the deer in the field.
The best way to report a deer harvest is online. Go to the Game Commission’s Web site, www.pgc.state.pa.us, and click on the blue box titled “Report a Harvest.” The box appears near the top of the home page, along the right side. Hunters are walked through a step-by-step process, and at the end of that process, they must click “Submit” for the report to be sent.
The toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone harvest reporting system can be accessed by dialing 1-855-PAHUNT1 (1-855-724-8681). Hunters should have their Customer Identification Number (hunting license number) and field harvest tag information with them when they call, and should speak clearly and distinctly when reporting harvests, especially when providing the Wildlife Management Unit number and letter.
Hunters may report one or more harvests in a single session, and responses to all harvest questions are required.
Hunters who use the toll-free number to submit a harvest report will receive a confirmation number, which they can write down and keep as proof of reporting. Likewise, those who report online can print or save a copy of their harvest report submission.
Hunters still have the option to file harvest report postcards, which are orange and included as tear-out sheets in the Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest.
