Applying early boosts chances for hunters seeking antlerless tags and adding some more deer meat to your freezer this hunting season.

Pennsylvania deer hunters who want to better their chances of obtaining an antlerless license will want to send in applications during the first round of sales set to kick off on Monday, July 13.

During the first three weeks applications are accepted, only Pennsylvania residents may apply. Nonresidents may apply beginning Monday, July 27. Then beginning on Monday, Aug. 3, residents and nonresidents may apply for any unsold licenses that remain. The second round of unsold license sales will begin Monday, Aug. 17.

Applications received before the Monday start of any round will be returned to sender.

Applications for DMA 2 Antlerless Deer Permits, which are valid during any open deer season, but only in Disease Management Area 2, also go on sale Monday.

Compared to the previous license year, 33,000 fewer antlerless licenses have been allocated statewide this year, and most wildlife-management units (WMUs) have fewer licenses available. That means submitting a timely application is as important as ever for hunters, said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough.

“In wildlife-management units where the allocation is relatively small, it never takes long for licenses to sell out,” Hough said. “And while we’ve held steady the number of licenses to be allocated in some WMUs, and increased it in a handful of others, the fact remains there are fewer licenses available this year, and hunters who want to be sure they get one would be wise not to wait.”

Hunters applying for 2015-16 antlerless deer licenses will follow the same process that has been in place during recent years. License fees also remain unchanged.

Antlerless deer license applications must be mailed directly to a county treasurer’s office, with the exception of the Philadelphia and Lehigh county treasurer offices, which no longer issue antlerless deer licenses. Treasurers across the state will accept applications for antlerless licenses covering any WMU, but hunters should note that only county treasurers issue tags. The Pennsylvania Game Commission does not accept applications.

A list of participating treasurers and their mailing addresses appear on Page 36 of the 2015-16 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest, which hunters can pick up from a licensing agent.

The digest also is available to view online at the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us.

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