GAME COMMISSION RELEASES 2003-2004

DEER HARVEST NUMBERS

Antlerless deer harvest is 2nd highest;

total harvest ranks 4th highest



HARRISBURG - Commonwealth hunters recorded the fourth highest deer harvest in state history, including the second highest antlerless deer harvest, during the 2003-04 seasons, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission today.



Hunters took 464,840 deer - including 322,620 antlerless deer and 142,220 antlered deer - during the slate of deer seasons that ran from Oct. 4, 2003, through Jan. 10, 2004. During the 2002-03 season, hunters harvested an all-time record of 517,529 deer. Other record years were 2000-01 (504,600), 2001-02 (486,014) and 1995-96 (430,583).



"Given the challenges hunters faced - from poor weather to spotty food sources - they were able to fill their tags and move the overall deer program toward its goal of balancing the deer herd with its habitat and saving more bucks," said Dr. Gary Alt, Deer Management Section Supervisor. "Pennsylvania's deer management program is right on track. The Board of Game Commissioners, Executive Director Vern Ross and hunters deserve all the credit for making it happen."



Daily harvest information gleaned from hunter report cards detailed just how much of an impact weather had on hunting success during the two-week regular firearms deer season, particularly on the opening day and first Saturday.



"What we saw when we broke down the rifle season deer harvest by day was a dramatic decline on opening day and the first Saturday - down more than 20 percent from last year," Alt said. "However, the deer harvest during the second week - when weather conditions improved - was more than 20 percent higher."



Alt stressed that the effects of antler restrictions were in line with predictions made last year. (See News Release #18-03, issued on March 20, 2003.)



"In 2002-03, we had a higher buck harvest in the three-point area than we expected - due to a mild winter during 2001-02, and a tremendous acorn crop during 2001 - and that allowed bucks in those areas to put more energy into antler development," Alt said. "But with the harsher winter of 2002-03 and a poor acorn crop during 2002, bucks didn't have the excess energy to put into antler development, and we predicted that this year's buck harvest would decline."



Hunters purchased 946,037 of the 973,000 antlerless deer licenses allocated by the Game Commission. The antlerless harvest of 322,620 was comprised of 195,740 adult does, 58,720 first-year does and 68,160 first-year bucks.



The 2003-04 archery harvest was 65,060 (30,840 antlered and 34,220 antlerless), compared to the 2002-03 harvest of 69,648 (33,476 antlered and 36,172 antlerless).



"The most notable change in the archery season was that bowhunters were taking more antlerless deer later in the season than in previous years," Alt said. "Also, there was a decline in the archery buck harvest that can be attributed to the fact that hunters were required to adhere to new antler restrictions for the first time in special regulation areas, where archery hunters take their greatest number of deer, and an enlargement of the four-point area in the western part of the state."



Alt noted that the muzzleloader antlerless deer harvest increased over the previous year's by nearly 3,000. The 2003-04 harvest was 35,660 (1,240 antlered and 34,420 antlerless), up from last year's 32,640 (1,279 antlered and 31,361 antlerless).



"Muzzleloader hunters really seem to be enjoying the opportunity to hunt for deer when the weather is warmer," Alt said. "And in doing so, they really have been helping with the deer program by harvesting antlerless deer earlier in the fall."



Results of the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) are not available at this time. The agency is surveying all DMAP antlerless deer permit holders to learn more about their harvest and hunting. He also noted that the agency will provide a more complete analysis of the 2003-04 deer harvest at the Board of Game Commissioners meeting on April 19-20.



Deer harvests by WMU are as follows:



WMU 1A: archery, 1,760 antlered, 1,700 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,650 antlerless; rifle, 4,180 antlered, 12,580 antlerless; total, 5,980 antlered, 15,930 antlerless.



WMU 1B: archery, 1,490 antlered, 1,520 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,300 antlerless; rifle, 5,170 antlered, 14,160 antlerless; total, 6,710 antlered, 16,980 antlerless.



WMU 2A: archery, 1,550 antlered, 1,390 antlerless; muzzleloader, 70 antlered, 2,060 antlerless; rifle, 6,200 antlered, 13,080 antlerless; total, 7,820 antlered, 16,530 antlerless.



WMU 2B: archery, 1,740 antlered, 2,480 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,060 antlerless; rifle, 2,600 antlered, 7,070 antlerless; total, 4,390 antlered, 10,610 antlerless.



WMU 2C: archery, 2,350 antlered, 2,160 antlerless; muzzleloader, 140 antlered, 2,830 antlerless; rifle, 9,170 antlered, 20,440 antlerless; total, 11,660 antlered, 25,430 antlerless.



WMU 2D: archery, 2,580 antlered, 1,810 antlerless; muzzleloader, 100 antlered, 2,500 antlerless; rifle, 7,880 antlered, 19,070 antlerless; total, 10,560 antlered, 23,380 antlerless.



WMU 2E: archery, 930 antlered, 800 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,300 antlerless; rifle, 4,030 antlered, 9,050 antlerless; total, 5,000 antlered, 11,150 antlerless.



WMU 2F: archery, 970 antlered, 1,010 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,550 antlerless; rifle, 6,430 antlered, 15,140 antlerless; total, 7,450 antlered, 17,700 antlerless.



WMU 2G: archery, 1,020 antlered, 1,370 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 2,290 antlerless; rifle, 9,040 antlered, 16,710 antlerless; total, 10,110 antlered, 20,370 antlerless.



WMU 3A: archery, 450 antlered, 600 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 900 antlerless; rifle, 3,990 antlered, 7,360 antlerless; total, 4,450 antlered, 8,860 antlerless.



WMU 3B: archery, 1,000 antlered, 1,070 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 1,550 antlerless; rifle, 5,490 antlered, 11,100 antlerless; total, 6,520 antlered, 13,720 antlerless.



WMU 3C: archery, 920 antlered, 1,030 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 1,560 antlerless; rifle, 5,530 antlered, 13,180 antlerless; total, 6,480 antlered, 15,770 antlerless.



WMU 3D: archery, 940 antlered, 1,390 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,650 antlerless; rifle, 3,890 antlered, 10,110 antlerless; total, 4,870 antlered, 13,150 antlerless.



WMU 4A: archery, 620 antlered, 650 antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 antlered, 1,570 antlerless; rifle, 5,390 antlered, 9,890 antlerless; total, 6,090 antlered, 12,110 antlerless.



WMU 4B: archery, 710 antlered, 800 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 1,130 antlerless; rifle, 3,610 antlered, 8,590 antlerless; total, 4,350 antlered, 10,520 antlerless.



WMU 4C: archery, 1,550 antlered, 1,810 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,530 antlerless; rifle, 4,350 antlered, 10,250 antlerless; total, 5,950 antlered, 13,590 antlerless.



WMU 4D: archery, 1,100 antlered, 1,230 antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 antlered, 1,760 antlerless; rifle, 6,290 antlered, 13,180 antlerless; total, 7,470 antlered, 16,170 antlerless.



WMU 4E: archery, 1,080 antlered, 1,150 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,320 antlerless; rifle, 4,100 antlered, 9,650 antlerless; total, 5,220 antlered, 12,120 antlerless.



WMU 5A: archery, 670 antlered, 790 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,060 antlerless; rifle, 2,690 antlered, 5,810 antlerless; total, 3,400 antlered, 7,660 antlerless.



WMU 5B: archery, 3,280 antlered, 3,480 antlerless; muzzleloader, 100 antlered, 2,060 antlerless; rifle, 4,990 antlered, 12,430 antlerless; total, 8,370 antlered, 17,970 antlerless.



WMU 5C: archery, 3,030 antlered, 4,130 antlerless; muzzleloader, 90 antlered, 1,370 antlerless; rifle, 3,750 antlered, 11,140 antlerless; total, 6,870 antlered, 16,640 antlerless.



WMU 5D: archery, 980 antlered, 1,630 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 230 antlerless; rifle, 780 antlered, 2,470 antlerless; total, 1,780 antlered, 4,330 antlerless.



Unknown WMU: archery, 120 antlered, 220 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 190 antlerless; rifle, 590 antlered, 1,520 antlerless; total, 720 antlered, 1,930 antlerless.



Deer harvests by county are as follows:



Adams: archery, 320 antlered, 360 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 460 antlerless; rifle, 1,100 antlered, 2,650 antlerless; total, 1,440 antlered, 3,470 antlerless.



Allegheny: archery, 1,020 antlered, 1,860 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 400 antlerless; rifle, 650 antlered, 2,530 antlerless; total, 1,700 antlered, 4,790 antlerless.



Armstrong: archery, 810 antlered, 400 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 660 antlerless; rifle, 2,270 antlered, 5,070 antlerless; total, 3,110 antlered, 6,130 antlerless.



Beaver: archery, 370 antlered, 400 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 380 antlerless; rifle, 930 antlered, 2,180 antlerless; total, 1,310 antlered, 2,960 antlerless.



Bedford: archery, 340 antlered, 340 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 940 antlerless; rifle, 2,920 antlered, 6,310 antlerless; total, 3,300 antlered, 7,590 antlerless.



Berks: archery, 1,480 antlered, 1,680 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 880 antlerless; rifle, 2,560 antlered, 7,090 antlerless; total, 4,080 antlered, 9,650 antlerless.



Blair: archery, 320 antlered, 320 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 490 antlerless; rifle, 1,590 antlered, 3,340 antlerless; total, 1,940 antlered, 4,150 antlerless.



Bradford: archery, 690 antlered, 650 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 1,050 antlerless; rifle, 3,840 antlered, 8,030 antlerless; total, 4,550 antlered, 9,730 antlerless.



Bucks: archery, 1,050 antlered, 1,190 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 300 antlerless; rifle, 880 antlered, 2,290 antlerless; total, 1,960 antlered, 3,780 antlerless.



Butler: archery, 940 antlered, 820 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 850 antlerless; rifle, 1,900 antlered, 6,150 antlerless; total, 2,860 antlered, 7,820 antlerless.



Cambria: archery, 670 antlered, 490 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 710 antlerless; rifle, 2,080 antlered, 4,630 antlerless; total, 2,780 antlered, 5,830 antlerless.



Cameron: archery, 30 antlered, 80 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 150 antlerless; rifle, 710 antlered, 920 antlerless; total, 740 antlered, 1,150 antlerless.



Carbon: archery, 210 antlered, 230 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 330 antlerless; rifle, 690 antlered, 1,740 antlerless; total, 900 antlered, 2,300 antlerless.



Centre: archery, 300 antlered, 420 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 710 antlerless; rifle, 2,640 antlered, 5,430 antlerless; total, 2,970 antlered, 6,560 antlerless.



Chester: archery, 990 antlered, 1,630 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 370 antlerless; rifle, 1,000 antlered, 3,400 antlerless; total, 2,040 antlered, 5,400 antlerless.



Clarion: archery, 570 antlered, 340 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 520 antlerless; rifle, 2,000 antlered, 4,160 antlerless; total, 2,600 antlered, 5,020 antlerless.



Clearfield: archery, 540 antlered, 640 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 1,130 antlerless; rifle, 3,410 antlered, 7,840 antlerless; total, 3,970 antlered, 9,610 antlerless.



Clinton: archery, 170 antlered, 250 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 450 antlerless; rifle, 1,400 antlered, 2,540 antlerless; total, 1,580 antlered, 3,240 antlerless.



Columbia: archery, 340 antlered, 370 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 470 antlerless; rifle, 1,480 antlered, 3,130 antlerless; total, 1,830 antlered, 3,970 antlerless.



Crawford: archery, 990 antlered, 940 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 790 antlerless; rifle, 3,080 antlered, 7,710 antlerless; total, 4,110 antlered, 9,440 antlerless.



Cumberland: archery, 260 antlered, 290 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 360 antlerless; rifle, 780 antlered, 1,940 antlerless; total, 1,050 antlered, 2,590 antlerless.



Dauphin: archery, 590 antlered, 630 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 430 antlerless; rifle, 1,090 antlered, 2,330 antlerless; total, 1,700 antlered, 3,390 antlerless.



Delaware: archery, 220 antlered, 610 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 30 antlerless; rifle, 180 antlered, 700 antlerless; total, 400 antlered, 1,340 antlerless.



Elk: archery, 120 antlered, 120 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 270 antlerless; rifle, 1,790 antlered, 2,810 antlerless; total, 1,920 antlered, 3,200 antlerless.



Erie: archery, 500 antlered, 540 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 330 antlerless; rifle, 1,470 antlered, 4,490 antlerless; total, 1,980 antlered, 5,360 antlerless.



Fayette: archery, 530 antlered, 360 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 530 antlerless; rifle, 2,340 antlered, 3,720 antlerless; total, 2,920 antlered, 4,610 antlerless.



Forest: archery, 130 antlered, 230 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 300 antlerless; rifle, 1,260 antlered, 3,310 antlerless; total, 1,400 antlered, 3,840 antlerless.



Franklin: archery, 290 antlered, 400 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 670 antlerless; rifle, 2,000 antlered, 3,530 antlerless; total, 2,310 antlered, 4,600 antlerless.



Fulton: archery, 160 antlered, 120 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 460 antlerless; rifle, 1,630 antlered, 1,930 antlerless; total, 1,820 antlered, 2,510 antlerless.



Greene: archery, 300 antlered, 330 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 810 antlerless; rifle, 1,880 antlered, 5,090 antlerless; total, 2,200 antlered, 6,230 antlerless.



Huntingdon: archery, 250 antlered, 370 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 640 antlerless; rifle, 2,670 antlered, 5,470 antlerless; total, 2,940 antlered, 6,480 antlerless.



Indiana: archery, 900 antlered, 600 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 960 antlerless; rifle, 3,240 antlered, 6,960 antlerless; total, 4,170 antlered, 8,520 antlerless.



Jefferson: archery, 470 antlered, 430 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 660 antlerless; rifle, 2,080 antlered, 5,100 antlerless; total, 2,570 antlered, 6,190 antlerless.



Juniata: archery, 130 antlered, 160 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 210 antlerless; rifle, 780 antlered, 1,990 antlerless; total, 910 antlered, 2,360 antlerless.



Lackawanna: archery, 140 antlered, 210 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 300 antlerless; rifle, 650 antlered, 2,080 antlerless; total, 800 antlered, 2,590 antlerless.



Lancaster: archery, 720 antlered, 960 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 530 antlerless; rifle, 950 antlered, 2,940 antlerless; total, 1,700 antlered, 4,430 antlerless.



Lawrence: archery, 280 antlered, 250 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 250 antlerless; rifle, 580 antlered, 1,580 antlerless; total, 860 antlered, 2,080 antlerless.



Lebanon: archery, 340 antlered, 360 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 240 antlerless; rifle, 530 antlered, 1,290 antlerless; total, 880 antlered, 1,890 antlerless.



Lehigh: archery, 400 antlered, 560 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 250 antlerless; rifle, 760 antlered, 1,950 antlerless; total, 1,180 antlered, 2,760 antlerless.



Luzerne: archery, 500 antlered, 500 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 700 antlerless; rifle, 2,230 antlered, 4,940 antlerless; total, 2,740 antlered, 6,140 antlerless.



Lycoming: archery, 370 antlered, 380 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 560 antlerless; rifle, 2,190 antlered, 3,660 antlerless; total, 2,580 antlered, 4,600 antlerless.



McKean: archery, 160 antlered, 170 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 350 antlerless; rifle, 2,340 antlered, 4,000 antlerless; total, 2,510 antlered, 4,520 antlerless.



Mercer: archery, 710 antlered, 730 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 660 antlerless; rifle, 1,580 antlered, 5,380 antlerless; total, 2,310 antlered, 6,770 antlerless.



Mifflin: archery, 220 antlered, 140 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 200 antlerless; rifle, 840 antlered, 1,550 antlerless; total, 1,070 antlered, 1,890 antlerless.



Monroe: archery, 210 antlered, 380 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 390 antlerless; rifle, 870 antlered, 2,450 antlerless; total, 1,100 antlered, 3,220 antlerless.



Montgomery: archery, 660 antlered, 940 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 120 antlerless; rifle, 390 antlered, 1,360 antlerless; total, 1,050 antlered, 2,420 antlerless.



Montour: archery, 100 antlered, 100 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 110 antlerless; rifle, 380 antlered, 1,060 antlerless; total, 490 antlered, 1,270 antlerless.



Northampton: archery, 340 antlered, 520 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 370 antlerless; rifle, 710 antlered, 2,310 antlerless; total, 1,060 antlered, 3,200 antlerless.



Northumberland: archery, 250 antlered, 250 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 310 antlerless; rifle, 1,000 antlered, 2,510 antlerless; total, 1,260 antlered, 3,070 antlerless.



Perry: archery, 310 antlered, 340 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 430 antlerless; rifle, 1,310 antlered, 3,770 antlerless; total, 1,630 antlered, 4,540 antlerless.



Philadelphia: archery, 0 antlered, 60 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 0 antlerless; rifle, 0 antlered, 20 antlerless; total, 0 antlered, 80 antlerless.



Pike: archery, 240 antlered, 400 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 550 antlerless; rifle, 1,070 antlered, 2,780 antlerless; total, 1,310 antlered, 3,730 antlerless.



Potter: archery, 270 antlered, 510 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 790 antlerless; rifle, 2,680 antlered, 5,790 antlerless; total, 2,950 antlered, 7,090 antlerless.



Schuylkill: archery, 600 antlered, 750 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 700 antlerless; rifle, 2,150 antlered, 5,060 antlerless; total, 2,770 antlered, 6,510 antlerless.



Snyder: archery, 160 antlered, 240 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 200 antlerless; rifle, 480 antlered, 1,440 antlerless; total, 640 antlered, 1,880 antlerless.



Somerset: archery, 600 antlered, 700 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 960 antlerless; rifle, 3,130 antlered, 7,290 antlerless; total, 3,770 antlered, 8,950 antlerless.



Sullivan: archery, 150 antlered, 230 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 360 antlerless; rifle, 880 antlered, 2,160 antlerless; total, 1,030 antlered, 2,750 antlerless.



Susquehanna: archery, 300 antlered, 410 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 610 antlerless; rifle, 2,070 antlered, 5,800 antlerless; total, 2,390 antlered, 6,820 antlerless.



Tioga: archery, 430 antlered, 520 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 660 antlerless; rifle, 3,250 antlered, 5,320 antlerless; total, 3,700 antlered, 6,500 antlerless.



Union: archery, 190 antlered, 190 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 170 antlerless; rifle, 550 antlered, 1,330 antlerless; total, 750 antlered, 1,690 antlerless.



Venango: archery, 440 antlered, 380 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 670 antlerless; rifle, 1,930 antlered, 5,490 antlerless; total, 2,390 antlered, 6,540 antlerless.



Warren: archery, 290 antlered, 390 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 500 antlerless; rifle, 2,180 antlered, 6,040 antlerless; total, 2,480 antlered, 6,930 antlerless.



Washington: archery, 1,000 antlered, 780 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,050 antlerless; rifle, 3,630 antlered, 6,550 antlerless; total, 4,670 antlered, 8,380 antlerless.



Wayne: archery, 260 antlered, 280 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 400 antlerless; rifle, 1,580 antlered, 3,310 antlerless; total, 1,850 antlered, 3,990 antlerless.



Westmoreland: archery, 1,350 antlered, 1,290 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,060 antlerless; rifle, 2,950 antlered, 7,970 antlerless; total, 4,350 antlered, 10,320 antlerless.



Wyoming: archery, 230 antlered, 200 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 240 antlerless; rifle, 1,170 antlered, 2,030 antlerless; total, 1,410 antlered, 2,470 antlerless.



York: archery, 1,500 antlered, 1,280 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 840 antlerless; rifle, 2,200 antlered, 4,740 antlerless; total, 3,760 antlered, 6,860 antlerless.



Unknown County: archery, 120 antlered, 220 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 840 antlerless; rifle, 2,220 antlered, 4,740 antlerless; total, 3,760 antlered, 6,860 antlerless.