Pennsylvania’s Special Firearms Season for Deer and Bear Scheduled This Week
On October 23-25, 2024, Pennsylvania will hold its special firearms season targeting black bear and antlerless white-tailed deer. This season occurs statewide and is limited to junior and senior license holders, individuals with a Pennsylvania Game Commission disabled permit, and residents currently serving in the U.S. Armed Services.
At the Furness family hunting compound in Montrose, Susquehanna County, 11-year-old Matthew Furness prepared for the season with assistance from his father, Jon Furness, demonstrating the importance of safety gear such as fluorescent orange vests during firearm hunts.
Safety and Visibility: Fluorescent Orange Requirements
Unlike archery equipment, firearms like rifles and shotguns project bullets across longer distances, increasing safety risks. Therefore, Pennsylvania mandates that hunters participating in firearms seasons wear at least 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange visible from all angles.
According to Travis Lau, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, fluorescent orange is compulsory during all firearms seasons for deer, bear, and elk but optional during archery-only seasons.
- Special firearms seasons for bear and antlerless deer: Oct. 23-25
- Concurrent muzzleloader season for black bear: Oct. 23-25
- Muzzleloader antlerless deer season: began Oct. 18, runs through Oct. 25
Archery hunters are not required to wear orange unless they use archery equipment during a firearms-only season, such as the statewide firearms bear season Nov. 22-25 or the regular firearms deer season Nov. 29-Dec. 13.
Wildlife Context and Biological Insights
Antlerless deer hunts are critical for managing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations, which can affect forest regeneration and ecosystem balance. Similarly, controlled harvests of black bear (Ursus americanus) support healthy population levels and reduce human-bear conflicts.
The timing of these hunting seasons coincides with key biological periods. For example, October is post-fawning for deer, reducing the risk of inadvertently harvesting dependent fawns, while bear activity remains high before winter hibernation.
Further Information and Regulations
Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts can review the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s full season dates, bag limits, and fluorescent orange requirements at pa.gov.
Maintaining high visibility during these seasons is essential not only for hunter safety but also for the coexistence of non-hunting outdoor participants enjoying Pennsylvania’s woodlands.
Additional reporting and sources from: Pa.’s special firearms season for deer and bear happens this week – pennlive.com
