Pennsylvania’s Special Firearms Season for Deer and Bear Begins This Week
On October 25, 2024, 11-year-old Matthew Furness, assisted by his father Jon Furness, donned a fluorescent orange vest at their family’s hunting grounds in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. This scene reflects the heightened safety measures taken during Pennsylvania’s special firearms seasons for black bear and white-tailed deer.
The use of fluorescent orange during these hunting periods serves as a critical safety protocol. Unlike archery equipment, which has a limited projectile range, rifles and shotguns fired during these seasons can shoot several hundred yards, increasing the risk to other outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, birdwatchers, and dog walkers.
Details of the Special Firearms Seasons
The special firearms seasons for black bear and antlerless white-tailed deer are scheduled statewide from Thursday, October 23 through Saturday, October 25, 2024. These seasons are exclusive to junior and senior license holders, Pennsylvania Game Commission disabled person permit holders, and residents actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Simultaneously, Pennsylvania runs its statewide muzzleloader season for bear between October 23 and 25, alongside the muzzleloader season for antlerless deer which began October 18 and continues through October 25.
Mandatory Use of Fluorescent Orange
During firearms seasons, hunters must wear at least 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange visible from all sides—head, chest, and back—to ensure maximum visibility. This requirement applies to all bear, deer, and elk firearms seasons, including the special firearms seasons, as well as the muzzleloader seasons.
In contrast, archery hunters are generally not required to wear orange during archery-only seasons. However, if archery equipment is used during a firearms-only season, such as the statewide bear firearms season from November 22-25 or the regular firearms season for deer from November 29 to December 13, wearing fluorescent orange becomes mandatory for safety compliance.
Expert Commentary on Safety and Wildlife Considerations
Fluorescent orange serves as a vital visual cue that reduces the risks of accidental shootings, a concern especially acute when the hunting landscape overlaps with other recreational users. The heightened safety precautions during these special seasons underscore the need for coexistence between hunters and wildlife observers.
Biologically, this period coincides with the peak of the autumn hunting season when black bears and white-tailed deer are most active in preparation for winter. Black bears, in particular, are entering hyperphagia, a phase of increased feeding and fat accumulation before hibernation, making them more visible and potentially more vulnerable to hunters during this time.
White-tailed deer also exhibit distinct behavior as they transition into the rutting season later in the year, but these special seasons target primarily antlerless deer to help manage population dynamics and maintain healthy herd structures.
Additional Information and Resources
- The Pennsylvania Game Commission provides comprehensive details on hunting seasons, bag limits, and fluorescence requirements at pa.gov.
- Hunter safety remains a priority; the fluorescent orange mandate aims to protect all outdoor enthusiasts sharing Pennsylvania’s forests.
- Archery seasons are ongoing, but hunters using firearms-based equipment should strictly adhere to orange-wear guidelines during firearms-only dates.
This week’s special firearms seasons represent a focused effort to balance wildlife management with safety and tradition in Pennsylvania’s hunting community.
Additional reporting and sources from: Pa.’s special firearms season for deer and bear happens this week – pennlive.com
