Deer seasons opening

Pennsylvania's firearms antlerless deer seasons are set to open on Saturday.

The early muzzleloader season runs through Saturday, Oct. 20. A special firearms season for junior and senior hunters is set Oct. 18-20.

Mark Fair, wildlife conservation officer for the Pa. Game Commission, said the deer herd has been smaller in recent years, but adds that there are still ample whitetails for those who are willing to work for them.

"If you want to see a deer behind every tree, then hunting will be fair," said Fair, who covers a portion of Cameron County along with his Potter County responsibilities while the Cameron WCO post remains unfilled.

Fair added that once buck season rolls around, hunters will be pleased with what they find.

"Deer numbers are low historically, but monster buck sightings are frequently occurring," Fair said. "If largerack bucks are your preference, then hunting should be excellent."

Hunters may take only antlerless deer in the early muzzleloader and special firearms seasons - defined as a deer without antlers, or a deer with antlers, both of which are less than three inches in length.

The Game Commission established the October seasons to expand hunting opportunities while supporting the agency's deer management program through antlerless deer harvests.

Last year, hunters statewide took approximately 12,300 deer in the early muzzleloader season and about 8,500 in the special firearms season. The combined total comprised less than 10 percent of the 2006 antlerless deer harvest, which was 226,270.

Hunters in either of the October firearms season are required to wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing on the head, chest and back combined. Bowhunters afield during the overlap of the archery and October antlerless firearms seasons also must wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange while moving and display an orange alert band while on stand.