'Doe' license applications accepted on Monday

A new era in antlerless deer license sales will dawn on Monday and the Pa. Game Commission and county treasurers say they're ready.

Treasurers will begin accepting applications - through the mail only - - three weeks earlier than in past years: starting Monday, July 13, from Pennsylvania residents.

For the first time, hunters will be able to submit an application to any county treasurer. The request will list the hunter's first three choices, in order of preference, for a specific Wildlife Management Unit. If an applicant's first choice has no licenses available, the county treasurer will move to the second or third WMU preference.

Fees are the same as they have been since 1999. However, there is a 70- cent transaction fee, paid directly to the company that runs the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS). Checks must be made payable to "County Treasurer" for $6.70.

Hunters must use the new pink envelopes, which are provided to each license buyer by the issuing agents or with licenses via the Game Commission's website (pgc.state.pa.us), County treasurers will send licenses out in time for the statewide archery deer season opener on Oct. 3.

Regular hunting licenses are still on sale at the treasurer's office or at license issuing agents in the county, using PALS. This eliminates data entry; provides a more secure, reliable and accurate means to gather and store license holder records; and eliminates license buyer duplicity.

County treasurers and other license agents can now issue senior lifetime licenses; elk and bobcat drawing applications; resident landowner reducedfee hunting licenses and Deer Management Assistance Program harvest permits. The system is also set up to handle spring gobbler bonus tags and mentored youth hunter permits.

The Game Commission is also rolling out a new online reporting system for antlered and antlerless deer, as well as fall turkey and spring gobbler. Use of the internet-based system will save on the cost of postage and data entry.