NorCo: Antlerless Deer Licenses Go On Sale June 26

From Northampton County: The Northampton County Department of Fiscal Affairs announced changes directed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for purchasing antlerless deer licenses for this year’s hunting season.

The new antlerless license purchasing process will no longer accept mail-in applications. Hunters must purchase 2023-2024 antlerless licenses online at HuntFish.pa.gov or any in-store hunting license issuing agent. Create an account on HuntFish.pa.gov in advance to ensure your purchase can be completed when licenses go on sale.

The Northampton County Revenue Division is an authorized issuing agent located on the 2nd Floor of the Northampton County Government Center (669 Washington St., Easton, PA 18042).

The first day of antlerless license sales for residents is on Monday, June 26. Nonresidents can begin purchasing antlerless licenses on Monday, July 10.

The 2023-2024 Deer Season starts on September 16, 2023, and will end on January 27, 2024.

Jim Hunter: Watching the Bucks ... and the Does

Doe hunting licenses first became available on July 13 to state residents in any one of 23 different areas. Much of Northampton County, for example, is in WMU 3D. Hunters seeking a license pick out three Wildlife Management Units in case the first or second choice is sold out. Nonresidents can apply for license, too, but they must wait until July 27.

Northampton County is one of 12 licensing agents for the state. Lehigh County does not accept applications for doe licenses.

According to Scott Parsons, at least ten hunters have complained to him that they sent in applications for doe licenses to Northampton County, but have been turned down in the northern areas that are sold out.  He has been told that other hunters who have applied elsewhere were able to get their first choice honored. "It seems to me the problem is here," remarked Parsons, wondering whether staffing shortages have resulted in processing shortages.

Fiscal Affairs Director Jim Hunter denied there are any staffing shortages. Staff in Revenue is down one person, but there have been no delays in processing applications promptly, even if overtime is required.

After Hunter was done explaining that there have been no issues, Hayden Phillips remarked, "Not only do we have this guy watching the bucks, but now we have him to watch the does."