Basic Deer Regulations

Earn-A-Buck
zones include Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 36, 40, 41, 49, 50, 51 and 67. The first deer harvested by the hunter from these zones during Fall Bow, Permit Bow, Permit Muzzleloader and Permit Shotgun seasons through Dec. 9, 2006 must be an antlerless deer. Earn-A-Buck is a tool to reduce growth of deer herds in areas where the harvest of antlerless animals under regular harvest guidelines is insufficient to reach desired population levels. The number of antlerless deer harvested, including does, is increased substantially in Earn-A-Buck zones.

Bank-A-Doe is a new program available only in Earn-A-Buck zones.
Zones include Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 36, 40, 41, 49, 50, 51 during the Fall Bow Season. Hunters MUST go only to participating check stations. See highlighted deer check stations in the list of Check Stations (.pdf file) to be eligible for this program To participate in the Bank-A-Doe Program:
1. Hunters MUST complete a Bank-A-Doe Harvest Record Card available only at participating Bank-A-Doe check stations. See highlighted stations in the check station list: Checkstations.pdf (Need Adobe Reader)
The completed Bank-A-Doe Harvest Record Card will include the hunter's personal information, harvest date, possession seal number and list the Bank-A-Doe check station(s) used for each of the TWO antlerless deer harvested during the Fall Bow Season.
2. Hunters MUST check in TWO antlerless deer harvested from any Earn-A-Buck Zone durign the Fall Bow Season. This qualifies the hunter to harvest an antlered deer on their first tage during the Permit Bow Season.
3. Both of the antlerless deer (harvested during Fall Bow) and the antlered buck (harvested durign Permit Bow) MUST be checked in only at a participating Bank-A-Doe station; See highlighted stations in the check station list: Checkstations.pdf (Need Adobe Reader).
As in the past, when you harvest only one antlerless deer during Fall Bow in any EAB zone, you are then eligible to harvest one antlered deer during the Fall Bow season. So take your fisrt Fall Bow deer to a Bank-A-Doe check station and complete the Harvest Record Card.
4. Hunters MUST also check their qualified, first tag Permit Bow antlered deer at one of the Bank-A-Doe stations. Here the Bank-A-Doe Harvest Record card now MUST be surrendered with the Permit Bow Transportation Tag and the Permit Bow Antlered Buck Stub.

NOTE: Antlerless deer taken from a non-EAB zone will NOT satisfy the Bank-A-Doe requirement. Antlerless deer checked at non-participating check stations DO NOT satisfy the Bank-A-Doe requirement. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Quality Deer Management zones include Zones 3, 6, 9, 13, 27, 29, 35, 37, 40, 59, 63 and 67. The harvest of antlered deer from these zones during any open season is restricted to deer with at least one antler having a minimum of three antler points as defined on the Deer Main page. The goal of this antler point restriction strategy as part of Quality Deer Management is to reduce harvest pressure on the 1-1/2 year-old antlered deer in the expectation that they will survive to produce larger antlers as older animals.

Special Areas Deer Management zones include Zones 37, 38, 39. 40, 53,54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 64, 66 and 67. They are generally small, publicly owned properties administered by county, federal or state agencies (other than Fish and Wildlife of Fish and Wildlife) where deer season dates, bag limits or regulations differ from those of the surrounding deer management zone. See Special Areas page for details.

Spotlighting
Spotlighting deer during hours of darkness from a vehicle is illegal while in possession of a weapon capable of killing deer, whether the weapon is cased or uncased or in a locked compartment. This does not apply to the regular use of headlights when traveling in a normal manner on public or private roads.

Decoys and Electronic Devices
Persons may hunt with the aid of deer decoys statewide in those zones open for deer hunting during the Fall Bow, Permit Bow and Winter Bow Seasons only.
When carrying or moving deer decoys for the purpose of hunting, persons must wear a fluorescent orange hat or other garment consisting of at least 200 square inches of fluorescent orange material, which shall be visible from all sides as currently required for firearm deer hunting.
It is unlawful to hunt for deer with the aid of an electronic calling device or any devise, which casts a beam of light upon the deer.

Baiting Regulation
Baiting is allowed for deer hunting. Hunters may hunt for deer while in a tree, on the ground, or in a structure and from any height or any distance from the bait pile. Hunters should check with the landowner or administrative agency of the land before placing bait on their hunting area as baiting is not allowed on properties such as National Wildlife Refuges or on the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

After Checking Your Deer - Possession/Sale