At the writing of this article, the Pennsylvania Game Commission was still considering the slate of deer seasons for 2007-08. Here’s what was proposed at the time for the Special Regulations Area WMUs, which are WMUs 5B, 5C, 5D, 2A and 2B:

The general antlered and antlerless archery deer seasons in the above units is expected to run from Sept. 29 through Nov. 10, and Dec. 26 through Jan. 12. The early muzzleloader season, when only antlerless deer may be taken, is expected to run from Oct. 13 through 20. The late flintlock season, when antlered and antlerless deer may be taken, is expected to run from Dec. 26 through Jan. 12. A youth-only firearms antlerless season is set to run from Oct. 18 through 20.

The firearms antlered and antlerless deer season in all units is expected to run from Nov. 26 through Dec. 8. And here’s where extra hunting is allowed in some Special Regulations Area WMUs. In WMUs 5C and 5D, firearms hunters may hunt antlerless deer from Dec. 10 through 22 and Dec. 26 through Jan. 26. In WMU 2B, firearms hunters may hunt antlerless deer from Dec. 26 through Jan. 26.

Proposed for this year are special, antlerless-only archery deer seasons. Extra days are proposed for bowhunters in WMUs 5C and 5D from Sept. 15 through 28 and Nov. 12 through 24. Extra days for bowhunters in WMU 2B are proposed for Dec. 10 through 22.

It’s important to note that in the portion of Chester County in WMU 5B and the portion of Allegheny County in WMU 2A, hunters must follow the Special Regulations Area firearms restrictions. But they are not afforded any of the additional hunting days allowed in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D.

BUCKS COUNTY
WCO Glen Campbell, who covers part of Bucks County, said that hunters willing to put in some time scouting should have no problem finding the buck of their dreams.

“Large, antlered deer may be found throughout the district,” he said.

The 1,711-acre Tyler State Park off Route 332 near Newtown in southern Bucks County traditionally holds a controlled hunt for both antlered and antlerless deer during the firearms season. Participants are selected by lottery drawing. Sportsmen interested in hunting at Tyler State Park should call the park office at (215) 968-2021 after Labor Day, but before the end of September, to find out if the park will be holding a hunt this season. Call the same number to obtain an application to participate and to learn the rules of the special hunt.

Nearly 3,000 acres of the 5,283-acre Nockamixon State Park in north-central Bucks County are open to hunting. The park sits largely on the south side of Route 563, five miles east of Quakertown. Check out the woods at the east end of the park south of Route 563. Park near the Haycock boat launch and follow the lake shoreline south. The woods to the west offer great deer hunting.

For a map of Nockamixon, call the park office at (215) 529-7300.

State Game Lands (SGL) 56 is a complicated property of six unconnected tracts in Bridgeton, Nockamixon and Tinicum townships near the Delaware River. Altogether, SGL 56 offers 1,737 acres of public hunting.

Access to the two largest sections of SGL 56 is off Kintner Hill Road, east of Route 611, and off Auger Road west of Route 32.

SGL 157 encompasses 2,011 acres on Haycock Mountain north of Nockamixon State Park off Route 563. There are no roads leading to SGL 157’s interior, so hunters looking for deer and solitude would do well to park in the lot adjacent to the PGC’s rifle range off Sawmill Road in the southwest end of the tract and hike east. Another good bet is to park in the lot on Stony Garden Road in the northern end of SGL 157 and hike south to the top of Haycock Mountain.

SGLs 139 and 196 are two of the smallest tracts of game lands in the state. They’re only a few miles apart from each other, south of Quakertown, on either side of Route 309. SGL 196 encompasses 308 acres of old farmland on the west side of Route 309.

SGL 139 is divided into three tracts totaling 261 acres east of Route 309 consisting of hardwood stands, creek bottoms and swamplands, all of which are prime deer habitats.