It's December, and you still hold an unfilled deer tag -- or two. Don't fret. There are still plenty of opportunities to hunt in Pennsylvania this month.

The general statewide firearms deer season opened Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 9. Both antlered and antlerless deer are fair game during that period.

In wildlife management units (WMUs) 5C and 5D, the firearms doe season continues to Dec. 23 and then resumes from Dec. 26 through Jan. 27. During this period, hunters may take as many antlerless deer as they have permits for in these two WMUs.

There's also a firearms season for antlerless deer from Dec. 26 through Jan. 13 in WMU 2B, and the statewide late archery and flintlock season runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 13. Both antlered and antlerless deer are legal game during this season.

Hunting deer in December is exciting. For my money, this is the best time of the year to practice one of the most successful deer-hunting tactics -- the drive. Farm crops are all harvested. Hardwood foliage is mostly gone. There's a good chance for snow to be on the ground. All of these factors make visibility in the woods as good as it's ever going to be, which is important when hunting deer on a drive. If you can't see a deer, you have no chance of shooting it.

Also, though deer herds have been thinned by hunters over the previous two months, they tend to travel in herds at this time of year in and stick close to the few patches of good security cover and available food sources.

It shouldn't be difficult to find deer in December. Here's a look at some of the best places to go for a productive deer hunt on public land in the Keystone State this month:

MARSH CREEK STATE PARK
Any discussion about great opportunities for deer hunting in December has to mention WMU 5C, one of the few units in Pennsylvania where deer hunting is permitted throughout the month, except for a few days around Christmas. Marsh Creek State Park is in the north-central part of Chester County north of Downingtown, in WMU 5C. It's easily accessed by taking Route 100 north from the Downingtown interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In the village of Eagle, take Conestoga Road to the left off Route 100, then turn left on Park Road to reach the park office.

Of Marsh Creek's total 1,705 acres, about 900 are open to hunting. These huntable areas are scattered around the park's 535-acre lake. One of the best areas to try is on the south side of the lake off Chalfant Road. Park in the lot at the end of the road, then hunt south where there are a few large fields bordered by thick brush. Deer love to hole up in that brush.

Beyond the brush is deep forest that runs downhill to East Branch Brandywine Creek. You'd do well to hike into the woods in the dark and set up along the creek before daylight to ambush deer being pushed downhill from Chalfont Road as hunters arrive and move through at daybreak.