Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Pa early muzzle loader season

For the Pennsylvania guys-

Do any of you hunt the early ML season?
Questions-
1) It's legal to shoot a percussion gun in this season, right?
2) Does one just buy an add-on stamp to their license to hunt during this season?
3) Do I need to apply for a doe tag to shoot an antlerless, or is it either sex?

I've never hunted the early season and am thinking about going down to our camp and give it a try.

Thanks for your input!

Early m/l season is antlerless only.

Needs a doe tag, so yes apply. And as said above antlerless season only. Modern muzzleloaders are allowed so I’m sure percussion would be. And yes need a muzzleloader stamp.

Great time of the year to be in the woods. I usually take my flinter when I used to go. Been thinking about doing a early Mz camp one year up in loyalsock SF.

We try to fill our doe tags during this week and it has turned into an "early" deer camp for our camp. Great weather and lots of fun. As was stated you need a muzzleloader stamp, antlerless tags and pretty much any type of muzzleloader is legal. Inlines with scopes are legal for this season. I have come to really enjoy this week at camp.

Miss read the original post. Thought we were talking about the late season. I have no idea on the early season.

It used to be just about impossible for a non resident to draw a doe tag. Is this still the case? I'd be applying for the Sabula-Penfield area.

So I'd have to buy a license, and then take a chance at getting drawn for a doe tag, is that correct?

Yes, I drew this year as a non-res, dont recall an issue when I was non-res in the military either.

It depends on the WMU you're applying in. Residents get first crack at tags, then non residents can apply in units with unsold tags (1-2 weeks later). Your camp is in WMU 2H I think, I believe there were tags available there for non residents this year. 2F and 2G usually sell out to residents in the first round. The PGC puts a chart on their website showing the # sold and available.

Dad's farm in 2E, there are always NR tags available there. You'd be welcome there and I usually hunt some in the early season. Plus grouse and squirrel generally open that week too.

Dale

Thanks Dale. When do I have to apply for the antlerless tag? Worst case scenario, if a buy the license and don't get the doe tag, I'll come down for gun season opener.

Generally, it's early July for the residents first round so I'd guess mid July for non residents.

Dale

Yes it is usually about the third Saturday in July for nonresidents.

NRs get to apply for a doe tag in the second week now. Used to have to wait two weeks after residents could apply, that has changed.

Figure out which WMU your camp is in and get your license early enough, to get in on the application process. All that info will be on the PGC web site by May or June. Licenses usually go on sale in about the third week of June. New license year starts July first. Good luck.

As stated, the early muzzy season is for percussions, inlines and flint locks.