Pennsylvania hunting history

1683: Hunting permitted in William Penn’s Charter

1869: A deer season was set, from Sept. 1-Dec. 31

1873: Sunday hunting was made illegal.

1895: The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners was created.

1897: The running of deer with hounds was outlawed.

1907: Antlerless deer were given complete protection.

1913: The first Pennsylvania hunting license was created. The price was $1.

1919: The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners was authorized to buy lands to create public hunting grounds, now known as state game lands.

1928: The first “statewide” antlerless deer season was held. It included 51 of the state’s 67 counties.

1929: Archery equipment was authorized as legal hunting gear.

1938: Antlered, or buck, season, was closed.

1942: Hunters were encouraged to donate their deer skins for the war effort.

1951: A county license quota system was used for the first archery deer season and the first antlerless deer season.

1952: County treasurers were designated by legislation as the issuing agents for antlerless deer licenses.

1956: Legislation earmarked $1 from the sale of each doe license for deer habitat improvement.

1957: Archers were permitted to take either antlered or antlerless deer without possessing a doe license.

1959: The white-tailed deer was designated as Pennsylvania’s state animal.

1971: Pennsylvania Game Commission meetings were opened to the public.

1973: Compound bows were made legal for hunting.

1974: The first muzzleloader deer season was held for three days in the winter on 37 state game lands.

1980: Fluorescent orange was required of deer, bear and groundhog hunters.

1990: Deer Damage Program was launched to help farmers experiencing crop damage.

1993: All hunters, except flintlock, were required to have doe licenses to harvest antlerless deer.