§ 141.43. Deer seasons.
(a) Archery deer season.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt deer during the archery deer season with any of the following devices:
(i) A bow and arrow. A bow must have a peak draw weight of at least 35 pounds. An arrow must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.
(ii) A crossbow and bolt. A crossbow must have a peak draw weight of at least 125 pounds. A bolt must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting deer during the archery deer season, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess a firearm. Exceptions:
(A) A person may possess certain firearms during the archery deer season under the authorizations of section 2525 of the act (relating to possession of firearm for protection of self or others).
(B) A person may possess and use both a bow or crossbow and a muzzleloading firearm during the overlaps of the early archery and muzzleloader deer seasons and the late archery and flintlock muzzleloading deer seasons if that person is in possession of both a valid archery deer license and a valid muzzleloader deer license and meets the greater protective material requirements for the muzzleloader deer season, if applicable.
(C) A person may possess and use both a bow or crossbow and a muzzleloading firearm during the overlaps of the early archery deer season and muzzleloader bear season if that person is in possession of both a valid archery deer license and a valid bear license and meets the greater protective material requirements for the muzzleloader bear season, if applicable.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(b) Flintlock muzzleloading deer season.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt deer during the flintlock muzzleloading deer season with a flintlock muzzleloading firearm. The firearm must be an original or similar reproduction of muzzleloading firearm manufactured prior to 1800. The firearm’s ignition mechanism must consist of a hammer containing a naturally occurring stone that is spring propelled onto an iron or steel frizzen which, in turn, creates sparks to ignite a priming powder. The firearm must have open or aperture sights and be a .44 caliber or larger single-barrel long gun or a .50 caliber or larger single-barrel handgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting deer during the flintlock muzzleloading deer season, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use manmade materials attached to the hammer or frizzen to create sparks.
(ii) Use telescopic sights.
(iii) Use or possess multiple projectile ammunition or ammunition other than required under section 2322(a)(4) of the act (relating to prohibited devices and methods), except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(iv) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(c) Muzzleloading deer season.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt deer during the muzzleloading deer season with any of the following devices:
(i) A muzzleloading firearm. The firearm must be a .44 caliber or larger single-barrel long gun or a .50 caliber or larger single-barrel handgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(ii) A bow and arrow as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(i).
(iii) A crossbow and bolt as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(ii).
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess multiple projectile ammunition or ammunition other than required under section 2322(a)(4) of the act, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(d) Regular and special firearms deer seasons.
(1) Permitted devices. It is lawful to hunt deer during the regular and special firearms deer seasons with any of the following devices:
(i) A manually operated, centerfire rifle or handgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(ii) A manually operated or semiautomatic, centerfire shotgun that propels single-projectile ammunition.
(iii) A bow and arrow as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(i).
(iv) A crossbow and bolt as permitted under subsection (a)(1)(ii).
(v) A muzzleloading firearm as permitted under subsection (b)(1) or (c)(1).
(2) Prohibitions. While hunting deer during the regular and special firearms deer seasons, it is unlawful to:
(i) Use or possess multiple projectile ammunition or ammunition other than required under section 2322(a)(4) of the act, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(ii) Use or possess a device or ammunition not provided for in the act or in this subsection, except as authorized under section 2525 of the act.
(e) Cooperating while hunting during any deer season. Holders of any of the appropriate licenses or stamps may cooperate while hunting antlered or antlerless deer if pertinent provisions of the act and this section are met.
Authority The provisions of this § 141.43 amended under 34 Pa.C.S.
Source The provisions of this § 141.43 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended July 24, 1992, effective July 25, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 3897; amended March 25, 1994, effective March 26, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 1582; amended October 27, 1995, effective October 28, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 4614; amended October 30, 1998, effective October 31, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 5486; amended May 7, 1999, effective May 8, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2458; amended May 26, 2000, effective May 27, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 2601; amended November 17, 2000, effective November 18, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5959; amended May 18, 2001, effective May 19, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 2577; amended August 17, 2001, effective August 18, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 4536; amended November 2, 2001, effective November 3, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 6051; amended September 27, 2002, effective September 28, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 4712, 4713; amended June 13, 2003, effective June 14, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 2753; amended October 24, 2003, effective October 25, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 5317; amended April 30, 2004, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 2328; amended July 16, 2004, effective July 17, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 3710 and 3711; amended June 29, 2007, effective June 30, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 2955; amended February 27, 2009, effective February 28, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 1110; amended June 5, 2009, effective June 6, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2801; amended June 22, 2012, effective June 23, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 3591; amended May 23, 2014, effective May 24, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 3091; amended May 12, 2017, effective May 13, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 2710; amended November 17, 2017, effective November 18, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 7048; amended June 1, 2018, effective June 2, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 3325; amened May 1, 2020, effective May 2, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 2265. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (392102) to (392104).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 141.1 (relating to special regulations areas); 58 Pa. Code § 143.42 (relating to antlerless deer license required); and 58 Pa. Code § 147.556 (relating to lawful devices and methods).
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