Destruction for Agricultural Protection

1. The producer or employees use depredation permits to take wildlife.

2. Subpermittees use depredation permits to take wildlife.

1.      Producer or Employees

A “person” is defined in Section 2121c as those who cultivates, as a primary means of gaining a livelihood, any lands for general or specialized crop purposes. A “person” may take wildlife that they see engaged in the material destruction of cultivated crops, immediately following destruction or where their presence may cause reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction.  Once qualified as a “person” the district warden must inspect the property for compliance with this section. This will be accomplished via invitation from the person seeking exemption under statute. (Ref Title 34 Pa.C.S. Sections 2121 to 2126)

• Agricultural producers or employees can shoot any deer at any time - no limit.

• Unlimited deer of either sex can be removed year-round at any time of the day or night (spotlights allowed)

• Those eligible (i.e., owner, family member, lessee, employee) must (1) prove that their cultivated lands are a primary means of gaining a livelihood and (2) provide satisfactory evidence that material damage to crops was done by deer and occurred within the preceding 15 days of deer removal.

• Any deer killed must be reported to the Commission within 24 hours and be field dressed.

• If an eligible person allows public access to hunting on their property, then they can keep one deer carcass for consumption. They must surrender the hide and head (with antlers) and the full carcass of all deer beyond their one allowed carcass to the Commission.

2.      Subpermittees receiving Depredation Permits

Agricultural producers can identify 2 people to shoot any deer at any time - no limit.

• Title 34, Section 2121 (c) allows the Commission to provide depredation permits to qualified agricultural landowners that can be used by subpermittees.

• There is a maximum of 2 subpermittees allowed per permit (unless approved by State Game Warden) and the subpermittee must be a PA resident and possess a valid PA hunting license.

•  Subpermittees can shoot any deer at any time.

•  The subpermittee must report any deer taken within 24 hours and must surrender the entire carcass, including the head and hide (with antlers) to a State Game Warden or donate it to a food bank.

• Application through local State Game Warden.

• The property must be enrolled in one of the Commission’s public access programs and must have been enrolled for at least 2 years prior (except in 5C and 5D) (Ref Title 58 Sections 147.761 to 147.765). 

To apply for depredation permits, contact your region Game Commission office.