The Schuylkill County treasurer's office will start accepting antlerless deer license applications from state residents July 8 and from nonresident applicants starting July 29.
Meanwhile, regular hunting and bear hunting licenses are available, and the treasurer's office also urges residents with dogs to make sure their canines are properly licensed
Doe license fees are $6.70 for residents and $20.70 for nonresidents. Applications are sold only by county treasurers statewide and need to be mailed in an official pink envelope with two-way postage provided. Check or money orders also need to be included.
Envelopes and forms are available in the 2013-14 Pennsylvania Game Commission's Hunting and Trapping Digest or at the treasurer's office in the Schuylkill County Courthouse. The courthouse's mailing address is 401 N. Second St., Pottsville, PA 17901.
Regular hunting licenses have been available at the treasurer's office since June 10 and will be valid from July 1 through June 30, 2014. They are required before applying for antlerless-doe licenses. Reduced fees are available for armed forces members.
"We don't sell as many as we used to since Wal-Mart and Cabela's starting selling them," Schuylkill County Treasurer Jacqueline V. McGovern said.
Schuylkill County issued 16,816 licenses last year. In 2011, the county issued 16,489 licenses. McGovern said she expects about the same number this year.
Applicants must provide a valid driver's license or other another form of identification. Each applicant must also have completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course to qualify for a license if he or she has never held one in the past.
Counties starting using an automated licensing system several years ago, McGovern said. Before then, applications had to be processed by hand.
"It is a much more efficient process now than it has been in the past," McGovern said.
The new system also allows each county to issue licenses for any hunting district in the state. Hunters can see the availability of licenses by county on the state Game Commission's website, www.pgc.state.pa.us.
McGovern said most of the licenses issued in Schuylkill County are for 4C, which includes most of Schuylkill and parts of Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Lehigh, Columbia, Carbon and Luzerne counties; and 4E, which includes most of Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne and parts of Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Schuylkill and Dauphin counties.
The first round of unsold licenses begins Aug. 5, and the second round starts Aug. 19. McGovern said they sell out quickly.
"We usually sell out by the end of August," she said.
Statewide archery for deer begins Oct. 5, and regular firearms begins Dec. 2. For more dates regarding hunting season, check the 2013-14 state Hunting and Trapping Digest or visit www.pgc.state.pa.us.
Bear licenses are available on a split schedule this year. Application acceptances began June 11 and will continue to through Nov. 21. They will be accepted again Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.
The Game Commission's website also features harvest reports, and hunters can call the agency's toll-free telephone reporting system to file a harvest report. The Interactive Voice Response harvest reporting system phone number is 1-855-PAHUNT1 (855-724-8681).
Concerning canines, the treasurer's office asks Schuylkill residents to get their dogs licensed. McGovern said the office encourages residents to get licenses in January since they are good for the whole year, but the office hasn't sold nearly as many as they usually do.
"Not only is it a state law, but obtaining a license is a good way to ensure the safety of our pets," McGovern said. "If a dog is lost or stolen, a license can safely reunite them with the owner."
State law requires that all dogs 3 months or older be licensed by Jan. 1. Failure to license a dog is a summary offense with a maximum fine of $509.
An annual license is $8.45 and a lifetime license is $51.45. If the dog is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.25 and a lifetime licenses is $31.45. Discounts are available for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
State Dog Wardens started canvassing in March and will continue throughout the summer.
Dog licenses are available at www.padoglicsense.com. Applications are also available at the Schuylkill County, www.co.schuylkill.pa.us, under the treasurer's office.