The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced a pilot “certified hunter” program to begin this summer in the commission’s Southwest Region that aims to connect landowners with vetted hunters to reduce crop damage through targeted antlerless deer harvest.

Agency staff described the program as an expansion of existing hunter‑access and agricultural tag programs. A staff presenter said the program “is ultimately going to attain is connect landowners with qualified hunters to facilitate ethical and responsible deer management,” and emphasized customizable property usage guides, annual harvest report cards for landowners, and a higher standard of training and conduct for participating hunters.

Under the program as presented, prospective certified hunters must have purchased a hunting license in four of the last five years, be at least 18 years old, have no wildlife or Game Code violations within the past three years (and no major violation within the past decade), and pass a criminal background check. Hunters will complete a written curriculum and pass a written exam focused on landowner relations, ethics and hunting effectiveness. A shooting proficiency test for certification will require either rifle or archery proficiency: the rifle standard is specified as groups on a 6‑inch target at 100 yards; archery certification requires hitting a vital zone on a 3‑D deer target at 20 yards.

Staff said the program will provide participating landowners with a single point of contact at the commission, a property usage guide the landowner helps craft (parking, permitted lanes, dates and limits), and annual reports showing harvest numbers and participation. For hunters the program offers training, a certification credential from the commission, and digital tools such as a property‑boundary subscription to help hunters stay on enrolled land. Staff also said the program will promote non‑lead ammunition through a planned partnership with the North American Non‑Lead Partnership and provide opportunities for hunters to share harvested meat with food distribution programs.

The commission will pilot certification this summer, with the plan to go live with certified hunters by the Agtag season opening (staff said August 1, subject to change). Staff said several landowners in the Southwest Region had already expressed interest.

Commissioners asked whether the program would encourage suppressor use and whether landowners could limit the number of hunters and days when hunting is permitted; staff said suppressor encouragement could be included in curriculum guidance but would not be required, and that landowners will retain control over access rules, including allowing limits on number of hunters and permitted days.

No formal policy vote was recorded at the meeting; staff said the program will be piloted and refined based on feedback from landowners and hunters during the initial rollout.