The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has announced seasons, bag limits plus elk and antlerless deer license allocations for the 2013-14 license year.

In addition, Wildlife Management Unit 2G has been subdivided into two WMUs (2G and 2H).

On the local scene, the PGC eliminated the extended regular firearms season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, except in Special Regulations Area counties of Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

As for the always-controversial antlerless deer allocations, this year's numbers are down by 49,000 statewide. Here in WMU 5C, which has customarily carried the highest of any county, the new allocation is 103,000, down from 111,000 during the 2012-13 seasons.

In WMU 4C (encompassing parts of Berks and Lehigh counties), the 2013 number is 27,000 while last season it was 35,000. In WMU 3D, that takes in part of Northampton County, the new total is 32,000 over 2012's 39,000.

It's evident from these lower numbers that fewer deer were harvested during the past season, and that the PGC may be nearing their projected management numbers for maintaining a healthy deer herd.

Of the 22 WMUs statewide, only 2D saw an increase of from 21,000 to 22,000 while 2F went from 27,000 to 29,000. WMUs 3D and 5A remained the same as last season.

For those who need to plan their vacation time in advance, the following are the seasons for deer, bear and turkey.

* Archery Deer – antlerless only in 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 21 – Oct. 4 and Nov. 18-30

* Archery Deer – antlered and antlerless in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Jan. 13-25

* Archery Deer - antlerless and antlered statewide: Oc. 5- Nov. 16 and Dec. 26-Jan. 1

* Firearms antlered and antlerless in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 2-14

* Deer – antlered only – 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D, and 4E

* Deer Antlerless – statewide – Oct. 24-26 for Junior and Senior license holders, disabled person permit; and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in US Armed Services and Coast Guard

* Deer Antlerless Muzzleloader statewide: Oct. 19-26.

* Bear – archery statewide – Nov. 18-22

* Bear – statewide – Nov. 23-27

* Bear (WMUs 4C, 4D, 4E) – Dec. 4-7

* Bear (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, 5D) – Dec. 2-14

* Bear (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) – Dec. 2-7

* Bear (2B, 5C, 5D) archery – Sept. 21-Nov. 16

* Bear (5B) archery – Oct. 5 – Nov. 16

* Bear (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, 5D) muzzleloader – Oct. 19-26

* Bear (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5D) special firearms, for Junior/Senior hunters, disabled and active duty military – Oct. 24-26

Whew! A Smartphone or tablet computer is definitely needed to keep track of all these varied seasons and areas.

TURKEY:

The spring gobbler season for mentored youth is set for April 26, 2014 while the regular season kicks off May 3-31.

The fall season varies by WMU but generally it's a Nov. 2 opener. However, as in the past, the season is closed in WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D. The latter too is controversial in that hunters report seeing more turkeys during the fall archery season in these WMUs, than during the spring gobbler season. The overall consensus is that it should not be closed in these selected WMUs.

For you lucky-in-the-draw elk hunters, the season for antlered and antlerless runs Nov. 4-9 while the extended season for both genders runs Nov. 11-16 in selected areas.

And if you drew a Special Conservation license, that season runs Sept. 2- Nov. 9.