HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's biggest hunting season, the two-week rifle deer season, is just around the corner.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, no other hunting season creates as much excitement, puts more meat in freezers and draws as many hunters afield.

The season, which starts the Monday after Thanksgiving and runs through Dec. 8, annually leads to the harvest of more than a quarter million deer and pumps millions of dollars into the state's economy.

"Preparing for deer season becomes a priority for most hunters as soon as the turkey is cleared off the table on Thanksgiving Day," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Anticipation, reviewing scouting efforts and ensuring all the equipment is ready makes the preparation a weekend-long endeavor that doesn't end until they head afield opening morning."

Hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on the head, chest and back combined at all times while afield. They also are advised that it's illegal to hunt, chase or disturb deer with a firearm within 150 yards of any occupied building without the occupant's permission.

All hunters who take a deer must fill out a harvest tag and attach it to the deer's ear before moving the carcass. The tag can be secured to the base of the ear with a string drawn very tightly, if the hunter plans to have the deer mounted. Cutting a slit in the ear to attach the tag will require additional work by a taxidermist.

A harvest report card, which is provided with every license sold, must be mailed to the Game Commission within 10 days after taking the deer. Hunters who lose or misplace a deer harvest report card are urged to use or copy the big game harvest report card found on page 33 of the 2007-2008 Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest, which also is provided to all license buyers.

Deer hunters also are advised of the recent change in legal hunting hours. It now is legal to hunt from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

For information, please see page 14 of the 2007-08 Digest for the legal hunting hours table.

Deer hunters with unused bear licenses also are reminded they can take a bear from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 in the state's extended black bear season. The extended season will be held in WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E, and 2G, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1. In WMU 3D, an extended season will run Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.

Some hunters often wonder if deer can see color.Because a deer's eyes have more rods, which enhance night vision, than cones, which provide the ability to see color, for decades, the answer was no.Recent research suggests deer do see color, especially on the blue end of the color spectrum, but they have trouble seeing reds and greens.Camouflage patterns confuse a deer's vision, but they have an uncanny ability to see movement. If you want a deer to come closer, break up your outline by standing still or near a tree.Also, don't wear blue jeans and avoid having the wind blow your scent to the deer.