Overview
Known For
Whitetail deer, turkey, and black bear are the most commonly hunted game animals in Pennsylvania. In fact, Pennsylvania has a long, rich history of deer hunting. There are strong deer populations and millions of acres of public land.
Terrain
Pennsylvania is a heavily forested, mountainous state that includes the Allegheny National Forest and the Pocono and Catskill Mountains. Its central lowlands have low ridges that were created by glaciers.
Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bear – Archery Restricted 1
WMU 2B, 5C, 5D.
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Sep 16, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Bear – Archery Restricted 2
WMU 5B.
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Sep 30, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Bear – Archery Statewide
Statewide – check regulations for additional dates for specific WMUs
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 4, 2023 |
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Bear – Muzzleloader
Statewide.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Bear – Special Firearms
Statewide. Junior & Senior license holders, active-duty military and certain disabled persons’ permit holders
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Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Bear – Regular Firearms
Check regulations for additional dates for specific WMUs.
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Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 21, 2023 |
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Bear – Extended Restricted 1
WMU 2B, 5B, 5C, 5D. Open Sunday November 28th.
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Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Bear – Extended Restricted 2
WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E & 5A. |
Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 2, 2023 |
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Coyote
No closed season, with certain exceptions during big-game seasons. See Hunting & Trapping Digest for more details.
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Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery 1
Antlered or Antlerless. WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D.
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Sep 16, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery 2
Statewide Antlered or Antlerless.
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Sep 30, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader
Antlerless. Statewide.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Deer – Special Firearms
Antlerless only. Junior & Senior license holders, Mentored Youth, active-duty military and certain disabled persons’ permit holders
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Oct 19, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Deer – Regular Firearms
Statewide.
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Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 9, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery 3
Statewide. Antlered or Antlerless.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 15, 2024 |
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Deer – Archery 4
Antlered or Antlerless. WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
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Deer – Flintlock 1
Statewide. Antlered or Antlerless
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 15, 2024 |
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Deer – Flintlock 2
Antlered or Antlerless. WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
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Deer – Extended Firearms
Antlerless Only. WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
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Dove – Early
Bag limit of 15 per day, 45 in possession.
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Sep 1, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Dove – Late
Bag limit of 15 per day, 45 in possession.
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Dec 19, 2023 | Jan 6, 2024 |
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Duck – South Zone 1
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
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Duck – Northwest Zone 1
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Dec 2, 2023 |
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Duck – North Zone 1
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 21, 2023 |
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Duck – Lake Erie Zone
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Nov 7, 2023 | Jan 13, 2024 |
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Duck – North Zone 2
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Nov 14, 2023 | Jan 2, 2024 |
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Duck – South Zone 2
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Nov 21, 2023 | Jan 20, 2024 |
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Duck – Northwest Zone 2
Ducks, coots, mergansers.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
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Elk – Archery
Antlered or Antlerless.
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Sep 16, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Elk – General
Antlered or Antlerless.
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Oct 30, 2023 | Nov 4, 2023 |
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Elk – Late Antlerless
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Dec 30, 2023 | Jan 6, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 1
Resident Population Goose Zone. **Includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE**. 5 daily, 15 in possession.
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Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 25, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 1
Atlantic Population Zone (AP): |
Sep 12, 2023 | Sep 25, 2023 |
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Goose – Youth only
Statewide. Same bag limits as regular season. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-16, when properly accompanied.
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Sep 23, 2023 | Sep 23, 2024 |
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Goose – Light Goose 1
Snow and Ross’ Geese. Atlantic Population Zone, 25 daily.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Jan 27, 2024 |
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Goose – Light Goose 3
Resident Population Zone, 25 daily
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Oct 24, 2023 | Feb 24, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 2
Resident Population Goose Zone. **Includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE**. 3 daily, 9 in possession.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 2
Atlantic Population Zone (AP): |
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 3
Atlantic Population Zone (AP): |
Dec 7, 2023 | Jan 20, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 3
Resident Population Goose Zone. **Includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE**. 3 daily, 9 in possession.
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Dec 11, 2023 | Jan 20, 2024 |
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Goose – Light Goose 2
Atlantic Population Zone – Conservation Hunt, 25 daily.
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Jan 29, 2024 | Apr 26, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose 4
Resident Population Goose Zone (RP): |
Feb 2, 2024 | Feb 24, 2024 |
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Goose – Light Goose 4
Resident Population Zone- Conservation 25 daily.
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Feb 26, 2024 | Apr 26, 2024 |
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Ruffed Grouse 1
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Ruffed Grouse 2
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 23, 2023 |
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Pheasant – Junior Hunt
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
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Pheasant 1
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Oct 21, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Pheasant 2
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 23, 2023 |
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Pheasant 3
Bag limit of 2 per day, 6 in possession.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Bobwhite Quail 1
Bag limit of 8 per day, 24 in possession.
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Sep 1, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Bobwhite Quail 2
Bag limit of 8 per day, 24 in possession.
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Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 23, 2023 |
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Bobwhite Quail 3
Bag limit of 8 per day, 24 in possession.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Mar 30, 2024 |
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Rabbit – Junior Hunt
4 Daily, 12 in possession.
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Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail 1
Bag limit of 4 per day, 12 in possession.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 11, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail 2
Bag limit of 4 per day, 12 in possession.
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Nov 12, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail 3
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Nov 13, 2023 | Nov 18, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare 1
Bag limit of 1 per day, 3 in possession.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring 2
Statewide. Up to 2 bearded birds, (1 per day) with proper licenses.
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May 20, 2023 | May 31, 2024 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 4
WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D & 4C
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 11, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 5
WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E |
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 11, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 1
WMU 2B |
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 3
WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D, and 4E |
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 4, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 7
WMU 5B
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Oct 31, 2023 | Nov 2, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 2
WMU 2B
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Nov 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall Season 6
WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E |
Nov 22, 2023 | Nov 24, 2023 |
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Turkey – Youth Spring
Statewide.
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Apr 27, 2024 | Apr 27, 2024 |
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Turkey – Spring 1
Statewide. Up to 2 bearded birds, (1 per day) with proper licenses.
|
May 4, 2024 | May 18, 2024 |
Pennsylvania Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Pennsylvania hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Pennsylvania hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Pennsylvania hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of wildlife management units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Pennsylvania.
Wildlife Management Units And Hunting Zones
Pennsylvania’s wildlife management units were created to manage all game except elk, waterfowl, and other migratory game birds. There are now 21 large WMUs used for game management data and decisions. Pennsylvania’s hunting zones are in place for the limited draw elk season in the state. Click below to view Pennsylvania’s wildlife management units and hunting zones in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
PA Private Lands
Over 5,400,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer shows property owners in Pennsylvania. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
PA Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 5,800,000 acres in Pennsylvania to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
PA Hunt Units
Pennsylvania Elk Hunt Zones and Wildlife Management Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt
Includes 4 Sublayers
- WMUs
- Elk Hunt Zones
- Goose Hunt Zones
- Duck Hunt Zones
PA Possible Access
onX has mapped 520,000 acres of possible access lands in Pennsylvania including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
PA Deer Management Assistance Program
Deer Management Assistance Program, special permits to help reduce the spread of CWD. Please read local rules before hunting.
PA Timber Harvest
Pennsylvania State Lands that have seen Removal or Shelterwood timber harvests dating back to 2005. ‘Removals’ refer to clearcuts while ‘Shelterwood’ refers to partial cuts.
PA Bear Check Stations
Pennsylvania Bear Check Stations
Managed Dove Fields
Pennsylvania Game Land Areas that are managed for Dove habitat.
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