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    During established seasons, hunting is permitted daily on approximately 6000 acres, with the exception of migratory game bird hunting which remains prohibited on Sundays. 

    Hunting Requirements

    All hunters must have a current Pennsylvania hunting license from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

    The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply.

    Hunting Seasons at French Creek State Park

    Big Game

    Small Game

    Migratory Game Bird

    Trapping

    The southwest portion of the park is located in Chester County. Please note that rifle hunting is prohibited in Chester County.

    Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited in all Pennsylvania state parks. 

    View the hunting boundary map.

    Note: The Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is located within French Creek State Park. Hunting is prohibited on National Park Service property. 

    Hunting blinds and stands are allowed. Blinds and stands must have the owner's name and phone number attached to them. Contact the office for additional details. 

    In state parks, the training of dogs is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas.

    ♿ This park offers accessible hunting options. Visitors holding a DCNR Mobility Device Permit can contact the park office for more information about accessible hunting locations within the park.

    Visitors wishing to drive into our Group Camp 1 or Camping Loop D and hunt from a location closer to their vehicle are permitted to do so when the group camp is not in use.

    Visitors should call the park office 24 hours in advance and request permission to do so. Visitors must speak to a staff member directly, not leave a message, as staff will need to unlock the gate to these areas.

    DCNR permits visitors with a DCNR Mobility Device Permit to use powered mobility devices on designated state park and forest lands, including administrative roads and trails not normally open to standard motorized vehicles.

    Visitors interested in a DCNR Mobility Device Permit can fill out an application and submit it at any state park or forest office.

    This park is not a part of Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). 

    Approximately three miles southeast of the park is State Game Land 43. These game lands consist of more than 1,800 acres of land and add considerably to the public land available to the hunters of the area.

    A public firing range is located at the end of Laurel Road. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 610-926-3136.

    Firearms Safety

    Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons.

    In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's vehicle or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park.

    Hunting Statewide

    All 20 of Pennsylvania’s state forests, totaling 2.3 million acres, and 100 of the 125 state parks are open to hunting during established hunting seasons.