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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    More Opportunities Than Ever

    GO HUNT

    KNOW YOUR CID: Hunters will need their driver’s license or CID number to purchase licenses online or in store. Your nine-digit CID number is printed on last year’s hunting or fishing license.

    BUY A LICENSE NOW
    FIND A LICENSING AGENT

    NEW FOR 2026-27

    • All 2026-27 seasons, excluding migratory game birds, include the Sundays that fall within their listed start and end dates. Seasons that previously ended on Saturdays largely will end on Sundays, providing additional days of opportunity throughout the year.
    • The spring gobbler bag limit is reduced to one to offset possible additional harvest due to the inclusion of Sundays.
    • The date structures for deer extended firearms, flintlock, and late archery seasons have been adjusted to be less complex.
    • The black bear archery season for WMUs 3C and 3D will be longer in response to bear-human conflicts in these areas.
    • A new elk firearms season in early October will limit crowding. The late firearms season will be later in January to avoid conflict with major holidays.
    • Squirrel, ruffed grouse, rabbit, pheasant, bobwhite quail, and woodchuck seasons will all remain open during the firearms deer season.
    • WMU 5A will be open to bobcat hunting and trapping, and WMUs 2G, 3A, and 4C will be open to river otter trapping. 
    a male and a female hunter in orange vests and hats walking in the snow

    IMPORTANT ANTLERLESS LICENSE DATES

    Resident antlerless licenses for all WMUs go on sale Monday, June 22. Resident hunters are GUARANTEED an antlerless license in any WMU in the first round if purchased prior to July 13, when the first round of antlerless sales opens to nonresidents. 

    ANTLERLESS LICENSES
    four doe in a soybean field

    APPLY TO HUNT PENNSYLVANIA ELK

    Pennsylvania’s elk application period is open through Sunday, July 12, 2026. A valid Pennsylvania general hunting license is required to apply.

    Applicants will now submit one elk license application and select up to five combinations of their preferred season, hunt zone, and sex. There is no longer a fallback option. The application fee is $11.97. 

    • Archery season: Sept. 12-27
    • First regular firearms season: Oct. 3-11
    • Second regular firearms season: Oct. 31-Nov. 8
    • Third regular firearms season: Jan. 9-17
    APPLY FOR AN ELK LICENSE
    four doe in a soybean field

    LICENSING FAQ

    For information regarding hunting and trapping licenses, permits, fees, and eligibility requirements, please review the Hunting and Trapping Licensing FAQs.

    LEARN MORE
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    SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

    Review the annual season dates, bag limits, hunt types, rules, regulations, and other requirements for the hunting of most big game, small game and other wildlife in Pennsylvania.

    SEASONS & BAG LIMITS

    Terms & Conditions

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