Pennsylvania Game Commission

Seasons and Bag Limits

The license year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

SUNDAY HUNTING: It is unlawful to hunt on Sundays except foxes, crows and coyotes. Other exceptions are included with species seasons below.

WMU: Wildlife Management Units

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2024-25 Seasons and Bag Limits

May 3 - May 17, 2025; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon
May 19 - May 31, 2025; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Daily limit 1, season limit 2.

(Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.)

Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under –

April 26, 2025.

Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.

July 1-Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17; Nov. 18-23; Sunday, Nov. 24; Nov. 25-29 and Dec. 16-June 30, 2025.

No limit.

No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season.

No limit.

No closed season.

No limit.

Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license.
During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.

No closed season: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No Sunday hunting with the exceptions of Nov. 17, Nov. 24 and Dec. 1.

No limit.

2025-26 Seasons and Bag Limits

Small Game

Sept. 13-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026

(6 daily, 18 possession)

Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license

Sept. 13-27

(6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day)

Oct. 18-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 15-24

(2 daily, 6 possession)

Oct. 18-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026

(4 daily, 12 possession)

Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license.

Oct. 4-18

(4 daily, 12 possession)

Oct. 25-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026

(2 daily, 6 possession)

Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age

Oct. 11-18

(2 daily, 6 possession)

Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.

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Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2026.

No limit.

There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.

Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2026, statewide

(1 daily, 3 season limit)

July 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 15-June 30, 2026.

No limit.

Aug. 21-March 22, 2026, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.

No limit.

No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season.

No limit.

Big Game

WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D – Nov. 1-Nov. 15

WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Nov. 1-Nov. 8

WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3C – Nov. 1-Nov. 15 and Nov. 26-28

WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Nov. 1-Nov. 21 and Nov. 26-28

WMU 5A and 5B – Nov. 1-Nov. 4

WMUs 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.

Season Limit - 1 bird per license year.

*As a reminder, no single-projectile firearms may be used in the fall turkey seasons. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only.

May 2 - May 16, 2026; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon
May 18 - May 30, 2026; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Daily limit 1, season limit 2.

(Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.)

Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under –

April 25, 2026.

Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.

STATEWIDE:

Nov. 22; Sunday, Nov. 23; and Nov. 24-25.

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

EXTENDED FIREARMS:

(WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A):

Nov. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-Dec. 6.

(WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D):

Nov. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-13.

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

Oct. 23-25.

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

Oct. 23-25.

Only Junior and Senior license holders, active duty military and disabled persons' permit holders. Arms and ammunition permitted during the regular firearms bear season can be used.

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

(WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 20-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23 and Nov. 24-28.

(WMU 5B): Oct. 4-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16 and Nov. 17-21.

(WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Oct. 18-Oct. 25.

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

ARCHERY: Sept. 13-27

GENERAL: Nov. 3-Nov. 8

LATE SEASON: Dec. 27-Jan 3, 2026

Only one elk may be taken during the license year with elk permit.

WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 20-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026.

Statewide: Oct. 4 -Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-21 and Dec. 26-Jan. 19, 2026.

One antlered deer per hunting license year.

One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Oct. 18-25.

An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Oct. 23-25.

Only Junior and Senior License Holders,Commission Disabled Person Permit Holders (to use a vehicle as a blind), and Residents serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard

One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Nov. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-13.

One antlered deer per hunting license year.

An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B with required muzzleloading license: Dec. 26-Jan. 19, 2026.

(WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) with required muzzleloading license: Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026.

One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

(WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D and on all DMAP properties statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026.

(WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, and 5A): Jan. 2-Jan. 19, 2026.

An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County.

An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Aug. 1-April 15, 2026.

An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit.

Furbearer Hunting

No closed season.

No limit.

Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license.
During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.

Oct. 25-Feb. 21, 2026. No limit.

No limit.

Sunday hunting permitted.

Oct. 25-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-Feb. 21, 2026.

No limit.

No closed season: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No Sunday hunting with the exceptions of Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30.

No limit.

(WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 10-Feb. 4, 2026.

One bobcat per license year.

Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

Oct. 11-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2026.

(3 daily, season limit of 10).

Trapping

Nov. 22-Jan. 11, 2026.

No limit.

Oct. 25-Feb. 22, 2026.

No limit.

Dec. 26-Feb. 22, 2026. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.

No limit.

Dec. 20-March 31, 2026

(Limits vary depending on WMU).

(WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 20-Jan. 11, 2026.

One bobcat per license year.

Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

(WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 20-Jan. 11, 2026.

One fisher per license year.

Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

(WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E): Feb. 14-21, 2026.

One river otter per license year.

Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

Migratory Game Bird

Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons to be established in accordance with federal regulations at a later date.