2025-26 Seasons and Bag Limits
Spring Gobbler ( Bearded bird 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.
2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
Small Game
Sept. 12-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027
(6 daily, 18 possession)
Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license
Sept. 12-27
(6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day)
Oct. 17-Dec. 24
(2 daily, 6 possession)
Oct. 17-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027
(4 daily, 12 possession)
Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license.
Oct. 3-18
(4 daily, 12 possession)
Oct. 24-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027
(2 daily, 6 possession)
Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age
Oct. 10-18
(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.
Sept. 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2027.
No limit.
There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
Dec. 26-Dec. 31, statewide.
(1 daily, 3 season limit)
July 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-June 30, 2027.
No limit.
Aug. 20-March 21, 2027, 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 – Oct. 31-Nov. 15
WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 31-Nov. 8
WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3C – Oct. 31-Nov. 15 and Nov. 25-27
WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27
WMU 5A and 5B – Oct. 31-Nov. 3
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 1 - May 16, 2027; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon
- May 17 - May 31, 2027; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset
Season limit 1
Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under –
April 24-25, 2027
Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.
STATEWIDE:
Nov. 21-24
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
EXTENDED FIREARMS:
(WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A):
Nov. 28-Dec. 6
(WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D):
Nov. 28-Dec. 13
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
Oct. 22-25.
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
Oct. 22-25.
Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706.
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
(WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 27.
(WMUs 3C, 3D and 5B): Oct. 3-Nov. 20.
(WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Oct. 17-25.
Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
ELK, ARCHERY (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 12-27.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – FIRST (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 3-11.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – SECOND (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 31-Nov. 8.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – THIRD (Antlered or Antlerless): Jan. 9-17, 2027.
Only one elk may be taken during the license year with elk permit.
WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Nov. 27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
Statewide: Oct. 3 -Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
One antlered deer per hunting license year.
One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Fluorescent orange required: None
Oct. 17-25.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Fluorescent orange required: 250 sq. in. on head, chest and back.
Oct. 22-25.
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. 28-Dec. 13.
One antlered deer per hunting license year.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer may be taken with a general license antlered deer harvest tag, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
Fluorescent orange required: None
(WMUs 2B, 5C, and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
(DMAP properties statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
A valid DMAP harvest permit is required.
(WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, and 5A): Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2026.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Fluorescent orange required: 250 sq. in. on head, chest and back.
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, 2027.
An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit.
Fluorescent orange required: 250 sq. in. on head, chest and back.
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. 24-Feb. 21, 2027.
May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 24-Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–Feb. 21, 2027. May only be hunted from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.
No limit.
Sunday hunting permitted.
Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027.
May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 24-Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–Feb. 21, 2027. May only be hunted from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.
No limit.
Sunday hunting permitted.
May be hunted any hour, day or night, from July 1–Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–June 30, 2027. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.
No closed season, except during the firearms deer season.
No limit.
(WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Jan. 9-Feb. 3, 2027.
One bobcat per license year.
Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
Oct. 10-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2027.
May not be hunted at night.
Trapping
Nov. 21-Jan. 10, 2027.
No limit.
Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027.
No limit.
Dec. 26-Feb. 21, 2027. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
No limit.
Dec. 19-March 31, 2027
(Limits vary depending on WMU).
(WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027.
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. 19-Jan. 10, 2027.
One fisher per license year.
Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
(WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E): Feb. 13-21, 2027.
One river otter per license year.
Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
Migratory Game Bird
Migratory game bird seasons and bag limits will be available when finalized and will be set in accordance with federal regulations and the annual frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Falconry
Sept. 1-March 31, 2027
(6 daily, 18 possession).
Sept. 1-March 31, 2027
No Limit.
Sept. 1-March 31, 2027
(2 daily, 6 possession).
Sept. 1-March 31, 2027
(1 daily, 3 season limit)
Sept. 1-March 31, 2027
No Limit.