PA Game Commission Seasons

John Lewis

PA Game Commission Seasons 2023 [Explore the Wild]

PA Game Commission Seasons, Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s (PGC) aim is to safeguard and preserve the natural resources of the state, particularly its wildlife. They are committed to protecting the state’s wildlife for future generations while also giving hunters and trappers adequate opportunities to hunt and trap sustainably. The PGC sets hunting and trapping seasons each year to protect the state’s wildlife populations from over harvesting and to encourage the responsible and moral conduct of these activities. They work together with like organizations throughout the state and the nation to advance this objective. The PGC plays a significant role in safeguarding Pennsylvania’s wildlife for current and future generations.

PA Game Commission Seasons

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is responsible for establishing hunting seasons in the state to ensure the long-term health of the state’s wildlife population while also satisfying the needs of sportsmen and women. The Pennsylvania Game Commission regulates the shooting of both large and small game in the state. This includes big game like deer, bear, elk, and turkey, and small game like squirrels, rabbits, and grouse. Season lengths, preferred hunting techniques, and bag limitations vary per species. The PGC also establishes hunting laws, such as allowed hunting times, equipment requirements, and species limits. The overall goal of Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons is to promote appropriate and sustainable hunting practices.

Big Game Seasons

PA Big Game SeasonSeason DatesNote
Fall Wild TurkeyOct. 28 - Nov. 17, Nov. 22-24, and other dates varying by WMUNo single-projectile firearms allowed. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only. 1 bird per license year.
Spring GobblerMay 4 - May 18, 2024; May 20 - May 31, 2024; April 27, 2024 (for junior hunters)Daily limit 1, season limit 2.
Black Bear - FirearmsNov. 18, Nov. 19, Nov. 20-21, and extended dates varying by WMULimited to 1 bear per license year. Extended dates available in specific WMUs.
Black Bear - MuzzleloaderOct. 14-21Limited to 1 bear per license year.
Black Bear - Special FirearmsOct. 19-21Limited to junior and senior license holders, active duty military, and disabled persons' permit holders.
Black Bear - ArcherySept. 16-Nov. 11, Nov. 12-18, Nov. 19, Nov. 20-24, and other dates varying by WMULimited to 1 bear per license year.
ElkArchery: Sept. 16-30; General: Oct. 30-Nov. 4; Late Season: Dec. 30-Jan 6, 2024Limited to 1 elk per license year with elk permit.
Deer - ArcherySept. 16-Nov. 11, Nov. 12-18, Nov. 19, Nov. 20-24, Dec. 26-Jan. 27, 2024, and other dates varying by WMULimited to 1 antlered deer per hunting license year.
Deer - Antlerless MuzzleloaderOct. 14-21Limited to 1 antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer - Antlerless Special FirearmsOct. 19-21Limited to junior and senior license holders, commission disabled person permit holders, and residents serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces or US Coast Guard.
Deer - Regular FirearmsNov. 25 - Dec. 9Limited to 1 antlered deer per hunting license year; antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer - Antlered or Antlerless FlintlockDec. 26-Jan. 15, 2024Limited to 1 antlered deer per hunting license year, or 1 antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer - Antlerless Extended Regular FirearmsDec. 26-Jan. 27, 2024Limited to 1 antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer - Antlerless (Military Bases)Varies by locationLimited to 1 antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

Small Game Seasons

PA Small SeasonSeason DatesDaily LimitPossession LimitNotes
SQUIRRELSSept. 9 - Nov. 11, Dec. 11-23, Dec. 26 - Feb. 29, 2024618Special junior season: Sept. 9-23
RUFFED GROUSEOct. 14 - Nov. 11, Dec. 11-2326-
RABBIT---Cottontail
RING-NECKEDOct. 21 - Nov. 11, Dec. 11-23, Dec. 26 - Feb. 29, 202426Special junior season: Oct. 7-14. Male and female pheasants allowed except in specific areas.
PHEASANT----
BOBWHITESept. 1 - Nov. 11, Dec. 11-23, Dec. 26 - March 30, 2024--Not allowed at Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
QUAIL----
HARESDec. 26 - Jan. 1, 202413Snowshoe rabbits or varying hares.
WOODCHUCKSJuly 1 - Nov. 11, Dec. 11 - June 29, 2024--Groundhogs.
CROWSAug. 24 - March 24, 2024 (Thurs - Sun)---
STARLINGSNo closed season, except during regular firearms deer season---
SPARROWSNo closed season, except during regular firearms deer season---

Trapping Seasons

PA Game Trapping SeasonSeason DatesLimits
MINKS and MUSKRATSNov. 18 - Jan. 7, 2024No Limit
COYOTES, FOXES, OPOSSUMS, RACCOONS, STRIPED SKUNKS and WEASELSOct. 21 - Feb. 18, 2024No Limit
COYOTES and FOXES, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide)Dec. 26 - Feb. 18, 2024No Limit
BEAVERS (Statewide)Dec. 16 - March 31, 2024Limits vary depending on WMU
BOBCATSDec. 16 - Jan. 7, 2024One bobcat per license year
FISHERSDec. 16 - Dec. 31, 2023One fisher per license year
RIVER OTTERSFeb. 10 - 17, 2024One river otter per license year

Furbearer Season

Furbearer SeasonSeason DatesLimits
COYOTESNo closed seasonNo Limit
FOXESOct. 21 - Feb. 17, 2024No Limit
RACCOONSOct. 21 - Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-Feb. 17, 2024No Limit
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNKS, and WEASELSNo closed seasonNo Limit
BOBCATJan. 6 - 31, 2024One bobcat per license year
PORCUPINESOct. 7 - Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-24, Dec. 11-23, and Dec. 26 - Jan. 27, 20243 daily, season limit of 10

Migratory bird Season

Bird TypeSeason DatesDaily Bag LimitsSpecial Notes
DUCKSVaries by Zone6, varies by speciesRestrictions on specific species
SCAUPVaries by Zone2-JanRestrictions on season dates and zones
MERGANSERSVaries by Zone5Restrictions on season dates and zones
COOTSVaries by Zone15Restrictions on season dates and zones
CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE)Varies by Zone8-MarRestrictions on season dates and zones
BRANTOct. 14-Nov. 171-
LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese)Varies by Zone25Restrictions on season dates and zones
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANSNo Open Season--
DOVESSept. 1-Nov. 24, and Dec. 19-Jan. 6, 202415-
WOODCOCKOct. 14-Nov. 24, and Dec. 11-203-
COMMON SNIPEOct. 14-Nov. 24, and Dec. 11-208-
GALLINULESSept. 1-Nov. 213-
VIRGINIA AND SORA RAILSSept. 1-Nov. 213Bag limits by single species or in the aggregate
CLAPPER AND KING RAILSNo Open Season--

Falconry Season

Falconry SeasonSeason DatesDaily Bag LimitsPossession Limits
SQUIRRELS (combined)Sept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 2024618
BOBWHITE QUAILSept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 2024No Limit-
RUFFED GROUSESept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 202426
COTTONTAIL RABBITSSept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 2024412
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARESSept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 202413
RING-NECKED PHEASANT (Male or Female combined)Sept. 1-Nov. 11, Sunday Nov. 12, Nov. 13-18, Sunday Nov. 19, Nov. 20-25, Sunday Nov. 26 and Nov. 27-March 30, 202426

Note: For Complete Details on the season and regulation read the article Pennsylvania Hunting Season.

Dates & Regulations source: PGC PA

John Lewis
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