Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons 2025-2026 New Regulations & Dates!

The hunting seasons in Pennsylvania are the best times to harvest large and small game. The Pennsylvania Game Commission schedules many game opportunities, youth hunt days, and special seasons for various firearms and hunting methods, including conventional firearms, archery, and muzzleloaders. You’ll find some of the best deer options on the East Coast in the state of Pennsylvania.

We set out to provide the best resource possible on Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons for 2025-2026. Learn about the season’s dates, rules, and bag limits, as well as licensing requirements and useful links. The information presented in today’s guidance will appeal to you. Let’s get started.

Pennsylvania Hunting Season 2025

The state features several game species throughout many months. Hunt white-tailed deer, black bears, elk, turkeys, grouse, pheasants, and rabbits.

Big Games

Deer

Deer Bag Limit

One antlerless deer may be taken with each valid antlerless license. 1 antlered deer per hunting license year.

Elk

Elk Bag Limit

Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

Bear

Bear Bag Limit

Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

PA Turkey

Note: The bag limits for spring gobbler in Pennsylvania are as follows:

• Daily limit: 1
• Season limit: 2

Note:

• It is only permitted to capture bearded birds; licenses are needed.
• Hunting hours end at noon.
• During the first two weeks of the season, only one spring gobbler may be taken; a second bird needs a special authorization. Depending on the date, hunting hours change.

Small Games

Squirrel

Note: 6 daily limit, 18 possession limit after first day

Rabbit

Bag Limit:

(4 daily, 12 possession limit)

Hare

Note: Statewide, the holding limit is three hares, and the daily restriction is one hare.

Woodchuck

Upland Birds

Enjoy a range of birds, including popular Canada Geese and the vibrant assortment of ducks, as you take in the stunning scenery of the state.

Pennsylvania Migratory Bird Season

Crow

• Aug. 21-March 22 2026 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only with no limit.)

English Sparrow & Starling

• Except for guns deer season, no closed season and no limit.

Furbearers

Trapping

PA Hunting Licenses

Note: Unless specified, replacement licenses and permits cost $6.97.

Regulations

• License:  Pennsylvania requires a regular hunting pass year-round. Hunters with flintlock muzzleloader licenses can hunt antlerless deer after Christmas. An average ticket allows one antlered deer per year. In all other seasons, a hunter must have an antlerless license or DMAP sanction to hunt or capture one deer per license or permit, up to six empty permits per hunter. Deer seasons require archery and muzzleloader permits. Junior and senior license users, guided youth, active-duty military, and disabled people can kill antlerless deer during Special Firearms season.

• Deer Tagging: Pennsylvania hunters must write the capture month and day on deer ears with a ballpoint pen. Game commission workers can read the number on the tag until it is handled or hung. The tag rests on the head and gathers vital science data.

• Deer Archery: Can use long, recurve, compound, and crossbows with modern broadheads. Crossbows have enlarging lenses and red-dot sights. 7/8-inch wide and 3.25-inch long broadheads are required. Archery hunters cannot carry weapons without a license. They can bring muzzleloading guns year-round with archery, muzzleloading license, and bright orange. To gather scientific data, hunters must affix harvest tags to deer ears with the month and day of harvest and keep them there until processing or mounting.

• Deer Firearms: Pennsylvania weapons deer seasons allow manually operated centerfire rifles, pistols, shotguns, and semi-automatic and single-projectile shotguns with all-lead, ball, or expanding rounds.Crossbows and long, recurve, or composite bows equipped with contemporary broadheads are permitted. October Antlerless Muzzleloader, Flintlock, and Special Deer Only Firearms Seasons offer a variety of guns and ammo.

• Fluorescent Orange Requirements: All deer seasons, including extensions, in Pennsylvania require shooters to wear at least 250 square inches of conspicuous orange clothing on their heads, torsos, and backs. A Neon orange disguise works too. Archery seekers are encouraged to wear bright orange. Besides muzzleloaders, big-game hunters must wear neon orange during October antlerless muzzleloader season. Particular regulating areas may have brilliant orange regulations.

• Turkey Blinds: All deer seasons, including extensions, in Pennsylvania require shooters to wear at least 250 square inches of conspicuous orange clothing on their heads, torsos, and backs. A Neon orange disguise works too. Archery seekers are encouraged to wear bright orange. Besides muzzleloaders, big-game hunters must wear neon orange during October antlerless muzzleloader season. Particular regulating areas may have promising orange regulations.

• Requirements for Turkey Reporting and Tagging: Pennsylvania hunters can use plastic, nylon, canvas, cotton, or wooden turkey traps, not rocks, logs, or limbs. For concealment, the cover must surround the target. State game areas and Hunter Access assets must mark portable hunting nets. Pennsylvania hunters must tag and move birds promptly after hunting. The turkey’s leg should be tagged until it’s eaten or hung. Hunters must submit their catch to the Game Commission’s website, phone, or harvest card within ten days.

• Turkey Live Decoys, Drives, and Electronic Calls: During Pennsylvania’s spring and fall turkey hunting seasons, artificial calls, driving, and live turkey decoys are prohibited.

FAQ

Resources That Can Help:

Regulations Source: PGC Pennsylvania

Contact: Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

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John Lewis

John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.

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