PA Hunting Seasons & Public Land

Pennsylvania Hunting

Pennsylvania has one of the largest hunter populations in the country, with white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, and elk hunting across the Appalachian Mountains and state game lands.

725 Seasons42 Species

Direct Answer

Pennsylvania hunting seasons cover 725 season dates across 45 WMUs for White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Black Bear and more. Most seasons are open to any licensed hunter within the posted dates. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and zone.

Season data sourced from the Pennsylvania wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.

Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons by Species

Bear

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone 1AArcheryOct 17Oct 25
Zone 1ASpecial_firearmOct 22Oct 25
Zone 1AMuzzleloaderOct 22Oct 25
Zone 1AFirearmNov 21Nov 24
Zone 1BArcheryOct 17Oct 25
Zone 1BSpecial_firearmOct 22Oct 25

+ 93 more Bear seasons

Bobcat

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone 2ATrappingDec 19Jan 10
Zone 2AFirearmJan 9Feb 3
Zone 2BTrappingDec 19Jan 10
Zone 2BFirearmJan 9Feb 3
Zone 2CTrappingDec 19Jan 10
Zone 2CFirearmJan 9Feb 3

+ 28 more Bobcat seasons

Canada Goose

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmOct 24Oct 24
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmJan 16Jan 16
Zone NorthFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone NorthFirearmOct 31Oct 31
Zone NorthFirearmJan 16Jan 16

+ 13 more Canada Goose seasons

Coot

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmOct 24Oct 24
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmNov 2Jan 9
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmJan 16Jan 16
Zone NorthFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone NorthFirearmOct 10Oct 24

+ 13 more Coot seasons

Brant

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmOct 24Oct 24
Zone Lake_ErieFirearmJan 16Jan 16
Zone NorthFirearmSep 19Sep 19
Zone NorthFirearmOct 31Oct 31
Zone NorthFirearmJan 16Jan 16

+ 7 more Brant seasons

Deer

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone 1AArcheryOct 3Nov 20
Zone 1AMuzzleloaderOct 17Oct 25
Zone 1AFirearmOct 22Oct 25
Zone 1AFirearmNov 28Dec 13
Zone 1AArcheryDec 26Jan 24
Zone 1AFlintlockDec 26Jan 24

+ 5 more Deer seasons

Coyote

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideFirearmJul 1Jun 30
StatewideTrappingOct 24Feb 21
StatewideTrappingDec 26Feb 21

Beaver

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideTrappingDec 19Mar 31

Crow

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideFirearmAug 20Mar 21

Pennsylvania Hunting Season FAQ

When does hunting season start in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania season dates vary by species and zone. Archery seasons typically open first, followed by firearms and muzzleloader. This page lists 725 Pennsylvania season dates across 45 WMUs—check the species tables above for exact opening and closing dates.

What can you hunt in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania offers hunting for 42 species, including White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Black Bear and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.

How many hunting WMUs does Pennsylvania have?

Pennsylvania is divided into 45 WMUs. Season dates, harvest rates and public-land access differ by unit—use the tables above to compare units before you apply or buy a tag.

Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:

Pennsylvania Official Hunting Regulations →

View Pennsylvania on the map

See GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Pennsylvania on our interactive hunting map.

Hunting in Canada? Explore Crown Land Maps, Hunting Seasons, Licence Guide, and Regulations for Canadian provinces.

Hunt Pennsylvania with offline maps