Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt in Pennsylvania?

If you’re planning a hunt in Pennsylvania, it’s essential to pay close attention to open season dates for each species, as well as your chosen method of take—whether it’s firearm, bow, or muzzleloader. Hunting zones can also impact season timing, so be sure to follow the regulations that apply to your specific location and approach.

Below, you’ll find an overview of Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons and bag limits. Keep in mind that hunting on Sundays is generally prohibited, except on a few designated Sundays noted as open hunting dates.

Some dates listed are updated for the 2025 season. We’ll continue to update this guide as the Pennsylvania Game Commission releases future season details.

Deer

In addition to the dates below, deer hunting is allowed on military bases on established days.

• Archery:
  • WMUs 2B, 5C, and 5D:
    • September 20 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday, November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • November 24 – 28, 2025
    • December 26, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • Statewide:
    • October 4 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday, November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • November 24 – 28, 2025
    • December 26, 2025 – January 19, 2026
• Antlerless:
  • Muzzleloader: October 19 – 25, 2025
  • Special Firearms (Statewide): October 23 – 25, 2025
• Regular Firearms (Statewide Antlered or Antlerless):
  • November 29, 2025
  • Sunday, November 30, 2025
  • December 1 – 13, 2025
• Flintlock (Antlered or Antlerless):
  • WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B: December 26, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: December 26, 2025 – January 19, 2026
• Extended Regular Firearms (Antlerless):
  • WMUs 2B, 5X, and 5D: December 26, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • WMUs 4A, 4D, and 5A: January 2 – 19, 2026

Turkey

• Spring Gobbler 2025 (Bearded Only): May 3 – 17, 2025 and May 19 – 31, 2025
  
• Fall Season (Male or Female Birds):
  • WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4D: November 1 – 15, 2025
  • WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C, and 4E: November 1 – 8, 2025
  • WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, and 3C: November 1 – 15 and November 26 – 28, 2025
  • WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E: November 1 – 21 and November 26 – 28, 2025
  • WMUs 5A and 5B: November 1 – 4, 2025
  • WMUS 5C and 5D: Closed

Elk

• Archery: September 13 – 27, 2025
• General: November 3 – 8, 2025
• Late Season: December 27, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Black Bear

• Firearms Statewide: November 22, Sunday November 23, and November 24 – 25, 2025
  
• Extended Firearms:
  • WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E, and 5A: November 29, Sunday November 30, and December 1 – 13, 2025
  • WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, and 5D: November 29, Sunday November 30, and December 1 – 13, 2025
• Muzzleloader (Statewide): October 23 – 25, 2025
• Special Firearms (Statewide): October 23 – 25, 2025
• PA Archery Season:
  • WMUs 2B, 5C, and 5D:
    • September 20 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday November 23, 2025
    • November 24 – 28, 2025
  • WMU 5B: October 4 – November 15, 2025, Sunday November 16, 2025, and November 17 – 21, 2025
  • WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A​: October 18 – 25, 2025

Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds

Visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission webpage for season dates and limits to confirm details about special Youth, Veteran, and Active-Duty Military hunting days.

• Ducks, Sea Ducks, Coots, Mergansers:
  • North Zone: October 11 – 25, 2025 and November 18, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • South Zone: October 11 – 18, 2025 and November 19, 2025 – January 19, 2026
  • Northwest Zone: October 11 – November 28, 2025 and December 22, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • Lake Erie Zone: November 3, 2025 – January 10, 2026
• Scaup:
  • North Zone: October 11 – 25, 2025, November 18 – December 18, 2025, and December 19, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • South Zone: October 11 – 18, 2025, November 19 – December 26, 2025, and December 27, 2025 – January 19, 2026
  • Northwest Zone: October 11 – November 26, 2025, November 27 – 28, 2025, and December 22, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • Lake Erie Zone: November 3 – December 18, 2025 and December 19, 2025 – January 10, 2026
• Light Geese:
  • Resident Population Zone (Regular Season): October 21, 2025 – February 21, 2026
  • Resident Population Zone (Conservation Season):February 23 – April 24, 2026
  • Atlantic Population Zone (Regular Season): October 1, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • Atlantic Population Zone (Conservation Order):January 26 – April 254, 2026
• Canada Geese:
  • Resident Population Zone: September 1 – 25, 2025, October 25 – November 28, 2025, December 15, 2025 – January 17, 2026, and January 30 – February 21, 2026
  • Atlantic Population Zone: September 1 – 25, 2025, November 25 – 28, 2025, and December 20, 2025 – January 19, 2026
• Brant (Both Goose Zones): October 11 – November 14, 2025
• Woodcock (Statewide): October 18 – November 28, 2025 and December 15 – 24, 2025
• Rail (Statewide): September 1 – November 20, 2025
• Snipe (Statewide): October 18 – November 28, 2025 and December 15 – 24, 2025
• Gallinule (Statewide): September 1 – November 20, 2025
• Doves (Statewide): September 1 – November 28, 2025 and December 20, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Junior, Veteran, and Active Duty Military

• Lake Erie Zone: October 25, 2025
• Northwest Zone: September 27, 2025
• North Zone: November 1, 2025
• South Zone: November 8, 2025

Veteran and Active Duty Military

• Lake Erie Zone: January 17, 2026
• Northwest Zone: January 17, 2026
• North Zone: January 17, 2026
• South Zone: January 24, 2026

Small Game

• Quail (Statewide):
  • September 1 – November 15, 2025
  • Sunday, November 16, 2025
  • November 17 – 22, 2025
  • Sunday, November 23, 2025
  • November 24 – 28, 2025
  • December 15 – 24, 2025
  • December 26, 2025 – March 31, 2026
• Grouse (Statewide):
  • October 18 – November 15, 2025
  • Sunday, November 16, 2025
  • November 17 – 22, 2025
  • Sunday, November 3, 2025
  • November 24 – 28, 2025
  • December 15 – 24, 2025
• Rabbit:
  • Junior Hunt: October 4 – 18, 2025
  • Statewide:
    • October 18 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • Noovember 24 – 28, 2025
    • December 15 – 24, 2025
    • December 26, 2025 – February 28, 2026
• Hares: December 26 – January 1, 2026
• Pheasant:
  • Junior Hunt: October 11 – 18, 2025
  • Statewide:
    • October 25 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday, November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • November 24 – 28, 2025
    • December 15 – 24, 2025
    • December 26, 2025 – February 28, 2026
• Squirrel:
  • Junior Hunt: September 13 – 27, 2025
  • Statewide:
    • September 13 – November 15, 2025
    • Sunday November 16, 2025
    • November 17 – 22, 2025
    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • November 24 – 28, 2025
    • December 15 – 24, 2025
    • December 26, 2025 – February 28, 2026
• Woodchuck:
  • July 1 – November 15, 2025
  • Sunday November 16
  • November 17 – 22, 2025
  • Sunday November 23, 2025
  • November 24 – 28, 2025
  • December 15, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Coyote

No closed season.