Hunting season 2025 -2026 and bag limits in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG - At its meeting on January 25, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners granted initial approval for the hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2025-26. The proposed seasons and bag limits closely mirror those established for 2024-25. Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on all proposed 2025-26 seasons and bag limits, as well as other board activities, until the board's meeting in April. At that time, the seasons and bag limits will be finalized and allocations for antlerless deer licenses will be presented. The board will convene on April 11 and 12 at the Game Commission's headquarters in Harrisburg. The suggested hunting seasons and bag limits for 2025-26 are as follows: • Wild turkey (male or female): WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4D – November 1-15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C, and 4E – November 1-8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, and 3C – November 1-15 and November 26-28; 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E – November 1-21 and November 26-28; WMUs 5A and 5B – November 1-4; WMUs 5C and 5D – closed for fall turkey hunting. • Spring gobbler (bearded bird only): A special season for eligible junior hunters with the required license and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 25, 2026. Only one spring gobbler may be harvested during this hunt, with hunting hours ending at noon. • Spring gobbler (bearded bird only): May 2-30, 2026. Daily limit of one, with a season limit of two. (The second spring gobbler may only be taken by individuals who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) Legal hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until noon from May 2-16, and from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset from May 18-30. • Deer, archery (antlered and antlerless) statewide: October 4 - November 15; Sunday, November 16; November 17-21, and December 26 - January 19, 2026. One antlered deer can be taken per hunting license year. One antlerless deer is allowed with each required antlerless license or permit. • Deer, antlerless muzzleloader (statewide): October 18-25. An antlerless deer is allowed with each required antlerless license or permit. • Deer, antlerless special firearms (statewide): October 23-25. This is for junior and senior license holders, mentored permit holders, disabled permit holders (to use a vehicle), and Pennsylvania residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Coast Guard, with the required antlerless license. Also included are persons turning 65 in the year of the license application, who hold a valid adult license or qualify for fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer is permitted with each required antlerless license or permit. • Deer, regular firearms (antlered and antlerless) statewide: November 29; Sunday, November 30; and December 1-13. One antlered deer can be harvested per hunting license year, and an antlerless deer is also allowed with each required antlerless license or permit. • Deer, antlered or antlerless flintlock (statewide): December 26 - January 19, 2026. One antlered deer per hunting license year, and one antlerless deer may be taken with a general license antlered deer harvest tag, along with an antlerless deer for each required antlerless license or permit. • Black bear, archery (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 5A): October 18 - November 8. Only one bear can be harvested during the license year. • Black bear, special firearms (statewide): October 23-25. This is for junior and senior license holders, mentored permit holders, disabled permit holders (to use a vehicle), and Pennsylvania residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Coast Guard. Also included are those reaching 65 in the year of the application, holding a valid adult license or qualifying for exemptions under section 2706. Only one bear may be harvested during the license year. • Black bear (statewide): November 22; Sunday, November 23; and November 24-25. Again, only one bear may be taken during the license year. Erie County, along with parts of Crawford and Warren counties, falls within WMU (Wildlife Management Unit) 1B. A comprehensive list of season dates and bag limits for hunting, trapping, and falconry is available online at pa.gov/agencies/pgc.