The Guide to Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons 2025
By Teri Williams on March 28, 2024
When she's not writing or editing content for hunters, she loves spending time outdoors, or with her husband, dog, and family, reading, live music, and dabbling in various hobbies that may or may not become permanent activities (crochet, for example, did not last). She was born in Texas, grew up in Louisiana (where being outside was part of life) and Colorado (where mountain adventures were routine), and now makes her home in Texas.
To pack in as much hunting as possible this year, you must understand the hunting season dates based on the game you plan to hunt.
The good news is that we’ve compiled a guide to Pennsylvania hunting seasons for 2025! Plus, with the HuntWise app, you can find and mark the best spots to hunt the game you’re after — before opening day. So, keep reading for the HuntWise guide to hunting in Pennsylvania.
Updated May 13, 2025
Why Do Hunters Hunt in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvanians have a rich history of hunting, especially when it comes to whitetail deer. However, the state also offers an excellent hunting experience if a bear hunt is on your list of trophy hunts.
When hunting in the Keystone State, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to for turkey hunting to harvest a bird for your Thanksgiving meal. Plus, there’s an abundance of small game for hunters of all skill levels or practice outings in the field to stay sharp before the next whitetail season begins.
Where Should I Hunt?
The Pennsylvania Game Commission manages more than 1.5 million acres of State Game lands. Additionally, building relationships with private landowners can give you access to additional (and potentially overlooked) hunting areas throughout the year.
Within these areas, you’ll find forested areas contrasted by dry plains. Depending on what species you hunt, you’ll also work your way through small mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, prairies, and mesas.
As you plan your hunt, HuntWise can help you target (and mark) the best private and public hunting lands to help you tag out. So, when it’s time for deer, bear, or turkey season, you already know where to go for a successful harvest.
When Can I Hunt?
It is crucial to pay close attention to the open season dates for the species you plan to hunt. You’ll also want to note the dates based on your preferred take method (gun, bow, or muzzleloader) and hunting zones, then follow them based on Pennsylvania’s hunting regulations.
With that, here’s an overview of the PA seasons and bag limits for hunts! Note that Pennsylvania does not allow hunting on Sundays for most species, except where a specific Sunday is noted as an open hunting date.
Note, some dates below are updated for 2025. As the Pennsylvania Game Commission provides information for future season dates, we'll update this guide accordingly.
When is PA Archery Season 2025?
Learn more at our Field Guide focused on Bowhunting in Pennsylvania 2025
PA Deer Season 2025
In addition to the dates below, deer hunting is allowed on military bases on established days.
PA Archery Season 2025:
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
PA Turkey Seasons 2025
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 12 – 26 and November 19 – January 11
South Zone: October 12 – 19 and November 19 – January 18
Northwest Zone: October 12 – November 29 and December 23 – January 11
Lake Erie Zone: November 4 – January 11
Light Geese:
Resident Population Zone (Regular Season): October 22 – February 22
Resident Population Zone (Conservation Season): February 24 – April 25
Atlantic Population Zone (Regular Season): October 21 – January 25
Atlantic Population Zone (Conservation Season): January 27 – April 25
Canada Geese:
Resident Population Zone: October 26 – November 29, December 16 – January 18, and January 31 – February 22
Atlantic Population Zone: September 2 – 25, November 23 – 29, and December 23 – January 18
Brant (Both Goose Zones): October 12 – November 15
Woodcock (Statewide): October 19 – November 29 and December 16 – 24
Rail (Statewide): September 2 – November 21
Snipe (Statewide): October 19 – November 29 and December 16 – 24
Gallinule (Statewide): September 2 – November 21
Doves (Statewide): September 2 – November 29 and December 21 – January 4
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.
For additional details about hunting seasons and regulations, visit the eRegulations page for Pennsylvania hunting information.
What Do I Need to Know About Pennsylvania Hunting Regulations and Licenses?
Anyone who hunts in Pennsylvania needs a hunting license. You’ll purchase a license based on a general hunting license or the species you hunt (for big game).
Additionally, deer licenses are specific to various hunting areas and whether you plan to hunt antlerless deer. They are sold based on a schedule of release dates.
Hunters can buy licenses online or in person at a licensing issuing agency.
What Are the Bag Limits for the Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons?
How many bears, deer, elk, or mergansers can you bring home this season? To comply with Pennsylvania’s hunting regulations, make sure you know the bag limits for everything you plan to hunt.
Deer
1 antlered deer per license year 1 antlerless deer per antlerless license or permit
Snipe
8 daily (24 in possession)
Elk
1 per license year (with elk permit)
Duck
6 daily (18 in possession)
Bear
1 per license year
Merganser
5 daily (15 in possession)
Turkey
1 per license year (Fall) 2 bearded birds, 1 per day (Spring)
Coot
15 per day (45 in possession)
Quail
No limit
Sea Duck
4 daily (12 in possession)
Pheasant
2 daily (6 in possession)
Canada Goose
8 per day, 24 in possession (Resident and Atlantic Population Zones, September 2 – 25) 5 daily, 15 in possession (Resident Population Zone, all other dates) 3 daily, 9 in possession (Atlantic Population Zone, all other dates)
Grouse
2 daily (6 in possession)
Light Geese
25 daily
Dove
15 daily (45 in possession)
Brant
1 daily (3 in possession)
Squirrel
6 daily (18 in possession)
Rail
3 daily (9 in possession)
Rabbit
4 daily (12 in possession)
Gallinule
3 daily (9 in possession)
Hare
1 per day (3 in possession)
Woodcock
3 daily (9 in possession)
Woodchuck
No limit
Coyote
No limit
What Else Do I Need Before I Can Hunt in Pennsylvania?
All first-time hunters must pass a hunter safety course before buying a hunting license in Pennsylvania. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. However, with a Mentored Hunting Permit, first-time hunters can get out and hunt through mentorship before completing a hunter safety course.
You’ll also want the right gear, depending on what you hunt and the time of year you get out in the field.
As a HuntWise subscriber, you can save hundreds on essential gear like clothing, optics, odor control, spotting scopes, binoculars, and more.
Tag Out During the PA Hunting Season with HuntWise
We hope this has been a helpful guide to start planning your hunting year!
As you plan and gather your gear, make sure you’ve downloaded the HuntWise app as part of your gear essentials. With the ultimate tool, you’ll have the latest information on hunting in Pennsylvania, including state regulations and season and license information.
You’ll also be able to plan your hunt more strategically — through e-scouting, map markers, and wind, weather, and animal movement forecasting — to gain an advantage over other hunters and increase your chances of tagging out. With multiple map layers (including State Game Areas, Managed Dove Fields, Lake Contours, and Management Units for Pennsylvania), you can thoroughly e-scout your hunt areas on a map before opening day.
Download the app today and start your free trial! Enjoy free access for a week.
Content and season dates reviewed and updated May 13, 2025.