For outdoor enthusiasts, hunting is more than just a game; it is a tradition deeply connected to the region’s past. Pennsylvania offers various opportunities for duck hunters to test their skills and participate in this old tradition, all due to its abundance of wildlife population.
This post will summarize all the information about the Pennsylvania hunting season schedule in 2025, highlighting key dates, regulations, and limits to help hunters plan the trip in advance.
🔔News for the 2025 – 2026 seasons: Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania state parks is allowed only on November 16, 23, and 30, while state forests allow hunting on all Sundays, except for migratory game birds.
Pennsylvania Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Limits
Pennsylvania offers abundant waterfowl hunting opportunities, particularly for Mallards and Wood Ducks, which are two common species in the state.
Duck hunters can enjoy a great hunting experience in the beautiful forests of Pennsylvania’s state parks, like Maurice K. Goddard Park and Sinnemahoning Park. There are 4 hunting zones and each of them has its own season dates.
Duck Hunting Seasons
- North Zone: Oct. 11 – 25, and Nov. 18 – Jan. 10, 2026
- South Zone: Oct. 11 – 18, and Nov. 19 – Jan. 19, 2026
- Northwest Zone: Oct. 11 – Nov. 28, and Dec. 22 – Jan. 10, 2026
- Lake Erie Zone: Nov. 3 – Jan. 10, 2026
Bag limits: You can hunt 6 ducks each day and 18 ducks in total.
Scaup Hunting Season
North Zone:
- Oct. 11 – 25 and Nov. 18 – Dec. 18, 2025 (1 scaup daily)
- Dec. 19 – Jan.10, 2026 (2 scaup daily)
South Zone:
- Oct. 11-18 and Nov. 19 – Dec. 26, 2025 (1 scaup daily)
- Dec. 27 – Jan. 19, 2026 (2 scaup daily)
Northwest Zone:
- Oct. 11 – Nov. 26, 2025 (1 scaup daily)
- Nov. 27 – 28 and Dec. 22 – Jan. 10, 2026 (2 scaup daily)
Lake Erie Zone:
- Nov. 3 – Dec. 18, 2025 (2 scaup daily)
- Dec. 19 – Jan. 10, 2026 (1 scaup daily)
Brant and Goose Seasons
| Species | Dates | Bag Limits |
| Brant | Oct. 11 – Nov. 14 | 1 daily, 3 in possession |
| Canada Goose (Resident Population Goose Zone) | Sept. 1 – 25 | 8 daily |
| Oct. 25 – Nov. 28 Dec. 15 – Jan. 17 Jan. 30 – Feb. 21 |
5 daily | |
| Canada Goose (Atlantic Population Zone) | Sept. 1 – 25 | 8 daily |
| Nov. 25 – 28 Dec. 20 – Jan. 19 |
1 daily | |
| Junior Days | Sept. 20 | Same as regular season |
| Junior, Veteran, and Active Duty Military Days | Lake Erie Zone: Oct. 25 Northwest Zone: Sept. 27 North Zone: Nov. 1 South Zone: Nov. 8 |
Same as regular season |
| Veteran and Active Duty Military Days | Lake Erie Zone: Jan. 17 Northwest Zone: Jan. 17 North Zone: Jan. 17 South Zone: Jan. 24 |
Same as regular season |
| Light Geese (AP) | Regular: Oct. 1 – Jan. 24 | 25 daily, no possession limit |
| Conservation Order: Jan. 26 – April 24 | 25 daily, no possession limit | |
| Light Geese (RP) | Regular: Oct. 21 – Feb. 21 | 25 daily, no possession limit |
| Conservation Order: Feb. 23 – April 24 | 25 daily, no possession limit |
Special Waterfowl Seasons
Statewide Youth Only: September 20, 2025
North Zone
- Youth, veterans and active military: Nov. 1, 2025
- Veterans and active military only: Jan. 17, 2026
Northwest Zone
- Youth, veterans and active military: Dec. 27, 2025
- Veterans and active military only: Jan. 17, 2026
South Zone
- Youth, veterans and active military: Nov. 8, 2025
- Veterans and active military only: Jan. 24, 2026
Lake Erie Zone
- Youth, veterans and active military: Oct. 25, 2025
- Veterans and active military only: Jan. 17, 2026
In the above seasons, you can hunt all types of waterfowl, such as mergansers, brant, coots, gallinules, and Canada geese.
Except for waterfowl hunting, Pennsylvania also offers various hunting opportunities and seasons for other small game and big game. In this next part, we are going to list other available hunting seasons in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Turkey Seasons
The spring turkey seasons in Pennsylvania each year are tightly regulated and mainly range from late April to early May. Knowing the dates, bag limits, and legal methods helps you plan a successful hunt.
Spring Turkey Seasons
- April 26, 2025 and April 25, 2026 (Youth Hunt Only)
- May 3 – May 17, 2025 and May 2 – May 16, 2026
- May 19 – May 31, 2025 and May 18 – May 30, 2026
*In general seasons, the daily limit is 1, and the season limit is 2 in total. While in Youth Hunt, only 1 spring gobbler may be taken.
Fall Turkey Seasons
- WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D: Nov. 1 – Nov. 15, 2025
- WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E: Nov. 1 – Nov. 8, 2025
- WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3C: Nov. 1 – Nov. 15 and Nov. 26 – 28, 2025
- WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E: Nov. 1 – Nov. 21 and Nov. 26 – 28, 2025
- WMU 5A and 5B: Nov. 1 – Nov. 4, 2025
*Bag limit: Each hunter can only harvest one turkey.
Pennsylvania Deer& Elk Seasons
Pennsylvania deer and elk seasons run from early fall in September through winter in January, with different dates for archery, firearms, and special hunts. Deer season in Pennsylvania is one of the most popular in the country, while elk hunts are limited and highly controlled by permit.
Deer Hunting Seasons
| Seasons | Dates | Zones | Limits |
| Deer Archery | Sept. 20 – Nov. 28 Dec. 26 – Jan. 24, 2026 |
WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | 1 antlered deer |
| Oct. 4 – Nov. 21 Dec. 26 – Jan. 19, 2026 |
Statewide | 1 antlered deer | |
| Muzzleloader | Oct. 18 – 25 | Statewide | 1 antlerless deer |
| Deer Antlerless Special Firearm | Oct. 23 – 25 | Statewide | 1 antlerless deer |
| Deer Regular Firearm | Nov. 29 – Dec. 13 | Statewide | 1 antlered deer per license year; 1 antlerless deer with required license |
| Extended Regular Firearms | Dec. 26 – Jan. 24, 2026 | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | 1 antlerless deer |
| Jan. 2 – Jan. 19, 2026 | WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, 5A | 1 antlerless deer | |
| Deer Antlered or Antlerless Flintlock | Dec. 26 – Jan. 19, 2026 | WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B | 1 antlered deer, or 1 antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with licenses |
| Dec. 26 – Jan. 24, 2026 | WWMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | 1 antlered deer, or 1 antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with licenses | |
| Agricultural Deer Control | Aug. 1 – April 15, 2026 | Statewide | 1 antlerless deer |
Elk Hunting Seasons
- Archery: Sept. 13 – 27
- General: Nov. 3 – Nov. 8
- Late Season: Dec. 27 – Jan 3, 2026
Hunters can only take one elk each year during the whole season.
Pennsylvania Small Game Hunting Seasons
Pennsylvania small game seasons cover a wide range of species, from squirrels and rabbits to pheasant and crow. Small game hunting usually starts in early fall and extends to March in the next year, offering long seasons that are great for late-season hunters.
Squirrels Seasons
- Sept. 13 – 27 (Youth Only)
- Sept. 13 – Nov. 28
- Dec. 15 – 24
- Dec. 26 – Feb. 28, 2026
The hunting bag limits for Squirrels and Foxes are 6 daily and 18 in total.
Rabbit (Cottontail) Seasons
- Oct. 4 – 18 (Youth Only)
- Oct. 18 – Nov.28;
- Dec. 15 – 24 and Dec. 26 – Feb. 28, 2026
For rabbits, the limits are 4 daily and 12 in total.
Pheasant Seasons
- Oct. 25 – Nov. 28
- Dec. 15 – 24
- Dec. 26 – Feb. 28, 2026
- Sept. 1 – March 31, 2026 (Falconry only)
The hunting limits for general and falconry seasons are the same: 2 daily and 6 in total.
Quail Seasons
- Sept. 1 – Nov. 28
- Dec. 15 – 24
- Dec. 26 – March 31, 2026.
There is no limit on hunting bobwhite quail; you can take as many as you want. Note that the seasons are closed in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
Crow Seasons
- Aug. 21 – March 22, 2026
The season is only allowed on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Still, there is no limit on hunting crows.
Pennsylvania Black Bear Seasons
| Seasons | Dates | Zones | Limits |
| Firearm | Nov. 22 – 25 | Statewide | Only 1 bear |
| Extended Firearms | Nov. 29 – Dec. 6 | WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E, 5A | Only 1 bear |
| Nov. 29 – Dec. 13 | WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, 5D | Only 1 bear | |
| Muzzleloader | Oct. 23 – 25 | Statewide | Only 1 bear |
| Special Firearm (Youth, active duty military, disabled) | Oct. 23 – 25 | Statewide | Only 1 bear |
| Archery | Sept. 20 – Nov. 28 | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | Only 1 bear |
| Oct. 4 – Nov. 21 | WMU 5B | Only 1 bear | |
| Oct. 18 – Oct. 25 | WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A | Only 1 bear |
Furbearer Hunting Seasons In Pennsylvania
| Species | Dates | Limits |
| Coyote | Year-round | No limit |
| Foxes | Oct. 25 – Feb. 21, 2026 | No limit |
| Raccoons | Oct. 25 – Feb. 21, 2026 | No limit |
| Opossum, Skunks, Weasels | July 1 – June 30, 2026 | No limit. But cannot be hunted during regular firearms deer season |
| Bobcat | Jan. 10 – Feb. 4, 2026 (Only WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E)) | One bobcat |
| Porcupines | Oct. 11 – Nov. 28 Dec. 15 – Dec. 24 Dec. 26 – Jan. 31, 2026 |
3 daily, total limit of 10 |
Pennsylvania Hunting Regulations Summary
- A hunting license is necessary for hunting in all seasons. Hunters can buy licenses and permits online at HuntFish.PA.gov.
- Normally, hunting is prohibited on Sunday for most game. Make sure to check the hunting seasons to see if Sunday hunting is allowed for certain games.
- Wearing fluorescent orange materials is obligatory, and it is advisable to always have hunter orange on while hunting.
- Hunting hours are from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for both big and small game.
- Baiting is permitted on private property in the Southeast Special Regulations Area only under certain conditions. Except that, baiting is prohibited in all other areas.
- Electronic decoys can be used for hunting crows, waterfowl, and doves. However, it is not allowed to use live decoys.
- Hunters are not allowed to harvest more wildlife than the daily limit.
- A Carry Firearms Permit is necessary to have a handgun with you during the firearm season.
- Avoid using drugs or alcohol when you are out hunting.
- Using automatic firearms to hunt is illegal.
- Dogs are prohibited from hunting large game or turkeys.
- Hunting blinds can be used for big game, but at least 100 square inches of fluorescent orange material is needed to be displayed within 15 feet of the blind.
- Bear, elk, and turkey need to be tagged right after they are harvested. Deer can be tagged at any time before moving the carcass.
Pennsylvania Hunting Licenses Fees
General Hunting & Trapping Licenses will be available for purchase starting on Monday, June 24, 2024. Licenses remain effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Now let’s see the types of hunting licenses and how much they cost.
For Residents
- Adult Hunting License: $20.97
- Junior Hunting License: $6.97
- Senior Resident Hunting license: $13.97
- Senior Lifetime Hunting license: $51.97
For Non-residents
- Adult Hunting License: $101.97
- Junior Hunting License: $41.97
- 7-day Small Game Hunting license: $31.97
Conclusion
To sum up, except for the duck hunting seasons, Pennsylvania also provides numerous chances for hunters. It is crucial to keep in mind the dates for every hunting season and the regulations that each hunter needs to follow.
Following bag limits and respecting hunting rules can ensure an ethical, safe, and sustainable hunting practice. Always ensure you have the necessary licenses and are familiar with the rules before you leave for the trip. We wish you a successful hunt!
Download Resource: Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Hunting Schedules and Rules.pdf
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