PRELIMINARY 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS APPROVED

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners Saturday gave preliminary approval to the 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits.

All 2026-27 season proposals include the Sundays that fall within the listed start and end dates.  Also, seasons that previously ended on Saturdays largely would end on Sundays, providing one additional day of opportunity.

Migratory game bird seasons are set later and not included on this list. It has not been determined at this time whether those seasons will include Sundays.

The Board thoroughly discussed a preliminary 2026-27 season proposal that would have moved the firearms deer season a week earlier, causing the firearms bear season and others to shift as a result. That proposal was part of the Board’s prepared agenda. However, the Board voted 6-3 to reject that plan and move ahead with a proposal that largely mirrors last year’s seasons.

The preliminarily approved 2026-27 seasons include several significant changes:

• For wild turkeys, a bag limit of one spring gobbler is proposed to offset possible additional harvest due to the inclusion of Sundays and ensure that harvest rates remain within sustainable levels.
• For white-tailed deer, minor adjustments to date structures of extended firearms, flintlock, and late archery seasons are proposed to reduce complexity and to ensure season lengths correspond to sporting arm efficiency and management objectives.
• For black bears, in WMU 3D, a longer archery bear season (overlapping with the entire first segment of the archery deer season) is proposed to increase harvest in response to high levels of bear-human conflict in this area.
• For elk, a new early October firearms season segment is proposed to limit crowding and maintain hunter satisfaction under current and potential future increased license allocations. The late firearms elk season is proposed to be moved later in January to avoid conflicts with major holidays.
• For small game, the squirrel, ruffed grouse, rabbit, pheasant, bobwhite quail and woodchuck seasons all are proposed to remain open during the firearms deer season.
• For furbearers, WMU 5A is proposed to be opened to bobcat hunting and trapping, and WMUs 2G, 3A, and 4C are proposed to be opened to river otter trapping. Habitat and population data indicate that these units can support sustainable harvest for these species.

The public may offer comments on all proposed 2026-27 seasons and bag limits, as well as other board actions, between now and the board’s April meeting, when 2026-27 seasons and bag limits will be finalized, and antlerless deer license allocations will be presented.

The board is scheduled to meet April 10 and 11 at the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters.

 

PROPOSED 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Sept. 12-27 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day).

SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Sept. 12-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (6 daily, 18 possession).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 17-Dec. 24 (2 daily, 6 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and Mentored Permit Holders age 16 and under – Oct. 3-18 (4 daily, 12 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 17-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (4 daily, 12 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age – Oct. 10-18 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.

PHEASANT: Oct. 24-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Sept. 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2027. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.

WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): July 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-June 30, 2027. No limit.

HARE (SNOWSHOE RABBIT) OR VARYING HARE: Dec. 26-Dec. 31, statewide (1 daily, 3 season).

CROW: Aug. 20-March 21, 2027, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLING AND ENGLISH SPARROW: No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY, FALL (Male or Female): WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D – Oct. 31-Nov. 15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 31-Nov. 8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C – Oct. 31-Nov. 15 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 5A and 5B – Oct. 31-Nov. 3; WMUs 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 24-25, 2027. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 1-31, 2027. Daily limit 1, season limit 1. From May 1-16, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 17-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Nov. 27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 3 –Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, REGULAR FIREARMS (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Nov. 28-Dec. 13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer may be taken with a general license antlered deer harvest tag, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs, 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A): Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2026.  An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (Statewide DMAP): Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2027. Only on properties enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program. An antlerless deer with each required DMAP harvest permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Agricultural Deer Control): Aug. 1-April 15, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 3D and 5B): Oct. 3–Nov. 20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Oct. 17-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25, Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 21-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 28-Dec. 13. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A): Nov. 28-Dec. 6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

ELK, ARCHERY (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 12-27. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR – FIRST (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 3-11. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR – SECOND (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 31-Nov. 8. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR – THIRD (Antlered or Antlerless): Jan. 9-17, 2027. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

 

PROPOSED 2026-27 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS

COYOTE: No closed season. No limit. Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.

OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from July 1–Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–June 30, 2027. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.

FOX and RACCOON: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 24-Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–Feb. 21, 2027. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Jan. 9-Feb. 3, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

PORCUPINE: Oct. 10-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2027. (3 daily, season limit of 10).

 

PROPOSED 2026-27 TRAPPING SEASONS

MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 21-Jan. 10, 2027. No limits.

BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 19-March 31, 2027 (Limits vary depending on WMU).

COYOTE, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits.

COYOTE and FOX, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide): Dec. 26-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

FISHER (WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

RIVER OTTER (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E): Feb. 13-21, 2027. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

 

PROPOSED 2026-27 FALCONRY SEASONS

SQUIRREL (combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (6 daily, 18 possession).

BOBWHITE QUAIL Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (No limit).

RUFFED GROUSE Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (2 daily, 6 possession).

COTTONTAIL RABBIT Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (4 daily, 12 possession).

PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (2 daily, 6 possession).

SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (1 daily, 3 season).

MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (No limits).

MIGRATORY GAME BIRD Seasons and bag limits shall be in accordance with Federal regulations.