Pennsylvania Hunting Seasons, 2022-2023
Bag game large and small during the Pennsylvania hunting seasons. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers a variety of hunting seasons, youth hunt days and special seasons for regular firearms, archery and muzzleloaders. Pennsylvania offers some of the best deer hunting on the East Coast. For more information on purchasing hunting permits, regional regulations and other hunting needs, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Deer Seasons
Archery and Crossbow
Sept. 17-Nov. 25
Dec. 26-Jan. 28
Regular Firearms
Nov. 27-Dec. 10
Special Firearms (Junior/Senior License, Youth, Disabled Hunters, Military)
Oct. 20-22
Flintlock Firearms
Dec. 26-Jan. 28**
Muzzleloader
Oct. 12-22
**Pennsylvania regulates its firearms hunting seasons by region. In addition, further hunting dates separate from the statewide hunting season are available in countless areas across the state. For more information on hunting within your region or in another area, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Elk Seasons
Archery
Sept. 10-24
General Season
Oct. 31-Nov. 5
Late Season
Dec. 31-Jan.7
Special Conservation Tag Season
Aug. 31-Nov. 5
Pennsylvania Black Bear Seasons
Archery
Sept. 17-Nov. 25**
Special Firearms (Junior/Senior License, Youth, Disabled Hunters, Military)
Oct. 20-22
Muzzleloader
Oct. 15-22
General Season
Nov. 19-Dec. 10**
**Season dates vary by zone. For specific dates within your region, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Seasons
Fall General Season
Oct. 29-Nov. 25**
Spring 2023 Season
Apr. 29-May 30
Spring 2023 Youth Season
Apr. 22
**Start and end dates vary by region. For specific dates within your region, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website. Special seasons are reserved for youth hunts, senior hunters 65 and older, persons with disabilities and active military personnel.
Pennsylvania Small Seasons
Squirrel
Sept. 10-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Rabbit
Oct. 15-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Pheasant
Oct. 22-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Bobwhite Quail
Oct. 22-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Grouse
Oct. 15-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Woodchucks (Groundhogs)
Open Season, excluding Sundays and the regular firearms deer season
Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for Pennsylvania hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. Baiting is not allowed in the state, and firearms used to hunt are regulated by game type. For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for precise information.
Bag game large and small during the Pennsylvania hunting seasons. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers a variety of hunting seasons, youth hunt days and special seasons for regular firearms, archery and muzzleloaders. Pennsylvania offers some of the best deer hunting on the East Coast. For more information on purchasing hunting permits, regional regulations and other hunting needs, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Deer Seasons
Archery and Crossbow
Sept. 17-Nov. 25
Dec. 26-Jan. 28
Regular Firearms
Nov. 27-Dec. 10
Special Firearms (Junior/Senior License, Youth, Disabled Hunters, Military)
Oct. 20-22
Flintlock Firearms
Dec. 26-Jan. 28**
Muzzleloader
Oct. 12-22
**Pennsylvania regulates its firearms hunting seasons by region. In addition, further hunting dates separate from the statewide hunting season are available in countless areas across the state. For more information on hunting within your region or in another area, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Elk Seasons
Archery
Sept. 10-24
General Season
Oct. 31-Nov. 5
Late Season
Dec. 31-Jan.7
Special Conservation Tag Season
Aug. 31-Nov. 5
Pennsylvania Black Bear Seasons
Archery
Sept. 17-Nov. 25**
Special Firearms (Junior/Senior License, Youth, Disabled Hunters, Military)
Oct. 20-22
Muzzleloader
Oct. 15-22
General Season
Nov. 19-Dec. 10**
**Season dates vary by zone. For specific dates within your region, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Seasons
Fall General Season
Oct. 29-Nov. 25**
Spring 2023 Season
Apr. 29-May 30
Spring 2023 Youth Season
Apr. 22
**Start and end dates vary by region. For specific dates within your region, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website. Special seasons are reserved for youth hunts, senior hunters 65 and older, persons with disabilities and active military personnel.
Pennsylvania Small Seasons
Squirrel
Sept. 10-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Rabbit
Oct. 15-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Pheasant
Oct. 22-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Bobwhite Quail
Oct. 22-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Dec. 26-Feb. 27
Grouse
Oct. 15-Nov. 25
Dec. 12-23
Woodchucks (Groundhogs)
Open Season, excluding Sundays and the regular firearms deer season
Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for Pennsylvania hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. Baiting is not allowed in the state, and firearms used to hunt are regulated by game type. For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for precise information.
Release #067-15
ELK CAM GOES LIVE
Hear a bull's ear-splitting bugle without leaving home.
Each September, thousands of visitors make their way to Pennsylvania's elk country to experience for themselves the wonder of the bugling season.
And while there's nothing quite like seeing a giant bull up close, or feeling your rib cage resonate as it lets loose an ear-splitting bugle, there's an opportunity this year to get a glimpse of Pennsylvania's prime time for elk - without ever having to leave home.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has installed a camera on State Game Lands 311 in Elk County, in a field that is off limits to people, but that typically is a hub of elk activity as the bugling season heats up. The camera was installed with help from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry. Video and sound from the camera are being live streamed on the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us, and some good-sized bull elk, not to mention turkeys, deer and other wildlife, already have made appearances.
The live stream, which is provided by the Game Commission’s partner, HDOnTap, is the latest in a string of real-time wildlife-watching opportunities offered by the Game Commission. More than 1.5 million people viewed the live stream from a bald-eagle nest in Hanover, Pa. this winter and spring, and the Game Commission in previous years has provided live streams from osprey and bluebird nests, as well.
Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough said while there’s no substitute for visiting elk country in person, the camera gives viewers a taste of what the excitement is all about.
“Elk have not always had an easy time of it in Pennsylvania, but since the Game Commission reintroduced elk to the state in 1913, they’ve pulled through some tough times and, today, we have one of the top herds in the country,” Hough said. “Give credit to sound management, the creation of better elk habitat all across northcentral Pennsylvania, and most importantly, people who care. Without them, the elk’s success wouldn’t be the same.”
The elk live stream page also contains information on Pennsylvania’s elk, including a documentary on Pennsylvania elk restoration. Pennsylvania educators may be interested in the accompanying guide which can be used in the classroom.
The live stream is slated to run until the end of the bugling season, likely sometime in mid-October. The top time to see elk on camera has been late in the afternoon.