HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits.
The adopted seasons and bag limits contain a handful of significant changes compared to 2024-25.
There are two changes pertaining to the after-Christmas extended firearms season for antlerless deer. First, the extended firearms deer season will be open on all Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) properties statewide from Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026, with participating hunters needing a valid DMAP permit for the property they’re hunting. And second, an extended firearms deer season to run Jan. 2-19, 2026 will be held in Wildlife Management Unit 4C, where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was recently detected. WMU 4C was not initially among the WMUs slated for an extended season.
Additionally, the statewide archery bear season is being shortened from three weeks to one week, an acknowledgment the early bear seasons established to increase harvest have been effective in recent years. The statewide archery seasons this year will run from Oct. 18-25. The archery bear seasons in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D will retain their longer formats.
For snowshoe hares, there will be a season limit of three hares per hunter. Previously, a hunter reaching the one-hare daily limit could harvest as many as six hares in a season. This reduction in maximum possible harvest per hunter protects against overharvest in isolated segments of the hare population.
And for those two lucky hunters who receive an elk license either through the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s auction or the Keystone Elk Country Alliance’s raffle, there will be a two-month-longer season, beginning July 1 instead of Sept. 1. Lengthening the season could help address crop damage issues caused by bull elk that might be hunted with these two tags at a later date.
The Game Commission also announced 1,312,000 antlerless deer licenses will be allocated statewide for 2025-26, which is up from the 1,186,000 licenses allocated for 2024-25.
Allocations by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses. WMU 1A – 46,000 (46,000); WMU 1B – 44,000 (37,000); WMU 2A – 44,000 (46,000); WMU 2B – 59,000 (53,000); WMU 2C – 93,000 (93,000); WMU 2D – 96,000 (102,000); WMU 2E – 51,000 (54,000); WMU 2F – 51,000 (55,000); WMU 2G – 57,000 (37,000); WMU 3A – 21,000 (21,000); WMU 3B – 53,000 (34,000); WMU 3C – 57,000 (40,000); WMU 3D – 52,000 (41,000); WMU 4A – 64,000 (61,000); WMU 4B – 60,000 (60,000); WMU 4C – 51,000 (53,000); WMU 4D – 83,000 (77,000); WMU 4E – 61,000 (61,000); WMU 5A – 46,000 (40,000); WMU 5B – 86,000 (67,000); WMU 5C – 98,000 (79,000); and WMU 5D – 39,000 (29,000).
Meanwhile, 140 elk licenses (65 antlered, 75 antlerless) were allocated across three 2025-26 elk seasons. For the one-week general season to run Nov. 3-8, 30 antlered and 38 antlerless tags have been allocated. In the archery season open only in select Elk Hunt Zones, to run from Sept. 13-27, 16 antlered and 11 antlerless licenses are available. And there are 19 antlered and 26 antlerless licenses available for the Dec. 27-Jan. 3 late season.
Antlerless deer and elk license allocations are based on scientific data and staff recommendations tailored to meet population objectives within each WMU and Elk Hunt Zone.
Antlerless deer licenses for 2025-26 again will be sold over the counter and online, but this year, antlerless licenses for all WMUs will be guaranteed to Pennsylvania residents, as long as they buy before 7 a.m. on Monday, July 7 – when the first round of antlerless license sales opens to nonresidents.
The Game Commission last year guaranteed residents antlerless licenses in most WMUs, but licenses for three WMUs – WMUs 1B, 2G and 3A – went on sale first and were sold first-come, first-serve. Only WMU 2G sold out of licenses prior to the start of nonresident sales.
This year, however, with an increased allocation in WMU 2G, the Game Commission is comfortable guaranteeing Pennsylvania residents a license in any WMU. Antlerless licenses go on sale to residents June 23, and residents will have two full weeks to buy a license at any time that’s convenient for them.
Once the nonresident portion of the first round begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 7, all remaining antlerless licenses will be sold on a first come, first serve basis until the allocated number of licenses is exhausted.
Guaranteeing antlerless licenses to residents for most WMUs worked last year to spread sales and significantly reduce wait times for hunters buying licenses. Extending that guarantee for all WMUs gives resident hunters everywhere flexibility, convenience and the ability to avoid unwanted waits.
All elk licenses will be awarded by lottery, and hunters must apply separately for all seasons they wish to be eligible to hunt. Each application costs $11.97, meaning a hunter can enter all three drawings for $35.91. Individuals can be drawn for a maximum of one elk license per license year.
The deadline to apply is July 13.
FINAL 2025-26 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Sept. 13-27 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day).
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Sept. 13-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026 (6 daily, 18 possession).
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 18-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 15-24 (2 daily, 6 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 4-18 (4 daily, 12 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 18-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age – Oct. 11-18 (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. 25-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2026 (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-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2026. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Bobwhite Quail Focus Area.
WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): July 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 15-June 30, 2026. No limit.
HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2026, statewide (1 daily, 3 season).
CROW: Aug. 21-March 22, 2026, 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 (Male or Female): WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D – Nov. 1-15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Nov. 1-8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C – Nov. 1-15 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Nov. 1-21 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 5A and 5B – Nov. 1-4; 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 25, 2026. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 2-30, 2026. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From May 2-16, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 18-30, 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. 20-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 4 -Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-21 and Dec. 26-Jan. 19, 2026. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 18-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 23-25. 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. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-13. 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. 19, 2026. 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, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026. 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, 5D and on all DMAP properties statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2026. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs, 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A): Jan. 2-Jan. 19, 2026. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or 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, 2026. An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit. [IG1]
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 20-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23 and Nov. 24-28. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMU 5B): Oct. 4-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16 and Nov. 17-21. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (Statewide): Oct. 18-Oct. 25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 23-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 23-25, 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. 22; Sunday, Nov. 23; and Nov. 24-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A): Nov. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-Dec. 6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-13. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
ELK, RAFFLE OR AUCTION TAGS (Antlered or Antlerless): July 1-Nov. 8. One tag each available through RMEF auction and KECA raffle. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, ARCHERY (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 13-27. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, REGULAR (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 3-8. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, LATE (Antlered or Antlerless): Dec. 27-Jan. 3, 2026. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
FINAL 2025-26 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 Sunday hunting with the exceptions of Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. No limits.
FOX: Oct. 25-Feb. 21, 2026. No limit. Sunday hunting permitted.
RACCOON: Oct. 25-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-Feb. 21, 2026. No limit.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 10-Feb. 4, 2026. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
PORCUPINE: Oct. 11-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-28; Dec. 15-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2026. (3 daily, season limit of 10).
FINAL 2025-26 TRAPPING SEASONS
MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 22-Jan. 11, 2026. No limits.
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 20-March 31, 2026 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
COYOTE, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: Oct. 25-Feb. 22, 2026. No limits.
COYOTE and FOX, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide): Dec. 26-Feb. 22, 2026. 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 and 4E): Dec. 20-Jan. 11, 2026. 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. 20-Jan. 11, 2026. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
RIVER OTTER (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E): Feb. 14-21, 2026. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
FINAL 2025-26 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined): Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (6 daily, 18 possession).
BOBWHITE QUAIL Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (No limit).
RUFFED GROUSE Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (2 daily, 6 possession).
COTTONTAIL RABBIT Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (2 daily, 6 possession).
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARES Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (1 daily, 3 season).
MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Sept. 1-Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; Nov. 17-22; Sunday, Nov. 23; Nov. 24-29; Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (No limits).
No hunting on Sundays with the exceptions of Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30.
No open season on other wild birds or mammals.
Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons to be established in accordance with federal regulations at a later date.