The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved 126,000 more antlerless deer permits than last year bringing the total number across the state to 1,312,000 and there are new opportunities for rifle deer hunters.
The commissioners Saturday approved hunting seasons and bag limits for the upcoming year.
In addition to raising the number of antlerless (doe) tags, there are two changes that involved the after-Christmas extended firearms season for antlerless deer.
The extended firearms deer season will be open on all Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) properties statewide from Dec. 26-Jan. 24. Participating hunters will need a valid DMAP permit for the property they’re hunting.
In another change, an extended firearms deer season to run Jan. 2-19 will be held in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4C in east-central Pennsylvania where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was detected. WMU 4C was not initially among the WMUs, 4A, 4D and 5A, slated for an extended season.
Another change made this year involves shortening the statewide archery bear season from three weeks to one week.
Haley Sankey, board vice president from Blair County, said since the archery season started in 2019, the bear population has become more in balance with management strategy.
“We’re seeing a decrease in conflicts and complaints and so I would like to amend the bear archery season which was initially proposed for 18 WMUs to begin on Oct. 18 and go through Nov. 8 and instead have the season end on Oct. 25,” she said.
Commissioner Scott Foradora of Jefferson County agreed with the change.
“The program did work. The conflicts or the amount of phone calls has basically disappeared,” he said about nuisance bears. When the season was first started six years ago, he said he voted for it because the science supported it. “So, on this vote I’m going to vote yes because the science supports it,” he said understanding the need to shorten the season.
The statewide archery bear season will run from Oct. 18-25. The archery bear seasons in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D will retain their longer timeframe.
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 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. The agency anticipates the earlier opening date may help address crop damage issues caused by bull elk that might be hunted with these two tags later.
The Game Commission approved 1,312,000 antlerless deer licenses for the 2025-26 hunting year, 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).
Antlerless deer licenses 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 the licenses are purchased before 7 a.m. 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 — 1B, 2G and 3A — went on sale first and were sold first-come, first-serve. Only one WMU, 2G, sold out of licenses before the start of nonresident sales.
Antlerless licenses go on sale to residents June 23, and residents will have two weeks to buy a license at any time that’s convenient for them.
The nonresident portion of the first round begins at 8 a.m. July 7.
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.
2025-26 Pennsylvania 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. 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. 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.
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.
2025-26 Pennsylvania 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).
2025-26 Pennsylvania 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 weasal: 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.
2025-26 Pennsylvania 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).
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bw******@*****tt.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website’s homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pa. Game Commission approves 1.3 million antlerless doe tags