Pennsylvania Code › Title 58 - RECREATION › Part III - GAME COMMISSION › Chapter 139 - SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS › Section 139.4 - Seasons and bag limits for the license year

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
2024-2025 OPEN HUNTING AND FURTAKING SEASONS, DAILY
				  LIMIT, FIELD POSSESSION LIMIT AND SEASON LIMIT OPEN SEASON INCLUDES FIRST AND
				  LAST DATES LISTED
Species
First Day
Last Day
Daily Limit
Field Possession Limit After Second
								day
Squirrel
-(Combined
								species)1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or
								without the required junior license
Sept. 14
Sept. 28
6
18
Squirrel
-(Combined
								species)2
Sept. 14 Sun.3,
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3,
Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
Feb. 28, 2025
6
18
Ruffed
								Grouse
2
Oct. 19
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
2
6
Rabbit,
								Cottontail
1
Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the
								required junior license
Oct. 5
Oct. 19
4
12
Rabbit,
								Cottontail
2
Oct. 19
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
Feb. 28, 2025
4
12
Ring-necked Pheasant
Central
								Susquehanna and Franklin County Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas
Male
								only
1
As authorized by the Executive Order
Ring-necked Pheasant-Male or
								Female
1
Junior License Holders and Mentored Permit
								Holders9
Oct. 12
Oct. 19
2
6
Ring-necked Pheasant-Male or
								Female
2
Oct. 26
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov.
								24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
Feb. 28, 2025
2
6
Bobwhite Quail
-There is no open
								season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the area surrounding the Letterkenny
								Bobwhite Quail Focus Area, as designated in §
														141.30 (relating to bobwhite quail
								recovery area).
Bobwhite
								Quail
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23 Sun.3,
Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
Mar. 31, 2025
Unlimited
Snowshoe or Varying
								Hare
1
Dec. 26
Jan. 1, 2025
1
3
Woodchuck
								(Groundhog)
2
July 1
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16 Sun.3,
Nov. 17
Nov. 23 Sun.3,
Nov. 24
Nov. 29
June 30, 2025
Unlimited
Crow
3
(Hunting permitted on Thursday,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)
Aug. 22
Mar. 23, 2025
Unlimited
Starling and English
								Sparrow
3
No closed season, except season closed during the
								regular firearms deer seasons.
Unlimited
MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS
Except as further restricted by this chapter, the seasons,
				  bag limits, hunting hours and hunting regulations for migratory game birds
				  shall conform to regulations adopted by the United States Secretary of the
				  Interior under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§
										703-712) as published in the
Federal Register
on or about February 28 of each year.
Exceptions:
(a)
				Hunting hours in §
									141.4 (relating to hunting
				hours).
(b) Nontoxic shot as
				approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is
				required for use Statewide in hunting and taking of migratory
				waterfowl.
(c) Hunting on Sunday
				not authorized.1
WILD TURKEY
Species
First Day
Last Day
Daily Limit
Season Limit
Turkey, Fall-Male or
								Female
1
WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D
WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E
WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C
WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E
WMUs 5A and 5B
WMUs 5C and 5D
Nov. 2
Nov. 2
Nov. 2
Nov. 27
Nov. 2
Nov. 27
Nov. 2
and
and
Nov. 16
Nov. 9
Nov. 16
Nov. 29
Nov. 22
Nov. 29
Nov. 5
1
1
Closed to fall turkey hunting
Turkey,
								Spring
1
Bearded Bird only, Eligible Junior Hunters only,
								with the required junior license
Apr. 26, 2025
Apr. 26, 2025
1
1
Turkey, Spring
1,4
Bearded Bird only
1
2
May 3, 2025
May 19, 2025
and
May 17, 2025
May 31, 2025
May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 12
								noon
May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour
								after sunset
FALCONRY
Species
First Day
Last Day
Daily Limit
Field Possession Limit After Second
								day
Squirrel
-(Combined
								species)2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25 Sun.3, Dec.
								1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3,
Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
6
18
Quail
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23 Sun.3, Nov.
								24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
Unlimited
Ruffed
								Grouse
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
2
6
Cottontail
								Rabbits
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16 Sun.3,
Nov. 17
Nov. 23 Sun.3, Nov.
								24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
4
12
Snowshoe or Varying
								Hare
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov.
								24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
1
3
Ring-necked
								Pheasant-Male
2
and Female
(Combined)
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
2
6
Mink, Muskrat, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon,
								Striped Skunk and Weasel
2
Sept. 2
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Mar. 31, 2025
Unlimited
Migratory Game
								Bird
1'Seasons and bag limits shall be in
								accordance with Federal regulations.
WHITE-TAILED DEER
Species
First Day
Last Day
Season Limit
Deer, Archery (Antlered and
								Antlerless)
2,5
With the required archery license WMUs 2B, 5C and
								5D
Sept. 21
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Jan. 25, 2025
One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each
								required antlerless license.
Deer, Archery (Antlered and
								Antlerless)
2,5
With the required archery license WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A,
								2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B
Oct. 5
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Dec. 26
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 22
Jan. 20, 2025
One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each
								required antlerless license.
Deer, Muzzleloading (Antlerless
								only)
1
With the required muzzleloading license
Oct. 19
Oct. 26
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
								license.
Deer, Special firearms (Antlerless
								only)
Only Junior and Senior License
								Holders6 Mentored Permit
								Holders9, Commission Disabled Person Permit Holders
								(to use a vehicle as a blind), and Residents serving on active duty in the
								United States Armed Forces or United States Coast Guard
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
								license.
Deer, Regular Firearms (Antlered and
								Antlerless)
2,5
Statewide
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec.
1 Dec. 2
and
and
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 14
One antlered deer, and an antlerless deer with each
								required antlerless license.
Deer, Flintlock (Antlered or
								Antlerless)
1,5
With the required muzzleloading license
WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C,
								3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B
Dec. 26
Jan. 20, 2025
One antlered or one antlerless deer, plus an
								additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Flintlock (Antlered or
								Antlerless)
1,5
With the required muzzleloading license
WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D
Dec. 26
Jan. 25, 2025
One antlered or one antlerless deer, plus an
								additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Extended Regular firearms
								(Antlerless)
1
WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D
Dec. 26
Jan. 25, 2025
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
								license.
Deer, Extended Regular firearms
								(Antlerless)
1
WMUs 4A, 4D and 5A
Jan. 2, 2025
Jan. 20, 2025
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
								license.
Deer,
								Antlerless
1
(Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County and New
								Cumberland Army Depot, York County and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams
								County)
Hunting is permitted on days established by the
								United States Department of the Army.
An antlerless deer with each required antlerless
								license.
BLACK BEAR
Species
First Day
Last Day
Season Limit
Bear, Archery
2,7
WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D
Sept. 21
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
1
Nov. 25
Nov. 29
Bear, Archery
2,7
WMU 5B
Oct. 5
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 22
1
Bear,
								Archery
1,7
WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C,
								3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A
Oct. 19
Nov. 9
1
Bear, Muzzleloader
1,7
(Statewide)
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
1
Bear, Special
								firearms
7
Only Junior and Senior License
								Holders6, Mentored Permit
								Holders9, Commission Disabled Person Permit Holders
								(to use a vehicle as a blind), and Residents serving on active duty in the
								United States Armed Forces or in the United States Coast Guard
								(Statewide)
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
1
Bear, Regular
								Firearms
2,7
(Statewide)
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
and and
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 26
1
Bear, Extended
								firearms
2,7
WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and and
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 14
1
Bear, Extended
								firearms
2,7
WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and and
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec.
1 Dec. 7
1
ELK
Species
First Day
Last Day
Season Limit
Elk, Special Conservation
								Tag
1,8
and Special-License
								Tag
1,8
(Antlered and
								Antlerless)
Sept. 2
Nov. 9
1
Elk, Archery
1,8
(Antlered and Antlerless)
Sept. 14
Sept. 28
1
Elk, Regular
1,8
(Antlered and Antlerless)
Nov. 4
Nov. 9
1
Elk,
								Late
1,8
(Antlered and
								Antlerless)
Dec. 28
Jan. 4, 2025
1
FURTAKING-TRAPPING
Species
First Day
Last Day
Daily Limit
Season
Mink and Muskrat
Nov. 23
Jan. 12, 2025
Unlimited
Beaver
Dec. 21
Mar. 31, 2025
WMUs lA and IB (Combined)
20
60
WMUs 2A, 2B and 3C (Combined)
20
40
WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 5C and 5D
								(Combined)
20
20
WMUs 2G, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5B
								(Combined)
5
5
Species
First Day
Last Day
Season Limit
Coyote, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, Striped
								Skunk and Weasel
Oct. 26
Feb. 23, 2025
Unlimited
Coyote and Fox
Use of cable restraint devices authorized with
								required certification
Dec. 26
Feb. 23, 2025
Unlimited
Bobcat, with required bobcat
								permit
WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D
								and 4E
Dec. 21
Jan. 12, 2025
1
Fisher, with required fisher
								permit
WMUs IB, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and
								4E
Dec. 21
Jan. 12, 2025
1
River Otter, with required otter
								uermit
WMUs lA, IB, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E
Feb. 15, 2025
Feb. 22, 2025
1
FURTAKING-HUNTING
Species
First Day
Last Day
Daily Limit
Season Limit
Coyote
-
(Outside of any big
								game season)
3
May be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker's
								license.
Unlimited
Coyote
-
(During any big
								game season)
May be taken while lawfully hunting big Unlimited
								game or with a furtaker's license.
Opossum, Striped Skunk,
								WeaseP
July 1
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
June 30, 2025
Unlimited
May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates
								from July 1- Nov. 29 and Dec. 15-June 30, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2
								hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30-Dec. 14.
Fox3
Oct. 26
Feb. 22, 2025
Unlimited
May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct.
								26-Nov. 29 and Dec. 15-Feb. 22, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after
								sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30-Dec. 14.
Raccoon2
Oct. 26
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25 Sun.3, Dec.
								1
Dec. 2
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 30
Sun.3, Dec. 1
Feb. 22, 2025
Unlimited
May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates
								from Oct. 26- Nov. 29 and Dec. 15-Feb. 22, 2025. May only be hunted from 1/2
								hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 30-Dec. 14.
Bobcat, with required bobcat
								permit
1
WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D,
								4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E
Jan. 11, 2025
Feb. 5, 2025
1
1
Porcupine
2
Oct. 12
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Dec. 16
Dec. 26
and
and
and
and
and
and
Nov. 16
Sun.3, Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Sun.3, Nov. 24
Nov. 29
Dec. 24
Feb. 1, 2025
3
10
No open seasons on other wild birds or wild
				  mammals.
1 No hunting on Sunday authorized.
				  See
				  34 Pa.C.S. §
											2303
				  (relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited).
2 Hunting on Sunday authorized on
				  separately delineated Sunday dates only. See
				  34 Pa.C.S. §
											2303.
3 Hunting on Sunday is authorized.
				  See
				  34 Pa.C.S. §
											2303.
4 Only persons who possess a
				  special wild turkey license as provided for in 34 Pa.C.S, § 2709 (relating
				  to license costs and fees) may take a second spring gobbler during the hunting
				  license year; all other persons, including mentored youth hunters, may take
				  only one spring gobbler. A maximum of two spring gobblers per license year may
				  be taken by any combination of licenses or exceptions for mentored
				  youth.
5 Only one antlered deer (buck)
				  may be taken during the hunting license year.
6 Includes resident and
				  nonresident license holders who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday
				  in the year of the application for the license and hold a valid adult license
				  or qualify for license and fee exemptions under
				  34 Pa.C.S. §
											2706
				  (relating to resident license and fee exemptions).
7 Only one bear may be taken
				  during the hunting license year with the required bear license.
8 Only one elk may be taken during
				  the hunting license year with the required elk license.
9 Includes mentored youth and
				  mentored adults with a valid mentored hunter permit issued under Chapter 147,
				  Subchapter X (relating to Mentored Hunting Program
				  permit).
The provisions of this §
											139.4 issued and amended under the
					 Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S.
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
											135.41 (relating to State game
					 lands); 58 Pa. Code §
											135.106 (relating to Pymatuning
					 Wildlife Management Area); 58 Pa. Code §
											139.6 (relating to field
					 possession and transportation limits); 58 Pa. Code §
											143.206 (relating to validity of
					 elk licenses); 58 Pa. Code §
											143.243 (relating to general); 58
					 Pa. Code §
											147.315 (relating to purpose); 58
					 Pa. Code §
											147.664 (relating to permit); 58
					 Pa. Code §
											147.701 (relating to general); and
					 58 Pa. Code §
											147.804 (relating to
					 general).