September 1 kicks off the traditional first part of the small game season when dove and early Canada goose seasons get underway. 

Doves are Pennsylvania’s most plentiful game bird, and they make tasty table fare, especially their breasts when they’re wrapped in bacon and grilled. And they seem to be everywhere, but for the dove hunter, the problem is where to safely hunt them. 

Doves prefer open woodland edges with favored habitat being farmland with scattered trees and shrubs, open woods, evergreen stands, orchards, roadside trees and suburban gardens. Doves usually avoid dense forests. They generally concentrate in areas with plentiful weed seeds, near trees for roosting and nesting and within easy flight of a water source. As for nesting, a few weeks ago a dove built a nest in my neighbors front porch column. I’ve already seen them in hanging flower pots. So I presume some are not that particular where they nest. 

If you’re new to the area and are looking for a place to dove hunt, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has prepared more than 80 managed dove fields statewide. Locally in upper Lehigh County it’s on State Game Land #205. There, habitat employees plant food crops for not only doves but for songbirds, pheasants, rabbits quail and other wildlife. Aside from that, if you can find a sunflower field, it should provide lots of action. 

While upper Lehigh County has the majority of large farm fields, upper Berks County has considerably more. And if you stop and ask the landowner (most likely a Mennonite farm), they’ll often give hunting permission. This also holds true for geese that are usually on nearby Ontelaunee Reservoir. In Lehigh County, a farm that has a pond or one close to Leaser Lake could be potential hunting spots. 

Dove season began Sept 1 and runs through Nov. 27 with a bag limit of 15 doves and a possession limit of 45. The early goose season kicked off Sept. 1 and runs until Sept. 25. In the Atlantic Population Zone, the daily limit is eight with a possession limit of 24. 

As a reminder, the PGC says Sunday hunting is prohibited for migratory game birds that includes waterfowl, doves and woodcock throughout the 2026-27 license year. 

While we covered the big game seasons in last week’s column, the small game season begins with squirrel that runs Sept. 12-Dec. 24 and again Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027. 

*Rabbit hunting season begins Oct. 17-Dec. 24 (Oct. 3-18 for junior/mentored hunters) and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027.

*Pheasant season runs Oct. 24-Dec. 24 (Oct. 10-18 for junior/mentored hunters), and Dec. 26-Feb. 28. 

The weather is forecasted to be hot during the first week of dove/goose seasons with some rain, so it may be a good idea to take a camo-painted plastic bucket along to keep the harvested doves cool with a couple freezer packs inside so the meat doesn’t spoil. 
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission has given preliminary approval for hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for the 206-27 seasons. And as such, there has been some changes. 
The most significant changes are as follows:

*For deer season, minor adjustments to date structures of extended firearms, flintlock, and late archery seasons are proposed to reduce complexity and to insure season lengths correspond to sporting arm efficiency and PGC management objectives. Initially, the PGC proposed moving the firearms deer season a week earlier causing the firearms bear season and others to shift as a result. However the PGC Board voted 6-3 to maintain the seasons that mirror last years. 

*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 harvest rates remain within sustainable levels. 

*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 studies indicate that these units can support sustainable harvest for these species. 

For those hunters who plan their vacations around the big game seasons, Regular Firearms (antlered and antlerless) statewide the seasons are Nov. 28-Dec. 13. 

*Deer Antlerless in Extended Regular Firearms season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D run Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. 

*Deer  Antlerless Extended Regular Firearms in WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A are Dec. 26-Jan. 18.

*Spring Gobbler (bearded birds only), May 1-31, 2027. 

*Deer Archery (Antlered/Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D, Sept, 19-Nov. 27  and Dec. 26. – Jan. 24, 2027.

*Deer Archery (Antlered/Antlerless) Statewide, Oct. 3 – Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
*Deer Antlerless Muzzleloader Statewide, Oct. 17-25.

*Deer Antlerless Special Firearms Statewide, Oct. 22-25. This includes 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 and fee exemptions under section 2706.

*Deer Regular Firearms (Antlered/Antlerless) Statewide, Nov. 28-Dec. 13. 

*Deer Antlered or Antlerless Flintlock Statewide, Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.

*Deer Antlerless Extended Regular Firearms in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, Dec. 26-jan. 24, 2027.

*Deer Antlerless Extended Regular Firearms in WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, and 5A, Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2027. 

*Black Bear in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, Sept. 19-Nov. 27.

*Black Bear Archery in WMUs 3D and 5B, Oct. 3-Nov. 20. 

*Black Bear Muzzleloader Statewide, Oct 22-25. 

*Black Bear Statewide, Nov. 21-24. 
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*Black Bear, Extended Firearms in WMUs 2B, 5B and 5D, Nov. 28 – Dec. 13.

We’ll cover the small game seasons in next week’s column along with the waterfowl seasons. 

If you’re lucky, you may be enjoying the company of hummingbirds in your yard from spring and now into summer. But like many other birds, some hummingbirds are now on the move. And there are more of them with a new cohort of fledglings joining the populations that migrated north this spring. But the movements of migrations of late summer and early fall don’t have the same intensity as spring, and hummingbirds aren’t in a hurry to head south considering there is a seasonal peak of flowers and tiny insects in certain climates to feed on, say the folks at The Birding Wire.

But avid birders can provide supplemental food in a popular nectar feeder that may help keep hummingbirds returning to your yard longer – possibly weeks longer. 

Providing sugar-water nectar in a feeder for hummingbirds is one the simplest things to do to attract these impressive tiny and fast birds to our yards, and you may be lucky to have more than one species visiting your feeder since there are more than a dozen species of hummingbirds that range north of Mexico. For birders living in the eastern half of the U.S. and southern Canada, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will probably be our only feeder visitors. 

If you haven’t tried attracting hummingbirds to your yard, it’s fairly easy and considerably cheaper than traditional bird food. It only takes an inexpensive feeder filled with fresh sugar-water nectar that is mixed in a solution that mimics the natural nectar produced by flowers and is available in many hardware or birding stores. Simply mix the water and sugar in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 parts water to 1-part sugar) using only white pure cane sugar. Pour the sweet solution into a clean nectar feeder for hummingbirds, then wait for one or more hummers to arrive. You may also have bees or wasps visit as well, however. 

Any flowering plants that produce tube-shaped flowers that you may already have, especially red-tube-shaped flowers will attract the birds. Hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers because they produce nectar with the highest sugar content. Even though it’s late in the season, you may want to add a few plants from a greenhouse and consider planting one for next season. 

After the nesting season is complete and as hummingbirds disperse and begin early migration, they’ll still provide exciting observations throughout August and September. You may also get hummingbirds that will stopover during their migration. 

PGC/PFBC DEPUTY NEWS

In case you haven’t heard, the Pennsylvania’s Game and Fish/Boat Commissions are ending their deputy game warden and deputy waterways conservation officer programs effective September 1. With little explanation, the agencies are ending this 123-year tradition. 

Some time ago, one PGC deputy I know told me that deputies underwent basic training and firearms training for the part-time position. Aside from assisting the full-time officers, they manned agency information booths at events like the Harrisburg Sports Show and others. 
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Pennsylvania’s House Game and Fisheries Committee resoundingly approved an effort to make Hunter-Trapper Education more accessible to students across the state with courses to be taught in public schools.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission House Bill 2460 (180-22) calls for the PGC to develop an age appropriate Hunter-Trapper Education Program, including firearm safety instruction, for students in grades 6-12. Schools, says the PGC, could opt to incorporate this as an extracurricular class, or as part of an existing course for the purpose of outdoor recreation activity. Responsibility for this task will reside solely with the Game Commission, as to not add any burden to the Department of Education. 

“Students are our future, and they represent the next generation of Pennsylvania sportsmen,” said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. The reality is, kids have so many things competing for their time and attention.” “The agency applauds the committee and this legislative effort to provide hunter education in schools because it’s a great way to expose more students to the lessons of wildlife conservation and potentially pique their interest in wanting to participate in hunting themselves.”

Under state law, all new hunters must successfully complete the PGC’s basic Hunter-Trapper-Education course before obtaining a hunting license. Students who would take the course in school would be eligible to purchase a license after they successfully complete the course in school. 

“I believe it is imperative that hunter and trapper education be provided in our schools, to help ensure that current and future generations have an opportunity to learn safe gun and hunting/trapping practices,” said Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny), who sponsored the bill. “This is especially important for our youth, who are interested, but may not otherwise have an opportunity.” 

Throughout the course, students are taught the ethics of responsible hunting behavior, basic firearms safety, basic shooting skills, basic firearm and archery hunting techniques, wildlife management, outdoor preparedness, and the basics of fur-taking (trapping). Firearms and ammunition would not be brought into a school building as part of the instruction. 

Pennsylvania isn’t the only state looking to make Hunter-Trapper Education opportunities more accessible in our schools through legislation. According to the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, Pennsylvania would be joining several other states including Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, New Mexico, and most recently Georgia whose Governor signed similar legislation into law on May 5, 2026. 

I wish this would have been offered back when I was in that age group. I learned safe gun handling and small game hunting around the fields of Ironton from my uncle and grandfather (my mother’s brother and father). And back then, I initially carried my Red Ryder BB gun. After learning the basics, my grandfather let me hunt with his single shot 16-gauge shotgun. The most memorable times afield. 

If you’re a wildlife lover, you may want to check out the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s online Elk Cam, the state’s most majestic animal. 

The Elk Cam went live on Aug. 1 and it will bring the sights and sounds of bugling elk to your computer/iPad or phone screen. 

Elk Cam is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area says the PGC, totaling more than 220,000 acres that includes State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest. And it will all be livestreamed at www.pa.gov/pgc. On the site, viewers will not only see elk but deer, turkey, coyotes but other wildlife as well. And it will get even more interesting and vocal as bull elk will be competing with other bulls for available cows during the mating season. 

The Elk Cam will run until the first elk firearm season which begins in October. The top times, says the PGC, are mornings and evenings. 

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap in cooperation with the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. The stream can be accessed on the PGC’s website at www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife-viewing-cams.

WILD TURKEY SIGHTINGS

The Game Commission is once again asking the public’s help to report sightings of wild turkeys. The annual survey started July 1 and runs through Aug. 31. 

Participants are asked to report the number of wild turkeys they see, their county, township, date of sighting and if known, the Wildlife Management Unit. Plus, whether the turkeys are gobblers, hens with broods, hens without broods or even turkeys of unknown sex and age. Reports can be sent in on the PGC’s website, https:/pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey. 

The PGC says the data provided is used in a population model to track trends in wild turkey numbers. And data reported is for the survey, not law enforcement and is not shared publicly. 

The statewide reproductive success index from last summer – the average ratio of young turkeys (poults) seen per hen was 2.7, which was down a bit compared to the average productivity observed across the previous 5 years (3.0) poults per hen from 2020-2024). At the WMU level, the number of poults per hen ranged from a low of 1.7 in 5D (for example) to a high of 4.8 in 4D (for example) during the 2025.   

TROUT MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT CHANGED
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At their July 27 meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission approved the minimum size limit for trout in stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing to nine inches, up from seven inches. This includes the Extended Trout Season as well. The new regulation will go into effect January 1, 2027.