Preliminary Hunting and bag limits have been set by the PGC

It won't be long before the 2026-27 hunting seasons get underway with some minor season adjustments. Contributed photo

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. 

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