58 Pa. Code § 139.4 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] Seasons and bag limits for the license year

2023-2024 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. 9	Sept. 23	6	18
Squirrel-(Combined species)2	Sept. 9 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 11 Dec. 26	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Feb. 29, 2024	6	18
Ruffed Grouse2	Oct. 14 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 11	and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23	2	6
Rabbit, Cottontail1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the required junior license	Sept. 30	Oct. 14	4	12
Rabbit, Cottontail2	Oct. 14 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 11 Dec. 26	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Feb. 29, 2024	4	12
Ring-necked Pheasant-There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in the Franklin County Wild Pheasant Recovery Area.
Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area- Male only1	As authorized by the Executive Order
Ring-necked Pheasant-Male or Female1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the required junior license	Oct. 7	Oct. 14	2	6
Ring-necked Pheasant-Male or Female2	Oct. 21 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 1 Dec. 26	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Feb. 29, 2024	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 Quail2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 11 Dec. 26	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Mar. 30, 2024	Unlimited
Hare (Snowshoe Rabbits) or Varying Hare1	Dec. 26	Jan. 1, 2024	1	3
Woodchuck (Groundhog)2	July 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20	and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24	Unlimited
Crow3 (Hunting permitted on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)	Aug. 24	Mar. 24, 2024	Unlimited
Starling and English Sparrow3	No closed season, except season closed during the regular firearms deer season(s).			Unlimited

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS

Except as further restricted by this chapter, the seasons, bag limits, hunting hours and hunting regulations for migratory game birds must conform to regulations adopted by the United States Secretary of the Interior under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 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 Female1 WMU 2B WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E WMU 5B WMUs 5A, 5C and 5D	Oct. 28 Nov. 22 Oct. 28 Oct. 28 Oct. 28 Nov. 22 Oct. 31	and and	Nov. 17 Nov. 24 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 24 Nov. 2	1	1
	Closed to fall turkey hunting
Turkey, Spring1 Bearded Bird only, Eligible Junior Hunters only, with the required junior license	Apr. 27, 2024	Apr. 27, 2024	1	1
Turkey, Spring1,4 Bearded Bird only	May 4, 2024 May 20, 2024	and	May 18, 2024 May 31, 2024	1	2
				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
Squirrel-(Combined species)2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	6	18
Quail2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	Unlimited
Ruffed Grouse2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	2	6
Cottontail Rabbits2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	4	12
Snowshoe or Varying Hare2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20	and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25	1	3
Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and	Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024
Ring-necked Pheasant-Male2 and Female (Combined)	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	2	6
Mink, Muskrat, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk and Weasel2	Sept. 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Mar. 30, 2024	Unlimited
Migratory Game Bird1-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. 16 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 26	and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Jan. 27, 2024	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	Sept. 30 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Dec. 26	and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 17 Jan. 15, 2024	One antlered deer and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Muzzleloading (Antlerless only)1 With the required muzzleloading license	Oct. 14	Oct. 21	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. 19	Oct. 21	An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Regular Firearms (Antlered and Antlerless)2, 5 Statewide	Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and	Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Dec. 9	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. 15, 2024	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. 27, 2024	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. 27, 2024	An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
Deer, Antlerless1 (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, Archery2, 7 WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D	Sept. 16 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20	and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24	1
Bear, Archery2, 7 WMU 5B	Sept. 30 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13	and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 17	1
Bear, Archery1, 7 WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A	Oct. 14	Nov. 4	1
Bear, Muzzleloader1, 7 (Statewide)	Oct. 14	Oct. 21	1
Bear, Special firearms7 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. 19	Oct. 21	1
Bear, Regular Firearms2, 7 (Statewide)	Nov. 18	Nov. 18	1
Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20	and and	Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 21
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D	Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and	Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Dec. 9	1
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A	Nov. 25	and	Nov. 25	1
Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and	Sun.3, Nov. 26 Dec. 2

ELK

Species	First Day	Last Day	Season Limit
Elk, Special Conservation Tag1, 8 and Special-License Tag1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Sept. 1	Nov. 4	1
Elk, Archery1, 8	Sept. 16	Sept. 30	1
Elk, Regular1, 8 (Antlered and Antlerless)	Oct. 30	Nov. 4	1
Elk, Late1, 8	Dec. 30	Jan. 6, 2024	1

FURTAKING-TRAPPING

Species	First Day	Last Day	Daily Limit	Season Limit
Mink and Muskrat	Nov. 18	Jan. 7, 2024	Unlimited
Beaver	Dec. 16	Mar. 31, 2024
WMUs 1A and 1B (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. 21	Feb. 18, 2024	Unlimited
Coyote and Fox Use of cable restraint devices authorized with required certification	Dec. 26	Feb. 18, 2024	Unlimited
Bobcat, with required bobcat permit WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Dec. 16	Jan. 7, 2024	1
Fisher, with required fisher permit WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Dec. 16	Dec. 31	1
River Otter, with required otter permit WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E	Feb. 10, 2024	Feb. 17, 2024	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 game or with a furtaker's license.			Unlimited
Opossum, Striped Skunk, Weasel2	July 1 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 June 29, 2024	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates from July 1- Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-June 29, 2024. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 25-Dec. 9.
Fox3	Oct. 21	Feb. 17, 2024	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 21-Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-Feb. 17, 2024. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 25-Dec. 9.
Raccoon2	Oct. 21 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Nov. 27	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 25 Sun.3, Nov. 26 Feb. 17, 2024	Unlimited May be hunted any hour, day or night, on open dates from Oct. 21- Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-Feb. 17, 2024. May only be hunted from 1/2 and hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 25-Dec. 9.
Bobcat, with required bobcat permit1 WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E	Jan. 6, 2024	Jan. 31, 2024	1	1
Porcupine2	Oct. 7 Sun.3, Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Dec. 11 Dec. 26	and and and and and and	Nov. 11 Sun.3 , Nov. 12 Nov. 18 Sun.3, Nov. 19 Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Jan. 27, 2024	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 date(s) 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 2 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 Special Permits; Mentored Hunting Program Permit).

Notes

58 Pa. Code § 139.4

The provisions of this § 139.4 adopted June 3, 1971, effective 7/3/1971, 1 Pa.B. 1473; amended July 8, 1977, effective 7/9/1977, 7 Pa.B. 1915; amended April 30, 1982, effective 5/1/1982, 12 Pa.B. 1396; amended June 19, 1987, effective 7/1/1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended October 30, 1987, effective 10/31/1987, 17 Pa.B. 4320; amended June 3, 1988, effective 6/4/1988, 18 Pa.B. 2530; amended April 28, 1989, effective 4/29/1989, 19 Pa.B. 1842; amended May 25, 1990, effective 7/1/1990, 20 Pa.B. 2752; amended May 29, 1992, effective 7/1/1992, 22 Pa.B. 2839; amended November 27, 1992, effective 11/28/1992, 22 Pa.B. 5685; amended May 28, 1993, effective 7/1/1993, 23 Pa.B. 2565; amended June 3, 1994, effective 6/4/1994, 24 Pa.B. 2797; amended May 26, 1995, effective from July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 2072; amended October 27, 1995, effective from December 1995, to June 30, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 4614; amended September 6, 1996, effective 7/1/1996, to June 30, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 4339; amended May 16, 1997, effective 5/17/1997, 27 Pa.B. 2417; amended May 29, 1998, effective 5/30/1998, 28 Pa.B. 2504; amended October 30, 1998, effective 10/31/1998, 28 Pa.B. 5486; amended May 7, 1999, effective 5/8/1999, 29 Pa.B. 2454; amended May 12, 2000, effective 5/13/2000, 30 Pa.B. 2366; amended June 1, 2001, effective 7/1/2001, to June 30, 2002, 31 Pa.B. 2793; amended July 12, 2002, effective 7/13/2002, and apply retroactively to July 1, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 3392; amended June 20, 2003, effective 6/21/2003, 33 Pa.B. 2872; amended July 16, 2004, effective 7/17/2004, and apply retroactively to July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 3705; amended July 15, 2005, effective from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, 35 Pa.B. 3928; amended June 30, 2006, effective 7/1/2006, 36 Pa.B. 3244; amended June 29, 2007, effective 6/30/2007, 37 Pa.B. 2949; amended June 27, 2008, effective 6/28/2008, 38 Pa.B. 3491; amended June 5, 2009, effective 7/1/2009, 39 Pa.B. 2792; amended June 11, 2010, effective 6/12/2010, 40 Pa.B. 3096; amended September 24, 2010, effective 9/25/2010, and remain in effect until June 30, 2011, 40 Pa.B. 5454; amended May 27, 2011, effective from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, 41 Pa.B. 2688; amended June 22, 2012, effective from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, 42 Pa.B. 3581; amended May 31, 2013, effective 7/1/2013, to June 30, 2014, 43 Pa.B. 2999 Amended by Pennsylvainia Bulletin, Vol 44, No. 21. May 24, 2014, effective 6/30/2014 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 45, No. 12. March 21, 2015, effective 6/30/2015 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 45, No. 22. May 30, 2015, effective 5/30/2015; Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 46, No. 22. May 28, 2016, effective 7/1/2016 to 6/30/2017 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 47, No. 18. May 6, 2017, effective 7/1/2017 to 6/30/2018 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 48, No. 21. May 26, 2018, effective 7/1/2018 to 6/30/2019; Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 49, No. 20. May 18, 2019, effective 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2020 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 50, No. 18. May 2, 2020, effective 6/30/2021 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 51, No. 21. May 22, 2021, effective 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2022 Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 23. June 10, 2023, effective 6/10/2023

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).