§ 139.4. 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		Nov. 11	6	18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 29, 2024
Ruffed Grouse2	Oct. 14		Nov. 11	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
Rabbit, Cottontail1 Eligible Junior Hunters only, with or without the required junior license	Sept. 30		Oct. 14	4	12
Rabbit, Cottontail2	Oct. 14		Nov. 11	4	12
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 29, 2024
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		Nov. 11	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
		and
	Dec. 26		Feb. 29, 2024
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		Nov. 11	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
		and
	Dec. 26		Mar. 30, 2024
Hare (Snowshoe Rabbits) or Varying Hare1	Dec. 26		Jan. 1, 2024	1	3
Woodchuck (Groundhog)2	July 1		Nov. 11	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		June 29, 2024
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. § §  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				1	1
WMU 2B	Oct. 28		Nov. 17
		and
	Nov. 22		Nov. 24
WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E	Oct. 28		Nov. 4
WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C	Oct. 28		Nov. 11
WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E	Oct. 28		Nov. 11
		and
	Nov. 22		Nov. 24
WMU 5B	Oct. 31		Nov. 2
WMUs 5A, 5C and 5D	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				1	2
	May 4, 2024		May 18, 2024	May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 12 noon
		and
	May 20, 2024		May 31, 2024	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. 1		Nov. 11	6	18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Quail2	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Ruffed Grouse2	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Cottontail Rabbits2	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	4	12
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Snowshoe or Varying Hare2	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	1	3
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Ring-necked Pheasant—Male2 and Female (Combined)	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	2	6
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
Mink, Muskrat, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk and Weasel2	Sept. 1		Nov. 11	Unlimited
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Mar. 30, 2024
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		Nov. 11	One antlered deer and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 26		Jan. 27, 2024
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		Nov. 11	One antlered deer and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 17
		and
	Dec. 26		Jan. 15, 2024
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		Nov. 25	One antlered deer and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Dec. 9
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		Nov. 11	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
Bear, Archery2, 7 WMU 5B	Sept. 30		Nov. 11	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 17
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
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 21
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D	Nov. 25		Nov. 25	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Dec. 9
Bear, Extended firearms2, 7 WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A	Nov. 25		Nov. 25	1
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		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		Nov. 11	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.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		June 29, 2024
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		Nov. 11	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.
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 25
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 26		Sun.3, Nov. 26
		and
	Nov. 27		Feb. 17, 2024
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		Nov. 11	3	10
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 12		Sun.3, Nov. 12
		and
	Nov. 13		Nov. 18
		and
	Sun.3, Nov. 19		Sun.3, Nov. 19
		and
	Nov. 20		Nov. 24
		and
	Dec. 11		Dec. 23
		and
	Dec. 26		Jan. 27, 2024

 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).

Appendix A. [Reserved]

Authority

   The provisions of this §  139.4 issued and amended under 34 Pa.C.S.

Source

   The provisions of this §  139.4 adopted June 3, 1971, effective July 3, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1473; amended July 8, 1977, effective July 9, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 1915; amended April 30, 1982, effective May 1, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1396; amended June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended October 30, 1987, effective October 31, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 4320; amended June 3, 1988, effective June 4, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 2530; amended April 28, 1989, effective April 29, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 1842; amended May 25, 1990, effective July 1, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2752; amended May 29, 1992, effective July 1, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 2839; amended November 27, 1992, effective November 28, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 5685; amended May 28, 1993, effective July 1, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 2565; amended June 3, 1994, effective June 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 July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 4339; amended May 16, 1997, effective May 17, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 2417; amended May 29, 1998, effective May 30, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2504; amended October 30, 1998, effective October 31, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 5486; amended May 7, 1999, effective May 8, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2454; amended May 12, 2000, effective May 13, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 2366; amended June 1, 2001, effective July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, 31 Pa.B. 2793; amended July 12, 2002, effective July 13, 2002, and apply retroactively to July 1, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 3392; amended June 20, 2003, effective June 21, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 2872; amended July 16, 2004, effective July 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 July 1, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 3244; amended June 29, 2007, effective June 30, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 2949; amended June 27, 2008, effective June 28, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 3491; amended June 5, 2009, effective July 1, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2792; amended June 11, 2010, effective June 12, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 3096; amended September 24, 2010, effective September 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 July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, 43 Pa.B. 2999; amended May 23, 2014, effective July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, 44 Pa.B. 3091; amended May 29, 2015, effective July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, 45 Pa.B. 2596; amended May 27, 2016, effective July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, 46 Pa.B. 2665; amended May 5, 2017, effective July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, 47 Pa.B. 2603; amended May 25, 2018, effective July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, 48 Pa.B. 3082; amended May 17, 2019, effective July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, 49 Pa.B. 2500; amended May 1, 2020, effective July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, 50 Pa.B. 2258; amended May 21, 2021, effective July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 2929; amended June 9, 2023, effective July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, 53 Pa.B. 3090. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (404705) to (404721).

Cross References

   This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §  135.41 (relating to State game lands); 58 Pa. Code §  139.6 (relating to field possession and transportation limits); 58 Pa. Code §  143.42 (relating to antlerless deer license required); 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).

---

No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.

This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.