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Legal light for all 67 counties
Pennsylvania Legal Shooting Hours
A county picker that works out this week’s legal light in your browser, the two 53-week PGC tables for game and for migratory birds, and the exceptions: spring gobbler mornings, furbearers at night and the rifle deer week.
Photo: sam may (CC BY 2.0)
Pick a county, get the week
Change the county and the seven days below update. Migratory bird hunters end at the sunset time shown, not the closing time.
Pick a county to see seven days of sunrise, sunset and the big game window, worked out in your browser for the center of that county.
Times are computed for each county’s Census center point in Eastern time; the window shown is the half-hour-before to half-hour-after rule for big and small game. Sources: digest shooting hours, p. 10, as published on October 12, 2026.
Hours by type of game
Hours hang on official sunrise and sunset. The printed tables are set for the 75th meridian, and the county list below shows how far west of it each county sits.
| Game or situation | PGC rule |
|---|---|
| Big game and small game | One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for all small and big game. |
| Migratory game birds | One-half hour before sunrise until sunset (doves all segments; waterfowl, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules); September Canada goose season and snow goose conservation season (if held) to one-half hour after sunset; all waterfowl close at sunset on youth waterfowl days. |
| Spring gobbler | Youth hunt (Apr. 24-25) and May 1-15: one-half hour before sunrise to noon (hunters asked to be out of the woods by 1 p.m.); May 16-31: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. |
| Furbearers | Raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, striped skunks, opossums and weasels may be hunted any hour, day or night, except during the regular firearms deer season (Nov. 28-Dec. 13) when fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel hunting is limited to one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Porcupines may not be hunted at night. |
| During the rifle deer season | During the regular firearms deer season it is unlawful to take other wild birds or mammals except coyotes, bears, small game, migratory waterfowl, feral swine, wild boars and game birds on regulated hunting grounds. |
| West of the 75th meridian | Table times are for the 75th meridian; hunting hours begin and end 4 minutes later for each meridian west of the 75th (up to +20 minutes at the 80th). |
Sources: shooting hours; migratory bird hours, p. 42, as published on October 12, 2026.
The two PGC tables, July 2026 to June 2027
53 weeks in each. Times are for the 75th meridian; add the county offset below in central and western Pennsylvania.
Big game, small game and furbearers
| Week | Begin | End |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 – 4 | 5:07 a.m. | 9:03 p.m. |
| July 5 – 11 | 5:12 a.m. | 9:00 p.m. |
| July 12 – 18 | 5:17 a.m. | 8:56 p.m. |
| July 19 – 25 | 5:23 a.m. | 8:51 p.m. |
| July 26 – Aug. 1 | 5:29 a.m. | 8:44 p.m. |
| Aug. 2 – 8 | 5:36 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. |
| Aug. 9 – 15 | 5:42 a.m. | 8:27 p.m. |
| Aug. 16 – 22 | 5:49 a.m. | 8:17 p.m. |
| Aug. 23 – 29 | 5:56 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. |
| Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 | 6:02 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. |
| Sept. 6 – 12 | 6:09 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. |
| Sept. 13 – 19 | 6:15 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. |
| Sept. 20 – 26 | 6:22 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Sept. 27 – Oct. 3 | 6:29 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct. 4 – 10 | 6:36 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct. 11 – 17 | 6:43 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 – 24 | 6:51 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. |
| Oct. 25 – 31 | 6:59 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. |
| Nov. 1 – 7 ** | 6:07 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov. 8 – 14 | 6:15 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. |
| Nov. 15 – 21 | 6:23 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. |
| Nov. 22 – 28 | 6:30 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 | 6:37 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec. 6 – 12 | 6:43 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec. 13 – 19 | 6:48 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec. 20 – 26 | 6:51 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec. 27 – Jan. 2 | 6:53 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. |
| Jan. 3 – 9 | 6:53 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. |
| Jan. 10 – 16 | 6:52 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. |
| Jan. 17 – 23 | 6:50 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. |
| Jan. 24 – 30 | 6:46 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. |
| Jan. 31 – Feb. 6 | 6:40 a.m. | 5:48 p.m. |
| Feb. 7 – 13 | 6:33 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. |
| Feb. 14 – 20 | 6:25 a.m. | 6:05 p.m. |
| Feb. 21 – 27 | 6:16 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. |
| Feb. 28 – Mar. 6 | 6:06 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. |
| Mar. 7 – 13 | 5:55 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. |
| Mar. 14 – 20 * | 6:44 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. |
| Mar. 21 – 27 | 6:33 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. |
| Mar. 28 – Apr. 3 | 6:21 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. |
| Apr. 4 – 10 | 6:10 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. |
| Apr. 11 – 17 | 5:59 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. |
| Apr. 18 – 24 | 5:49 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. |
| Apr. 25 – May 1 | 5:39 a.m. | 8:19 p.m. |
| May 2 – 8 | 5:30 a.m. | 8:26 p.m. |
| May 9 – 15 | 5:22 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. |
| May 16 – 22 | 5:15 a.m. | 8:40 p.m. |
| May 23 – 29 | 5:09 a.m. | 8:46 p.m. |
| May 30 – June 5 | 5:05 a.m. | 8:52 p.m. |
| June 6 – 12 | 5:02 a.m. | 8:57 p.m. |
| June 13 – 19 | 5:02 a.m. | 9:00 p.m. |
| June 20 – 26 | 5:03 a.m. | 9:03 p.m. |
| June 27 – 30 | 5:05 a.m. | 9:03 p.m. |
Migratory game birds
| Week | Begin | End |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 – 4 | 5:07 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. |
| July 5 – 11 | 5:12 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| July 12 – 18 | 5:17 a.m. | 8:26 p.m. |
| July 19 – 25 | 5:23 a.m. | 8:21 p.m. |
| July 26 – Aug. 1 | 5:29 a.m. | 8:14 p.m. |
| Aug. 2 – 8 | 5:36 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. |
| Aug. 9 – 15 | 5:42 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. |
| Aug. 16 – 22 | 5:49 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. |
| Aug. 23 – 29 | 5:56 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. |
| Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 | 6:02 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. |
| Sept. 6 – 12 | 6:09 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Sept. 13 – 19 | 6:15 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. |
| Sept. 20 – 26 | 6:22 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| Sept. 27 – Oct. 3 | 6:29 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct. 4 – 10 | 6:36 a.m. | 6:28 p.m. |
| Oct. 11 – 17 | 6:43 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 – 24 | 6:51 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. |
| Oct. 25 – 31 | 6:59 a.m. | 5:59 p.m. |
| Nov. 1 – 7 | 6:07 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. |
| Nov. 8 – 14 | 6:15 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Nov. 15 – 21 | 6:23 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Nov. 22 – 28 | 6:30 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 | 6:37 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec. 6 – 12 | 6:43 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec. 13 – 19 | 6:48 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec. 20 – 26 | 6:51 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec. 27 – Jan. 2 | 6:53 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan. 3 – 9 | 6:53 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Jan. 10 – 16 | 6:52 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan. 17 – 23 | 6:50 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Jan. 24 – 30 | 6:46 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. |
| Jan. 31 – Feb. 6 | 6:40 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. |
| Feb. 7 – 13 | 6:33 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. |
| Feb. 14 – 20 | 6:25 a.m. | 5:35 p.m. |
| Feb. 21 – 27 | 6:16 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. |
| Feb. 28 – Mar. 6 | 6:06 a.m. | 5:51 p.m. |
| Mar. 7 – 13 | 5:55 a.m. | 5:59 p.m. |
| Mar. 14 – 20 | 6:44 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. |
| Mar. 21 – 27 | 6:33 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Mar. 28 – Apr. 3 | 6:21 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Apr. 4 – 10 | 6:10 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Apr. 11 – 17 | 5:59 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. |
| Apr. 18 – 24 | 5:49 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. |
| Apr. 25 – May 1 | 5:39 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. |
| May 2 – 8 | 5:30 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. |
| May 9 – 15 | 5:22 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. |
| May 16 – 22 | 5:15 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
| May 23 – 29 | 5:09 a.m. | 8:16 p.m. |
| May 30 – June 5 | 5:05 a.m. | 8:22 p.m. |
| June 6 – 12 | 5:02 a.m. | 8:27 p.m. |
| June 13 – 19 | 5:02 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| June 20 – 26 | 5:03 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. |
| June 27 – 30 | 5:05 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. |
Rows marked * / ** are the weeks daylight saving time begins/ends.
Sources: general table, p. 10; migratory table, p. 42, as published on October 12, 2026.
County offsets from the printed table
Sorted east to west. Beaver County, the farthest west, sits 5.4 degrees west of the 75th meridian, so its window runs the full 20 minutes behind the printed time, the most the PGC rule adds.
| County | Center longitude | Add to the table |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver | 80.35° W | +20 min |
| Lawrence | 80.33° W | +20 min |
| Mercer | 80.25° W | +20 min |
| Washington | 80.25° W | +20 min |
| Greene | 80.23° W | +20 min |
| Crawford | 80.11° W | +20 min |
| Erie | 80.10° W | +20 min |
| Allegheny | 79.98° W | +20 min |
| Butler | 79.92° W | +20 min |
| Venango | 79.77° W | +19 min |
| Fayette | 79.64° W | +19 min |
| Westmoreland | 79.47° W | +18 min |
| Armstrong | 79.46° W | +18 min |
| Clarion | 79.42° W | +18 min |
| Warren | 79.30° W | +17 min |
| Forest | 79.25° W | +17 min |
| Indiana | 79.09° W | +16 min |
| Somerset | 79.03° W | +16 min |
| Jefferson | 79.01° W | +16 min |
| Cambria | 78.71° W | +15 min |
| Elk | 78.65° W | +15 min |
| McKean | 78.57° W | +14 min |
| Bedford | 78.49° W | +14 min |
| Clearfield | 78.48° W | +14 min |
| Blair | 78.31° W | +13 min |
| Cameron | 78.20° W | +13 min |
| Fulton | 78.12° W | +12 min |
| Huntingdon | 77.97° W | +12 min |
| Potter | 77.89° W | +12 min |
| Centre | 77.85° W | +11 min |
| Franklin | 77.72° W | +11 min |
| Mifflin | 77.65° W | +11 min |
| Clinton | 77.63° W | +11 min |
| Juniata | 77.40° W | +10 min |
| Perry | 77.27° W | +9 min |
| Cumberland | 77.26° W | +9 min |
| Tioga | 77.26° W | +9 min |
| Adams | 77.22° W | +9 min |
| Snyder | 77.07° W | +8 min |
| Union | 77.06° W | +8 min |
| Lycoming | 77.06° W | +8 min |
| Dauphin | 76.79° W | +7 min |
| York | 76.73° W | +7 min |
| Northumberland | 76.71° W | +7 min |
| Montour | 76.67° W | +7 min |
| Sullivan | 76.51° W | +6 min |
| Bradford | 76.50° W | +6 min |
| Lebanon | 76.46° W | +6 min |
| Columbia | 76.40° W | +6 min |
| Lancaster | 76.25° W | +5 min |
| Schuylkill | 76.22° W | +5 min |
| Wyoming | 76.01° W | +4 min |
| Luzerne | 75.98° W | +4 min |
| Berks | 75.93° W | +4 min |
| Susquehanna | 75.80° W | +3 min |
| Chester | 75.75° W | +3 min |
| Carbon | 75.71° W | +3 min |
| Lackawanna | 75.61° W | +2 min |
| Lehigh | 75.59° W | +2 min |
| Delaware | 75.40° W | +2 min |
| Montgomery | 75.37° W | +1 min |
| Monroe | 75.33° W | +1 min |
| Northampton | 75.31° W | +1 min |
| Wayne | 75.29° W | +1 min |
| Philadelphia | 75.13° W | +1 min |
| Bucks | 75.11° W | +0 min |
| Pike | 75.03° W | +0 min |
Offsets apply the four-minutes-per-degree rule to each county’s Census center point, rounded to the minute and capped at the 20 minutes PGC gives for the 80th meridian. Sources: meridian rule, as published on October 12, 2026.
Where the clock matters most
Orange before and after hours
Where orange is required, it stays on while moving from one hour before to one hour after legal hunting hours.
Spotlighting
Unlawful while possessing a firearm/bow/device, during the regular firearms deer season (closes 11 p.m. day before, reopens a full day after), or after 11 p.m.; recreational spotlighting lawful sunrise-11 p.m. Furbearer hunters on foot may use handheld or gun-mounted lights (no laser).
Game land ranges
SGL shooting ranges for hunting/furtaker license holders or $31.97 range permit holders; rifle/handgun ranges 8 a.m.-sunset Mon-Sat, noon-sunset Sundays (8 a.m. on Sundays before/within firearms deer and bear seasons).
Tracking after dark
Notify the Centralized Dispatch Center (1-833-PGC-HUNT) when tracking after hours or on closed days; cannot dispatch injured wildlife outside lawful hunting.
Pymatuning goose blinds
Shooting at the controlled goose blinds ends at 12:30 p.m.
Spring gobbler mornings
Out of the woods by 1 p.m. is the request through May 15; from May 16 hunting runs to a half hour after sunset.
Sources: orange; spotlighting; SGL ranges; Pymatuning, as published on October 12, 2026.
More of the Pennsylvania guide
Shooting hour questions
How early can I shoot in the morning?
One-half hour before sunrise for every game species, including migratory birds.
When do deer and bear hunters have to stop?
One-half hour after sunset. Small game follows the same window.
Do duck and dove hunters get the extra half hour?
No. Doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails and gallinules end at sunset. The September Canada goose season is the exception and runs to a half hour after sunset.
Is night hunting allowed for coyotes and foxes?
Yes. Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, skunks, opossums and weasels may be hunted day or night, except that during the rifle deer season fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel hunting moves to the night hours only. Porcupines may not be hunted at night.
What time does spring gobbler hunting end?
Noon through May 15, including the youth hunt on April 24 and 25, 2027. From May 16 to May 31 it runs to a half hour after sunset.
Why do the printed times differ from my phone’s sunrise?
The PGC tables are set for the 75th meridian. Hours begin and end four minutes later for each degree west, up to about 20 minutes in the far west.
When are State Game Land rifle ranges open?
8 a.m. to sunset Monday to Saturday and noon to sunset on Sundays, with an 8 a.m. Sunday start around the firearms deer and bear seasons.
Can I shoot small game during rifle deer season?
Yes. Squirrel, grouse, rabbit, pheasant, quail and woodchuck seasons stay open during the regular firearms deer season this year.
Read it at the source
The Game Commission prints the digest once a year but can change a rule by executive order. When a date or fee matters, open the PGC page in the sources first.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0); Wheeler Cowperthwaite (CC BY 2.0).