Home › Pennsylvania › Public land › Hickory Run State Park
Carbon County · WMU 3D and WMU 4C
Hickory Run State Park Hunting
Everything we could verify about Hickory Run State Park: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hickory Run State Park in brief
In Carbon County, Hickory Run State Park is a DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters; it falls in WMU 3D and WMU 4C. The DCNR Bureau of State Parks sets the rules on the ground. The 13,000 acres open to hunting figure places it 3rd of 92 state parks by size. The DCNR park boundary covers 14,083 acres in all. Penn Lake Park is the closest town on this site, about 8 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold Hickory Run State Park
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | Jim Thorpe | 65,743 | 381 | 4C, 3D | No | — | Yes | 62 |
From the source record (DCNR park hunting page (acres open to hunting): "During established seasons, hunting is permitted daily on approximately 13,000 acres, with the exception of migratory game bird hunting which remains "), counties and WMUs from the PGC county and WMU layers; county facts from the Census and the 2026-27 digest; bear counts from the PGC 2024 bear release. Checked October 12, 2026.
Hickory Run State Park up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
| Feature | From PGC and DCNR |
|---|---|
| Disabled access | Yes |
| DMAP | Enrolled |
In the agency’s own words
Note: Hunting is prohibitied around the Sand Spring Day Use, Shades of Death, and overnight facilities. Nearby: The adjoining state game lands 40, 129, and 141 have additional areas open to hunting.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PASDA; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for Hickory Run State Park
Ground-specific rules first, then licenses, orange and Sundays.
How access works
Designated areas only, PGC seasons only, DCNR and PGC rules together; woodchucks are protected in state parks.
Sundays remain closed to migratory game birds. There are no park-specific firearm restrictions.
Paperwork for the game here
Every hunter starts with a general license; it already carries the antlered deer and both turkey tags.
Orange, plus Sunday hunting
The rule covers small game and the firearms seasons for big game. It does not apply in archery seasons or to turkey, waterfowl, dove or furbearer hunting.
This is the first license year with Sunday hunting in all seasons but migratory birds; spring gobbler 2026 had no Sundays.
DMAP unit
DMAP covers this ground: one antlerless deer per permit, $10.97 resident or $35.97 nonresident.
Accessible options
Hunters with a DCNR Mobility Device Permit have accessible options in this park.
Hickory Run State Park: which seasons are running
PGC unit lines follow roads and rivers, so a county can straddle two units. This list keeps every segment that touches Hickory Run State Park.
| Game | Segment | WMU | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Agricultural Deer Control (Ag Tag, antlerless only) | This area | Aug 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | October muzzleloader (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special firearms (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Rifle (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | WMU 4C | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | This area | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Flintlock (antlered or antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Archery | WMU 3D | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery | WMU 4C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Special firearms | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Extended firearms | This area | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | This area | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler youth hunt | Statewide | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (morning only) | Statewide | May 1, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (all day) | Statewide | May 16, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Junior hunt | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Regular (Thursday-Sunday only) | Statewide | Aug 20, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Fox | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | This area | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 3, 2027 | |
| Opossum, striped skunk and weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Starling and English sparrow | No closed season | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Gallinules | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Virginia and sora rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 |
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
Game listed for Hickory Run State Park
Species named by the agency for this ground: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game.
White-tailed deer
Last season WMU 3D gave up about 15,600 deer.
Black bear
Bears from WMU 3D in 2025: 416.
Wild turkey
About 1,002 gobblers came from WMU 3D in spring 2024.
Ducks and geese
Duck and goose zones follow highways, so dates are on the species pages. Canada goose
Furbearers (trapping)
33,682 coyotes were taken statewide in 2025.
Small game
66,555 rabbits statewide in 2025, by PGC survey.
Species from the area record; bag limits and seasons from the PGC seasons and bag limits; harvest from PGC deer report, PGC harvest data and PGC turkey report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Public ground a short drive from Hickory Run State Park
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 12 more areas; orange marks Hickory Run State Park. Of these, State Game Lands 141 is largest (17,227 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Game Lands 40 | State Game Lands | 6,200 | 4 mi | northwest | 3D, 4C |
| State Game Lands 149 | State Game Lands | 1,991 | 4 mi | west | 4C |
| State Game Lands 129 | State Game Lands | 3,705 | 5 mi | east | 3D |
| Lehigh Gorge State Park | State park | 6,000 | 6 mi | southwest | 3D, 4C |
| Francis E. Walter Dam | Corps lake | — | 6 mi | northwest | 3D |
| State Game Lands 141 | State Game Lands | 17,227 | 8 mi | southwest | 4C |
| State Game Lands 119 | State Game Lands | 8,375 | 10 mi | northwest | 3D |
| State Game Lands 318 | State Game Lands | 858 | 11 mi | east | 3D |
| Beltzville State Park | State park | 1,700 | 12 mi | south | 3D |
| Beltzville Lake | Corps lake | 3,557 | 12 mi | south | 3D |
| State Game Lands 187 | State Game Lands | 8,157 | 12 mi | west | 3D, 4C |
| Nescopeck State Park | State park | 3,500 | 12 mi | west | 3D |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR State Parks boundary GIS via PASDA (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
How many deer come off the Hickory Run State Park unit
Antlerless licenses are sold by WMU, and harvest is estimated the same way.
| WMU | Size | SGL sq mi | Buck rule | Antlerless tags | Change | Last sellout | CWD | Deer harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 3D | 2,102 | 249 | 3 points, one side | 52,000 | +/- 0 | 9/2 | No | 15,600 |
| WMU 4C | 1,716 | 261 | 3 points, one side | 51,000 | +/- 0 | 8/13 | Yes | 23,300 |
The best year on the chart was 2025 with 15,600 deer; the low was 7,200 in 2015. Of the 2025-26 total, 6,000 were bucks and 9,600 antlerless. 5,460 by bow, 9,500 by firearm, 640 by muzzleloader. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 3D is 52,000 antlerless licenses, +/- 0 versus 2025-26.
Bears per county
| County | 2024 bears | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 62 | — |
Chronic wasting disease is present in WMU 4C, so mind the high-risk parts rule. More on CWD
WMU areas from the PGC WMU pages; antlerless allocations from the PGC allocation; deer harvest from the 2025-26 PGC report and the PGC historic harvest dashboard; bears from PGC releases; turkeys from PGC job report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Towns and services near Hickory Run State Park
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Lake Park | Luzerne | 8 mi | southeast | 379 | 60,191 |
| Jim Thorpe | Carbon | 13 mi | northeast | 4,543 | 27,062 |
| Beaver Meadows | Carbon | 14 mi | northeast | 896 | 17,833 |
| Mount Pocono | Monroe | 18 mi | west | 3,039 | 40,488 |
Processors, taxidermists and shops
PGC and DCNR contacts
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates and Gazetteer; public acres within 10 miles from PGC, DCNR and federal layers; businesses from Hunters Sharing the Harvest, PDA, store locators and listings; offices from PGC and DCNR pages. Checked October 12, 2026. Call ahead.
Hickory Run State Park: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 12 miles to State Game Lands 141 Public Shooting Range. Closer private options are listed beside it.
Rifle range 100/200/300 yd, 7 points; Handgun range 10/50 yd, 11 points; Shotgun patterning 20/40 yd
Trap / sporting clays / shotgun
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting Hickory Run State Park
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
When the day starts and ends at Hickory Run State Park
Legal light opens 30 minutes before sunrise for every game species. In the evening, migratory birds close at sunset and the rest 30 minutes later.
Times worked out for Hickory Run State Park in Eastern time from the rule in the Pennsylvania Game Commission digest (shooting hours). Some furbearers may be taken at night; check the digest. Shooting hours for every county.
Hunter questions about Hickory Run State Park
What areas neighbor Hickory Run State Park?
Close by are State Game Lands 40 (4 miles), State Game Lands 149 (4 miles) and State Game Lands 129 (5 miles), measured in a straight line.
Which game is listed for Hickory Run State Park?
The record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game.
Where is the official page for Hickory Run State Park?
Use the agency link in the at-a-glance band.
How many deer are taken around Hickory Run State Park?
WMU 3D: 15,600 deer in 2025-26.
Who looks after Hickory Run State Park?
the DCNR Bureau of State Parks is the manager; the ground is a DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters.
Are black bears common near Hickory Run State Park?
The 2024 count for Carbon County was 62.
How many miles is Hickory Run State Park from Penn Lake Park?
In Carbon County, about 8 miles southeast of Penn Lake Park.
How much huntable ground is on Hickory Run State Park?
Agency acreage: 13,000.
How many antlerless licenses are there for the Hickory Run State Park area?
WMU 3D has 52,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0); in 2025-26 they sold out on 9/2.
Which WMU is Hickory Run State Park in?
WMU 3D and WMU 4C. WMU 3D uses the standard three-points-on-one-side rule. Part of it lies in WMU 4C too. The three-up list covers none of them.
Is Hickory Run State Park open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
Heading to Hickory Run State Park soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the Hickory Run State Park page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 8; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).