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2026-27 · Corps lake
Loyalhanna Lake, a Hunter’s Guide
3,395 acres of corps lake in WMU 2C and WMU 2D, with access rules, licenses, harvest numbers and a map.
Photo: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)
Loyalhanna Lake by the numbers
Think of Loyalhanna Lake as an Army Corps of Engineers lake project, spread over Westmoreland County and lying in WMU 2C and WMU 2D. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District runs it. At 3,395 acres it is number 6 of the 14 Corps lakes that report a size. From Greensburg, the nearest town guide, the area is around 8 miles to the northeast.
Where Loyalhanna Lake sits, county by county
| County | Courthouse town | Population | Land, sq mi | Units | Special Regs | Feeding ban | Head bins 2026 | Bear count 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County | Greensburg | 350,935 | 1,028 | 2C, 2B, 2D, 2A | No | — | Yes | 18 |
From the source record (PGC Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas GIS (CWMA 419: PGC-managed hunting lands)), 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.
Hunting Loyalhanna Lake by species
Listed game runs to 4 groups: wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, pheasants and mourning doves.
Wild turkey
WMU 2C hunters took roughly 3,415 spring turkeys in 2024.
Ruffed grouse
Statewide grouse harvest, 2025: 3,175.
Ring-necked pheasant
Pennsylvania hunters took about 214,577 pheasants statewide in 2025 (Game Take Survey). 1,640 pheasants in 9 releases are allocated to this ground.
Mourning dove
The 2025 Game Take Survey puts the dove harvest at 91,336.
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.
Hunting Loyalhanna Lake legally
What applies on this ground, card by card.
Where and when you may hunt
Public hunting on PGC-managed project lands under PGC seasons; developed recreation areas and posted areas are closed.
SGL rules to know
Hikers, birders and other visitors must wear orange (250 square inches or a hat) on State Game Lands during the Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 and April 20 to May 31 windows.
License checklist
The general license covers small game plus the antlered deer and turkey tags; add the extras below as needed.
Sundays and blaze orange
Orange is needed in small game seasons and every firearms deer, bear and elk segment; archery seasons, turkey, waterfowl, doves and furbearers are exempt.
Except for migratory birds, every season in 2026-27 includes its Sundays.
Features mapped inside Loyalhanna Lake
Everything here is read from the agency record, nothing estimated.
| On the ground | Count or size |
|---|---|
| Birds stocked | 9 releases, 1,640 birds |
| CWMA number | CWMA 419 · 3,395 ac |
Agency description
USACE: the Corps leases 2,894 acres of project lands to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for wildlife management purposes and public hunting; game birds include turkey, grouse, pheasants and doves; several hunters' parking lots provide access, with maps from the park office.
Facts from the source record, PGC AGOL layer, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Harvest and allocation near Loyalhanna Lake
PGC sets deer licenses and reports deer harvest by WMU, not by property, so these are unit figures.
| WMU | Square miles | SGL area | Antler restriction | Doe licenses | Change | Sellout | CWD detected | Deer taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 2C | 2,934 | 246 | 3 points, one side | 117,000 | +24,000 | 10/18 | Yes | 34,400 |
| WMU 2D | 2,487 | 84 | Three up | 112,000 | +16,000 | 8/29 | Yes | 42,300 |
Harvest peaked at 34,400 in 2025 and bottomed at 15,200 in 2016. Antlered 11,400, antlerless 23,000 in 2025-26. Firearms seasons accounted for 21,200 deer, archery 11,320 and muzzleloader 1,880. The unit’s 2026-27 antlerless quota is 117,000 (+24,000).
Bear harvest, counties
| County | 2024 harvest | 2025 (top 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland | 18 | — |
CWD has been detected in WMU 2C and WMU 2D. High-risk deer parts must be disposed of under the statewide rule. CWD rules
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.
Loyalhanna Lake seasons by Wildlife Management Unit
23 species and 48 dated segments for WMU 2C and WMU 2D. The last column compares each one with today’s date.
| Species | Segment | Unit | From | Through | Status 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) | 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 | This area | 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 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | This area | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | This area | Nov 25, 2026 | Nov 27, 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.
The 25-mile ring around Loyalhanna Lake
12 public areas within 25 miles, plus Loyalhanna Lake in orange. Biggest neighbor: State Game Lands 42, 18,041 acres.
| Public ground | Type | Acres | Distance | Which way | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keystone State Park | State park | 800 | 3 mi | southeast | 2C |
| State Game Lands 328 | State Game Lands | 528 | 6 mi | northeast | 2D |
| Conemaugh River Lake | Corps lake | 8,367 | 9 mi | northeast | 2C, 2D |
| Hanson Aggregates | Pheasant release site | — | 10 mi | southeast | 2C |
| State Game Lands 332 | State Game Lands | 2,314 | 11 mi | northeast | 2D |
| Mammoth Park | Pheasant release site | — | 13 mi | south | 2C |
| State Game Lands 153 | State Game Lands | 3,059 | 14 mi | east | 2C |
| State Game Lands 276 | State Game Lands | 4,775 | 16 mi | east | 2C, 2E |
| Crooked Creek Lake | Corps lake | 1,626 | 19 mi | north | 2D |
| Linn Run State Park | State park | 300 | 20 mi | southeast | 2C |
| State Game Lands 42 | State Game Lands | 18,041 | 21 mi | east | 2C |
| State Game Lands 273 | State Game Lands | 1,146 | 21 mi | northeast | 2E |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (PGC Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Legal hunting light around Loyalhanna Lake
Pennsylvania small and big game may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. Doves, waterfowl and woodcock stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Loyalhanna Lake 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.
Ranges within reach of Loyalhanna Lake
Closest public range: State Game Lands 42 Public Shooting Range (Ligonier Township), roughly 19 miles from the middle of Loyalhanna Lake. Nearby clubs are shown too.
Sporting clays / shotgun / 5-stand
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Help close to Loyalhanna Lake: shops and offices
Nearest towns by straight-line distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Toward | Population | Public ground within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensburg | Westmoreland | 8 mi | northeast | 14,586 | 2,839 |
| Blairsville | Indiana | 9 mi | west | 3,211 | 23,511 |
| Ligonier | Westmoreland | 15 mi | northwest | 1,478 | 20,615 |
| Hyde Park | Westmoreland | 18 mi | southeast | 497 | 1,990 |
Shops and processors
Region and district offices
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.
Gear that fits Loyalhanna Lake
Chosen around the hunting done here; listings update on every click.
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Short answers about hunting Loyalhanna Lake
Is there bear hunting near Loyalhanna Lake?
PGC counted 18 bears in Westmoreland County in 2024.
How do I find parking on Loyalhanna Lake?
The agency link above has the map.
What does Loyalhanna Lake measure in acres?
3,395 acres, per PGC Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas GIS (CWMA 419: PGC-managed hunting lands).
Whose rules govern Loyalhanna Lake?
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District manages this Army Corps of Engineers lake project.
Is Loyalhanna Lake a three-up antler unit?
WMU 2C and WMU 2D, by the PGC WMU layer. A legal buck in WMU 2C has three points on one side. Other units here: WMU 2D. Of these, three-up units are 2D.
What county holds Loyalhanna Lake?
Greensburg is closest (8 miles); the ground is in Westmoreland County.
What are the archery dates for Loyalhanna Lake?
The firearms opener is Nov 28, 2026 and archery begins Oct 3, 2026. More segments sit in the table above.
How many doe tags does WMU 2C get?
Buy a WMU 2C license. There are 117,000 of them in 2026-27.
What is the orange rule on Loyalhanna Lake?
Yes: 250 square inches, head, chest and back, in the seasons that call for it.
Are Sundays huntable on Loyalhanna Lake?
Yes for deer, bear, turkey in fall and small game; no for ducks, geese and doves.
What game is Loyalhanna Lake known for?
4 groups: wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, pheasants and mourning doves.
One more check on Loyalhanna Lake
Before the drive to Loyalhanna Lake, confirm the WMU dates, your licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: www.lrp.usace.army.mil: Loyalhanna Lake · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 300 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 100 · pa.gov: pheasant allocation; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Renee Grayson (CC BY 2.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain).