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Butler County · WMU 1A
Moraine State Park Hunting
Everything we could verify about Moraine State Park: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: Christopher Amrich (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Moraine State Park in brief
In Butler County, Moraine State Park is a DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters; it falls in WMU 1A. The DCNR Bureau of State Parks sets the rules on the ground. The 14,000 acres open to hunting figure places it 2nd of 92 state parks by size. The DCNR park boundary covers 16,461 acres in all. Butler is the closest town on this site, about 11 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold Moraine State Park
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | Butler | 199,341 | 789 | 2D, 1A, 2B | No | — | Yes | 38 |
From the source record (DCNR park hunting page (acres open to hunting): "During established seasons, hunting is permitted daily on approximately 14,000 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.
Moraine State Park up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
| Feature | From PGC and DCNR |
|---|---|
| Pheasant releases | 9 releases, 620 birds |
| Disabled access | Yes |
| DMAP | Enrolled |
In the agency’s own words
Note: The former propagation area near Swamp Run inlet is now open to hunting. PA Game Commission stocks pheasant annually near Swamp Run. PGC manages 525 acres here as Cooperative Wildlife Management Area 406 (agreement with DCNR).
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PASDA, PGC AGOL layer; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for Moraine 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.
Stocked bird season
| Pheasant hunt | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Junior hunt | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Regular season (male or female) | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 |
| Regular season (male or female) | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Falconry | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Every pheasant hunter needs the pheasant permit; junior and mentored hunters under 17 get theirs free.
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.
Moraine 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 Moraine 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) | 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 15, 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 | |
| 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 Moraine State Park
Species named by the agency for this ground: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, pheasants, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game.
White-tailed deer
Last season WMU 1A gave up about 25,800 deer.
Black bear
Bears from WMU 1A in 2025: 33.
Wild turkey
About 2,216 gobblers came from WMU 1A in spring 2024.
Ring-necked pheasant
The 2025 Game Take Survey puts the pheasant harvest at 214,577. Allocation: 9 releases, 620 birds.
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 Moraine State Park
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 12 more areas; orange marks Moraine State Park. Of these, State Game Lands 95 is largest (10,626 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings Environmental Education Center | State park | 50 | 5 mi | northeast | 1A, 2D |
| State Game Lands 216 | State Game Lands | 491 | 8 mi | northwest | 1A |
| McConnells Mill State Park | State park | 2,200 | 8 mi | west | 1A |
| State Game Lands 151 | State Game Lands | 1,584 | 10 mi | north | 1A |
| State Game Lands 284 | State Game Lands | 1,590 | 14 mi | northwest | 1A |
| State Game Lands 95 | State Game Lands | 10,626 | 14 mi | northeast | 2D |
| State Game Lands 178 | State Game Lands | 165 | 15 mi | northwest | 1A |
| State Game Lands 336 | State Game Lands | 591 | 15 mi | west | 1A |
| State Game Lands 164 | State Game Lands | 455 | 16 mi | east | 2D |
| State Game Lands 148 | State Game Lands | 575 | 17 mi | southwest | 1A |
| State Game Lands 304 | State Game Lands | 457 | 20 mi | east | 2D |
| State Game Lands 150 | State Game Lands | 594 | 22 mi | northwest | 1A |
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 Moraine 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 1A | 1,846 | 127 | Three up | 52,000 | +6,000 | 8/11 | No | 25,800 |
The best year on the chart was 2020 with 27,000 deer; the low was 15,100 in 2015. Of the 2025-26 total, 10,000 were bucks and 15,800 antlerless. 9,990 by bow, 14,600 by firearm, 1,210 by muzzleloader. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 1A is 52,000 antlerless licenses, +6,000 versus 2025-26.
Bears per county
| County | 2024 bears | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | 38 | — |
Turkey and bear harvest
| WMU | Spring 2024 | Bear 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 1A | 2,216 | 33 |
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 Moraine State Park
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | Butler | 11 mi | northwest | 13,010 | 1,181 |
| New Castle | Lawrence | 15 mi | east | 21,332 | 2,528 |
| Clintonville | Venango | 20 mi | southwest | 429 | 16,999 |
| Mercer | Mercer | 21 mi | southeast | 1,922 | 4,722 |
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.
Moraine State Park: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 22 miles to State Game Lands 203 Archery Range. Closer private options are listed beside it.
Rifle / handgun / shotgun / archery
Trap / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / air gun
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting Moraine State Park
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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When the day starts and ends at Moraine 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 Moraine 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 Moraine State Park
How much huntable ground is on Moraine State Park?
Agency acreage: 14,000.
Who looks after Moraine State Park?
the DCNR Bureau of State Parks is the manager; the ground is a DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters.
Which WMU is Moraine State Park in?
WMU 1A. Three up applies in WMU 1A: brow tines do not count.
How many miles is Moraine State Park from Butler?
In Butler County, about 11 miles northwest of Butler.
When is the rifle opener at Moraine State Park?
Archery opens Oct 3, 2026; the regular firearms season runs Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. The table above has all dates.
How many antlerless licenses are there for the Moraine State Park area?
WMU 1A has 52,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+6,000); in 2025-26 they sold out on 8/11.
Do non-hunters wear orange on Moraine State Park?
Yes in firearms deer, bear and elk seasons and all small game seasons: 250 sq in.
Is Moraine State Park open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
Which game is listed for Moraine State Park?
The record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, pheasants, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game.
Can out-of-state hunters use Moraine State Park?
Nonresidents pay $101.97 for the adult license; residents $20.97. Pheasant hunters add a $26.97 permit.
What areas neighbor Moraine State Park?
Close by are Jennings Environmental Education Center (5 miles), State Game Lands 216 (8 miles) and McConnells Mill State Park (8 miles), measured in a straight line.
Heading to Moraine State Park soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the Moraine State Park page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 8 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 100 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 300; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Carolyn Savell (CC BY 2.0); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0).