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Huntingdon County · WMU 4A
Raystown Lake Hunting
Everything we could verify about Raystown Lake: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: Bob (CC BY 2.0)
Raystown Lake in brief
In Huntingdon County, Raystown Lake is an Army Corps of Engineers lake project; it falls in WMU 4A. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sets the rules on the ground. The 3,057 acres figure places it 7th of 14 Corps lakes by size. Williamsburg is the closest town on this site, about 7 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold Raystown Lake
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon County | Huntingdon | 43,359 | 875 | 4A, 4D, 4B | No | Whole county | Yes | 49 |
From the source record (PGC Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas GIS (CWMA 420: 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.
Raystown Lake up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
| Feature | From PGC and DCNR |
|---|---|
| Pheasant releases | 9 releases, 1,205 birds |
| PGC agreement land | CWMA 420 · 3,057 ac |
In the agency’s own words
Corps Lakes Gateway: the 8,300-acre lake is surrounded by 21,000 acres of public land, much of which is open to hunting. PGC GIS maps 1,616 acres of USACE 'NO HUNTING' controlled areas at the lake.
Facts from the source record, PGC AGOL layer, PGC GIS, PGC AGOL layer; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for Raystown Lake
Ground-specific rules first, then licenses, orange and Sundays.
How access works
Public hunting on PGC-managed project lands under PGC seasons; developed recreation areas and posted areas are closed.
Rules for SGL visitors
Between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31, and again April 20 to May 31, game land visitors who are not hunting wear 250 square inches of orange or an orange hat.
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.
Raystown Lake: 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 Raystown Lake.
| 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 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 | 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 | |
| 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 Raystown Lake
Species named by the agency for this ground: pheasants.
Ring-necked pheasant
The 2025 Game Take Survey puts the pheasant harvest at 214,577. Allocation: 9 releases, 1,205 birds.
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 Raystown Lake
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 12 more areas; orange marks Raystown Lake. Of these, State Game Lands 73 is largest (20,814 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trough Creek State Park | State park | 100 | 4 mi | south | 4A |
| State Game Lands 118 | State Game Lands | 6,133 | 7 mi | north | 4A |
| State Game Lands 67 | State Game Lands | 5,770 | 10 mi | south | 4A |
| Canoe Creek State Park | State park | 550 | 10 mi | northwest | 4D |
| State Game Lands 147 | State Game Lands | 9,378 | 11 mi | west | 4A |
| State Game Lands 71 | State Game Lands | 5,204 | 11 mi | east | 4A |
| State Game Lands 99 | State Game Lands | 4,471 | 12 mi | southeast | 4A |
| State Game Lands 166 | State Game Lands | 12,375 | 12 mi | northwest | 4D |
| State Game Lands 322 | State Game Lands | 3,149 | 14 mi | northeast | 4D |
| State Game Lands 73 | State Game Lands | 20,814 | 14 mi | southwest | 4A |
| Warriors Path State Park | State park | 349 | 14 mi | southwest | 4A |
| State Game Lands 112 | State Game Lands | 6,633 | 15 mi | northeast | 4D |
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.
How many deer come off the Raystown Lake 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 4A | 1,736 | 157 | 3 points, one side | 64,000 | +/- 0 | N/A | Yes | 13,500 |
The best year on the chart was 2020 with 16,000 deer; the low was 10,100 in 2016. Of the 2025-26 total, 5,000 were bucks and 8,500 antlerless. 3,240 by bow, 9,600 by firearm, 660 by muzzleloader. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 4A is 64,000 antlerless licenses, +/- 0 versus 2025-26.
Bears per county
| County | 2024 bears | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon | 49 | — |
Turkey and bear harvest
| WMU | Spring 2024 | Bear 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 4A | 1,555 | 73 |
Chronic wasting disease is present in WMU 4A, 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 Raystown Lake
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsburg | Blair | 7 mi | southeast | 1,203 | 33,232 |
| Martinsburg | Blair | 11 mi | northeast | 1,823 | 32,854 |
| Huntingdon | Huntingdon | 11 mi | southwest | 6,857 | 30,442 |
| Broad Top City | Huntingdon | 12 mi | north | 361 | 39,721 |
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.
Raystown Lake: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 27 miles to State Game Lands 108 Public Shooting Range. Closer private options are listed beside it.
Rifle range 100 yd, 2 points; Handgun range 25 yd, 3 points; Shotgun patterning 20/40 yd
Trap / skeet / sporting clays / shotgun / 5-stand / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader
Trap / skeet / sporting clays / shotgun / 5-stand / rifle / smallbore / handgun / muzzleloader / cowboy action
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting Raystown Lake
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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When the day starts and ends at Raystown Lake
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 Raystown 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.
Hunter questions about Raystown Lake
How much huntable ground is on Raystown Lake?
Agency acreage: 3,057.
Who looks after Raystown Lake?
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the manager; the ground is an Army Corps of Engineers lake project.
Which WMU is Raystown Lake in?
WMU 4A. WMU 4A uses the standard three-points-on-one-side rule.
How many miles is Raystown Lake from Williamsburg?
In Huntingdon County, about 7 miles southeast of Williamsburg.
When is the rifle opener at Raystown Lake?
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 Raystown Lake area?
WMU 4A has 64,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0); in 2025-26 they sold out on N/A.
Do non-hunters wear orange on Raystown Lake?
Yes in firearms deer, bear and elk seasons and all small game seasons: 250 sq in.
Is Raystown Lake open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
Which game is listed for Raystown Lake?
The record lists pheasants.
Can out-of-state hunters use Raystown Lake?
Nonresidents pay $101.97 for the adult license; residents $20.97. Pheasant hunters add a $26.97 permit.
What areas neighbor Raystown Lake?
Close by are Trough Creek State Park (4 miles), State Game Lands 118 (7 miles) and State Game Lands 67 (10 miles), measured in a straight line.
Heading to Raystown Lake soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the Raystown Lake page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil: projects.cfm · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 300 · PGC GIS: MapServer 29 · 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: Don Faulkner (CC BY-SA 2.0); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0).