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PGC Southcentral region
Rothrock State Forest Hunting Notes
Access rules, 2026-27 WMU 4A and WMU 4D dates for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse, deer harvest and the nearest towns.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Where Rothrock State Forest sits and how big it is
Rothrock State Forest is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping in Huntingdon, Centre and Mifflin counties, inside WMU 4A and WMU 4D. It is managed by the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. Size on record: 96,000 acres, 10th among 20 state forests. Measured in DCNR GIS: 96,360 acres. Nearest town guide: Milroy, 13 miles off; the area sits west of there.
Rothrock State Forest: county context
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Land sq mi | WMUs | Special Regs Area | CWD feeding ban | CWD head bin | Bears 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon County | Huntingdon | 43,359 | 875 | 4A, 4D, 4B | No | Whole county | Yes | 49 |
| Centre County | Bellefonte | 159,805 | 1,107 | 4D, 2G | No | — | Yes | 64 |
| Mifflin County | Lewistown | 45,935 | 411 | 4D, 4B | No | Whole county | Yes | 14 |
From the source record (DCNR Rothrock State Forest page: "Rothrock State Forest totals over 96,000 acres in:"), 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.
How hunting works on Rothrock State Forest
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are the statewide rules that matter most here.
Access rules here
Open to hunting and trapping under PGC seasons and regulations throughout the forest except safety zones around buildings and picnic areas; Sunday hunting follows PGC dates.
DCNR forest rules
Sundays follow the Game Commission calendar on state forest land. The forest is open throughout except safety zones near buildings and picnic sites.
Licenses and add-ons
The adult hunting license includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey tags and covers small game.
Two statewide rules
Wear it for small game and for all firearm deer, bear and elk hunting. Bowhunters in archery seasons and turkey, duck and furbearer hunters are exempt.
Sundays are open in every 2026-27 season except migratory birds, and there are no Sundays in the 2026 spring gobbler season.
The land itself at Rothrock State Forest
Mapped features first, then what the agency writes about the place.
| What is there | Details |
|---|---|
| Wild area | Thickhead Wild Area · 4,138 ac |
| Wild area | Trough Creek Wild Area · 1,744 ac |
| Natural areas | 6 |
From the the DCNR Bureau of Forestry description
Hunting for deer, turkey, grouse, squirrels, rabbits, and black bear is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons. Other than a few safety zones around buildings and picnic areas, hunting and trapping are permitted throughout the state forest.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
The game on Rothrock State Forest
Per the source, hunters come here for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and furbearers.
White-tailed deer
PGC estimates 13,500 deer taken in WMU 4A last season.
Black bear
In 2025, hunters checked 73 bears from WMU 4A.
Wild turkey
The spring 2024 estimate for WMU 4A is 1,555 birds.
Ruffed grouse
The 2025 Game Take Survey puts the grouse harvest at 3,175.
Squirrels
PGC survey estimate for 2025: 344,414 squirrels.
Cottontail rabbit
The 2025 Game Take Survey puts the rabbit harvest at 66,555.
Furbearers (trapping)
Furtakers and hunters took 50,350 red foxes in 2025.
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.
Every 2026-27 hunting season in Rothrock State Forest
Archery, rifle, flintlock and small game segments for WMU 4A and WMU 4D. Where only part of Rothrock State Forest is covered, the unit is named.
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Rothrock State Forest: unit allocation and harvest trend
There is no harvest figure for a single game land; WMU numbers are the closest published level.
| Unit | Sq mi | SGL | Points rule | Allocation | Up/down | Sold out on | CWD | 2025-26 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 4A | 1,736 | 157 | 3 points, one side | 64,000 | +/- 0 | N/A | Yes | 13,500 |
| WMU 4D | 2,743 | 222 | 3 points, one side | 120,000 | +37,000 | 9/30 | Yes | 24,800 |
Range on the chart: 10,100 (2016) up to 16,000 (2020). In 2025-26 the split was 5,000 antlered and 8,500 antlerless. Season split: archery 3,240, firearms 9,600, muzzleloader 660. PGC set 64,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 4A in 2026-27 (+/- 0 from last year).
Bear counts
| County | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon | 49 | — |
| Centre | 64 | — |
| Mifflin | 14 | — |
WMU 4A and WMU 4D is on the list of units with CWD; follow the statewide disposal rule for high-risk parts. CWD guide
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.
How Rothrock State Forest fits with nearby ground
Rows link to each area’s page; miles are straight-line.
Public land in Huntingdon, Centre and Mifflin counties
| Unit | Type | Counties | Acres | From here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sproul State Forest | State forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 305,450 | 40 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 32 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 45 mi |
| Tuscarora State Forest | State forest | Perry, Juniata, Mifflin | 96,025 | 27 mi |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield | 21,071 | 30 mi |
| State Game Lands 73 | State Game Lands | Bedford, Blair, Huntingdon | 20,814 | 41 mi |
| State Game Lands 33 | State Game Lands | Centre | 17,755 | 20 mi |
| State Game Lands 166 | State Game Lands | Blair, Huntingdon | 12,375 | 24 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 28 mi |
| Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) | Cooperative WMA | Huntingdon, Centre | 11,220 | 5 mi |
| State Game Lands 103 | State Game Lands | Centre | 8,995 | 20 mi |
| State Game Lands 60 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield, Blair | 8,773 | 25 mi |
| State Game Lands 107 | State Game Lands | Juniata, Mifflin | 8,263 | 22 mi |
| State Game Lands 112 | State Game Lands | Huntingdon, Mifflin | 6,633 | 16 mi |
| State Game Lands 176 | State Game Lands | Centre | 6,501 | 9 mi |
| State Game Lands 118 | State Game Lands | Blair, Huntingdon | 6,133 | 22 mi |
| State Game Lands 67 | State Game Lands | Huntingdon | 5,770 | 36 mi |
| State Game Lands 92 | State Game Lands | Centre | 5,234 | 22 mi |
Rothrock State Forest acres by county
| County | Acres in county |
|---|---|
| Huntingdon County | 66,806 |
| Centre County | 18,156 |
| Mifflin County | 11,407 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Rothrock State Forest on the map, with its neighbors
Map of Rothrock State Forest (orange) and the public ground within 25 miles. Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) (11,220 acres) is the largest nearby.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whipple Dam State Park | State park | 114 | 2 mi | west | 4D |
| Greenwood Furnace State Park | State park | 188 | 5 mi | southeast | 4D |
| Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) | Cooperative WMA | 11,220 | 5 mi | southwest | 4D |
| State Game Lands 176 | State Game Lands | 6,501 | 9 mi | northwest | 4D |
| Gray's Woods Preserve (CWMA 446) | Cooperative WMA | 154 | 10 mi | northwest | 4D |
| PSU Toftrees | Pheasant release site | 943 | 10 mi | north | 4D |
| State Game Lands 333 | State Game Lands | 1,213 | 12 mi | north | 4D |
| State Game Lands 113 | State Game Lands | 523 | 12 mi | southeast | 4D |
| State Game Lands 322 | State Game Lands | 3,149 | 14 mi | southwest | 4D |
| State Game Lands 112 | State Game Lands | 6,633 | 16 mi | south | 4D |
| State Game Lands 278 | State Game Lands | 1,868 | 18 mi | west | 4D |
| Reeds Gap State Park | State park | 100 | 19 mi | east | 4D |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR Bureau of Forestry boundary GIS (point inside largest parcel)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Practice before hunting Rothrock State Forest
State Game Lands 176 Public Shooting Range in Centre County is the nearest State Game Lands range, 9 miles out. Two nearby club or private ranges follow.
Rifle range 200 yd, 25 points; Handgun range 50 yd, 25 points; Shotgun patterning 20/40 yd; Claybird throwing area; Archery range 10/20/30/40/50 yd, 11 lanes
Rifle / handgun / shotgun / archery
Rifle / handgun / shotgun
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Towns, processors and offices near Rothrock State Forest
Towns with a guide on this site, then local businesses.
| Town | County | Miles off | Area direction | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milroy | Mifflin | 13 mi | west | — | 62,862 |
| Port Matilda | Centre | 14 mi | southeast | 584 | 59,747 |
| McVeytown | Mifflin | 14 mi | north | 335 | 44,479 |
| Lewistown | Mifflin | 15 mi | northwest | 8,394 | 32,960 |
Local help
Offices for this ground
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.
Seven days of shooting time for Rothrock State Forest
The Game Commission window is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for deer, bear, turkey and small game; migratory birds end at sunset.
Times worked out for Rothrock State Forest 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.
Kit for hunting Rothrock State Forest
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Hang-on tree stand
Most Pennsylvania deer hunters sit in hardwood ridges, on benches and along laurel edges.
Rothrock State Forest, asked and answered
What sort of ground is Rothrock State Forest?
It is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping, managed by the DCNR Bureau of Forestry.
What does Rothrock State Forest measure in acres?
About 96,000 acres.
Which town is nearest to Rothrock State Forest?
Base in Milroy, 13 miles off; the area is in Huntingdon, Centre and Mifflin counties.
Which WMU do I buy antlerless tags for at Rothrock State Forest?
Seasons follow WMU 4A and WMU 4D. Bucks in WMU 4A need three points on one side. It also reaches WMU 4D. Three-up rule: not in any of them.
Which antlerless license works on Rothrock State Forest?
64,000 WMU 4A licenses; the 2025-26 supply ran out N/A.
When can I bowhunt Rothrock State Forest?
Archery Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; rifle Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. Flintlock and late archery are in the table.
Can I hunt Rothrock State Forest on a Sunday this season?
Sunday hunting is legal in all seasons except migratory birds this license year.
Is fluorescent orange required on Rothrock State Forest?
250 square inches on head, chest and back in small game and firearms big game seasons.
How much do licenses cost for Rothrock State Forest?
The general license ($20.97 resident) plus any add-ons for your game.
What game does the agency list for Rothrock State Forest?
The area lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails and furbearers.
Is there more public ground near Rothrock State Forest?
Try Whipple Dam State Park (2 miles), Greenwood Furnace State Park (5 miles) and Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) (5 miles); each has its own page here.
Rothrock State Forest: confirm before you go
Rules on public ground change more often than the digest. Recheck Rothrock State Forest with the agency before you go.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: rothrock · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 1 · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 9; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: btrentler (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0).