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Clinton County · WMU 2G
Sproul State Forest Hunting
Everything we could verify about Sproul State Forest: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Sproul State Forest in brief
In Clinton, Centre, Potter, Cameron and Lycoming counties, Sproul State Forest is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping; it falls in WMU 2G. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry sets the rules on the ground. The 305,450 acres figure places it 1st of 20 state forests by size. Bureau of Forestry GIS gives 307,153 acres. Renovo is the closest town on this site, about 4 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold Sproul State Forest
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | Lock Haven | 37,865 | 890 | 2G, 4D | No | — | No | 157 |
| Centre County | Bellefonte | 159,805 | 1,107 | 4D, 2G | No | — | Yes | 64 |
| Potter County | Coudersport | 15,993 | 1,081 | 2G, 3A | No | — | No | 109 |
| Cameron County | Emporium | 4,348 | 396 | 2G | No | — | No | 56 |
| Lycoming County | Williamsport | 113,236 | 1,229 | 2G, 3B, 4D, 4E | No | — | Yes | 148 |
From the source record (DCNR Sproul State Forest page: "The largest in the state forest system, Sproul covers 305,450 acres, or slightly more than 476 square miles"), 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.
Sproul State Forest up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
| Feature | From PGC and DCNR |
|---|---|
| State forest wild area | Russell P. Letterman Wild Area · 5,034 ac |
| State forest wild area | Burns Run Wild Area · 2,476 ac |
| State forest natural areas | 24 |
Elk license zones at Sproul State Forest
| Hunt zone | PGC notes | Antlered | Antlerless | Licenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | 724 sq mi, 76% public land; First Fork and Main Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek and Kettle Creek Valley. | — | — | — |
| 309 | 367 sq mi, 46% public land; SGL 100 and Sproul State Forest. | — | — | — |
| 308 | 197 sq mi, 35% public land; SGL 321, SGL 100 and Moshannon State Forest; high elk population. | — | — | — |
| 306 | 193 sq mi, 91% public land; Quehanna Plateau. | — | — | — |
You must be drawn for a specific zone to hunt elk here.
In the agency’s own words
Sproul State Forest Hunting The rugged, forested slopes of Sproul State Forest are home to Pennsylvania big game species including black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey. The state bird, the ruffed grouse, is also found here. All state forest land, except for a few safety zones around buildings and picnic areas, is open for public hunting. The largest in the state forest system, Sproul covers 305,450 acres, or slightly more than 476 square miles.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for Sproul State Forest
Ground-specific rules first, then licenses, orange and Sundays.
How access works
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.
On the forest
State forest Sundays are open whenever PGC opens them. Closed ground is limited to safety zones at buildings and picnic areas.
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.
Sproul State Forest: 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 Sproul State Forest.
| 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 | |
| Elk | Archery (antlered or antlerless) | Elk Hunt Zones | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Elk | First regular firearms (new) | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Elk | Second regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Third regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| 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 Sproul State Forest
Species named by the agency for this ground: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
White-tailed deer
Last season WMU 2G gave up about 19,900 deer.
Black bear
Bears from WMU 2G in 2025: 488.
Wild turkey
About 2,966 gobblers came from WMU 2G in spring 2024.
Elk
Statewide in 2025, 108 elk were taken on 140 licenses (77% success).
Ruffed grouse
3,175 grouse 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 Sproul State Forest
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 12 more areas; orange marks Sproul State Forest. Of these, State Game Lands 100 is largest (21,071 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyner Run State Park | State park | 90 | 10 mi | northeast | 2G |
| Kettle Creek State Park | State park | 1,640 | 10 mi | northwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 321 | State Game Lands | 3,254 | 13 mi | southwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 89 | State Game Lands | 10,571 | 14 mi | east | 2G |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | 21,071 | 17 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Foster Joseph Sayers Dam | Corps lake | 1,379 | 18 mi | southeast | 2G |
| Ole Bull State Park | State park | 11 | 19 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 92 | State Game Lands | 5,234 | 19 mi | south | 2G |
| Bald Eagle State Park | State park | 4,910 | 19 mi | south | 2G |
| State Game Lands 255 | State Game Lands | 2,221 | 19 mi | southeast | 2G |
| Sinnemahoning State Park | State park | 1,400 | 19 mi | northwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 323 | State Game Lands | 3,308 | 22 mi | south | 2G, 4D |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR Bureau of Forestry boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
How many deer come off the Sproul State Forest 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 2G | 4,112 | 294 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 | No | 19,900 |
The best year on the chart was 2025 with 19,900 deer; the low was 10,200 in 2015. Of the 2025-26 total, 7,600 were bucks and 12,300 antlerless. 4,960 by bow, 13,500 by firearm, 1,440 by muzzleloader. Earlier years leave out former WMU 2H, which joined 2G in 2024. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 2G is 57,000 antlerless licenses, +/- 0 versus 2025-26.
Bears per county
Turkey and bear harvest
| WMU | Spring 2024 | Bear 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 2G | 2,966 | 488 |
How elk licenses are drawn: Single $11.97 application (PA hunting license required), up to five options (season, Elk Hunt Zone, antlered/antlerless); deadline 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25, 2026 at the Elk Country Visitor Center. Bonus point per unsuccessful application (max 37 for 2026-27). Antlered elk licenses are once in a lifetime. Nonresidents max 10% of licenses. 155 licenses allocated: 80 bull, 75 cow. PGC’s 2026 population estimate: 1,563 elk.
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.
Units and neighbors of Sproul State Forest
Each name opens its own page.
Same counties, other ground
| Area | Category | Counties | Acres | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehannock State Forest | State forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 265,000 | 23 mi |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 217,000 | 24 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 37 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 29 mi |
| Tioga State Forest | State forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 161,890 | 31 mi |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 146,539 | 22 mi |
| Loyalsock State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford | 114,552 | 53 mi |
| Rothrock State Forest | State forest | Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin | 96,000 | 40 mi |
| State Game Lands 13 | State Game Lands | Sullivan, Columbia, Lycoming | 50,745 | 71 mi |
| State Game Lands 75 | State Game Lands | Lycoming | 27,500 | 27 mi |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield | 21,071 | 17 mi |
| State Game Lands 33 | State Game Lands | Centre | 17,755 | 37 mi |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | Cameron, Elk | 17,360 | 33 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 25 mi |
| Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) | Cooperative WMA | Huntingdon, Centre | 11,220 | 43 mi |
| State Game Lands 89 | State Game Lands | Clinton | 10,571 | 14 mi |
| State Game Lands 103 | State Game Lands | Centre | 8,995 | 22 mi |
| State Game Lands 60 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield, Blair | 8,773 | 45 mi |
How Sproul State Forest splits across counties
| County | State forest acres |
|---|---|
| Clinton County | 249,891 |
| Centre County | 54,951 |
| Potter County | 1,209 |
| Cameron County | 869 |
| Lycoming County | 254 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Towns and services near Sproul State Forest
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renovo | Clinton | 4 mi | south | 1,051 | 156,363 |
| Sinnamahoning | Cameron | 17 mi | east | — | 155,000 |
| Beech Creek | Clinton | 18 mi | northwest | 733 | 50,864 |
| Clarence | Centre | 18 mi | northeast | — | 90,421 |
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.
Sproul State Forest: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 36 miles to State Game Lands 176 Public Shooting Range. Closer private options are listed beside it.
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
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting Sproul State Forest
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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When the day starts and ends at Sproul State Forest
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 Sproul 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.
Hunter questions about Sproul State Forest
How much huntable ground is on Sproul State Forest?
Agency acreage: 305,450.
Who looks after Sproul State Forest?
the DCNR Bureau of Forestry is the manager; the ground is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping.
Which WMU is Sproul State Forest in?
WMU 2G. WMU 2G uses the standard three-points-on-one-side rule.
How many miles is Sproul State Forest from Renovo?
In Clinton, Centre, Potter, Cameron and Lycoming counties, about 4 miles south of Renovo.
When is the rifle opener at Sproul State Forest?
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 Sproul State Forest area?
WMU 2G has 57,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0); in 2025-26 they sold out on 8/3.
Do non-hunters wear orange on Sproul State Forest?
Yes in firearms deer, bear and elk seasons and all small game seasons: 250 sq in.
Is Sproul State Forest open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
Which game is listed for Sproul State Forest?
The record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
Can out-of-state hunters use Sproul State Forest?
Nonresidents pay $101.97 for the adult license; residents $20.97.
What areas neighbor Sproul State Forest?
Close by are Hyner Run State Park (10 miles), Kettle Creek State Park (10 miles) and State Game Lands 321 (13 miles), measured in a straight line.
Heading to Sproul State Forest soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the Sproul State Forest page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: sproul · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 1 · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 9 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 301; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Grand Teton (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).