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Centre County · WMU 4D
State Game Lands 33 Hunting
Everything we could verify about State Game Lands 33: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
SGL 33 in brief
In Centre County, State Game Lands 33 is a State Game Lands tract owned and managed by the Game Commission for hunting and trapping; it falls in WMU 4D. The Pennsylvania Game Commission sets the rules on the ground. The 17,755 acres figure places it 16th of 312 State Game Lands by size. Chester Hill is the closest town on this site, about 5 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold SGL 33
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre County | Bellefonte | 159,805 | 1,107 | 4D, 2G | No | — | Yes | 64 |
From the source record (PGC SGL Boundaries GIS (sum of ACRES for SGL 33)), 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.
SGL 33 up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
In the agency’s own words
State Game Lands No. 33, comprising 17,583 acres, is located in southwestern Centre County south of Philipsburg. The terrain is primarily high plateaus, and is primarily forested. Several small trout streams traverse the property. The most prevalent wildlife species are bear, deer, turkey and ruffed grouse.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for SGL 33
Ground-specific rules first, then licenses, orange and Sundays.
How access works
Hunt and trap in any Game Commission season with the usual statewide regulations. Gated roads and trails are foot traffic only, and anything posted as a refuge or propagation area is off limits.
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.
SGL 33: 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 SGL 33.
| 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 SGL 33
Species named by the agency for this ground: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse.
White-tailed deer
Last season WMU 4D gave up about 24,800 deer.
Black bear
Bears from WMU 4D in 2025: 152.
Wild turkey
About 2,083 gobblers came from WMU 4D in spring 2024.
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 SGL 33
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 12 more areas; orange marks SGL 33. Of these, State Game Lands 158 is largest (17,463 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Moshannon State Park | State park | 3,000 | 8 mi | northeast | 4D |
| State Game Lands 60 | State Game Lands | 8,773 | 8 mi | southwest | 4D |
| State Game Lands 278 | State Game Lands | 1,868 | 8 mi | south | 4D |
| State Game Lands 176 | State Game Lands | 6,501 | 12 mi | east | 4D |
| Gray's Woods Preserve (CWMA 446) | Cooperative WMA | 154 | 12 mi | east | 4D |
| State Game Lands 98 | State Game Lands | 1,170 | 12 mi | northwest | 2E |
| State Game Lands 78 | State Game Lands | 777 | 12 mi | north | 2E, 2G |
| State Game Lands 131 | State Game Lands | 310 | 12 mi | south | 4D |
| State Game Lands 158 | State Game Lands | 17,463 | 14 mi | southwest | 4D |
| PSU Toftrees | Pheasant release site | 943 | 15 mi | east | 4D |
| State Game Lands 103 | State Game Lands | 8,995 | 17 mi | northeast | 4D |
| Penn State University Lands (CWMA 447) | Cooperative WMA | 11,220 | 18 mi | southeast | 4D |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (PGC SGL Boundaries GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
How many deer come off the SGL 33 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 4D | 2,743 | 222 | 3 points, one side | 120,000 | +37,000 | 9/30 | Yes | 24,800 |
The best year on the chart was 2025 with 24,800 deer; the low was 14,400 in 2015. Of the 2025-26 total, 9,400 were bucks and 15,400 antlerless. 7,290 by bow, 16,500 by firearm, 1,010 by muzzleloader. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 4D is 120,000 antlerless licenses, +37,000 versus 2025-26.
Bears per county
| County | 2024 bears | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | 64 | — |
Turkey and bear harvest
| WMU | Spring 2024 | Bear 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 4D | 2,083 | 152 |
Chronic wasting disease is present in WMU 4D, 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 SGL 33
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester Hill | Clearfield | 5 mi | southeast | 791 | 42,625 |
| Port Matilda | Centre | 7 mi | west | 584 | 59,747 |
| Grassflat | Clearfield | 13 mi | south | — | 56,150 |
| Bellwood | Blair | 18 mi | northeast | 1,764 | 55,559 |
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.
State Game Lands 33: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 12 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
Trap / archery / silhouette / handgun / rifle
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting SGL 33
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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When the day starts and ends at SGL 33
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 SGL 33 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 SGL 33
What areas neighbor SGL 33?
Close by are Black Moshannon State Park (8 miles), State Game Lands 60 (8 miles) and State Game Lands 278 (8 miles), measured in a straight line.
Which game is listed for SGL 33?
The record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse.
Where is the official page for SGL 33?
Use the agency link in the at-a-glance band.
How many deer are taken around SGL 33?
WMU 4D: 24,800 deer in 2025-26.
Who looks after SGL 33?
the Pennsylvania Game Commission is the manager; the ground is a State Game Lands tract owned and managed by the Game Commission for hunting and trapping.
Are black bears common near SGL 33?
The 2024 count for Centre County was 64.
How many miles is SGL 33 from Chester Hill?
In Centre County, about 5 miles southeast of Chester Hill.
How much huntable ground is on SGL 33?
Agency acreage: 17,755.
How many antlerless licenses are there for the SGL 33 area?
WMU 4D has 120,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+37,000); in 2025-26 they sold out on 9/30.
Which WMU is SGL 33 in?
WMU 4D. WMU 4D uses the standard three-points-on-one-side rule.
Is SGL 33 open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
Heading to SGL 33 soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the SGL 33 page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: PGC GIS: MapServer 17 · pa.gov: sgl 033 · pa.gov: state game lands; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0).