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Susquehannock State Forest for Hunters
A hunter’s summary of Susquehannock State Forest in Potter, Clinton and McKean counties: rules, seasons, harvest and local services.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Susquehannock State Forest: the essentials
WMU 2G and WMU 3A covers Susquehannock State Forest, a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping in Potter, Clinton and McKean counties. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry sets the rules on the ground. By size (265,000 acres) it comes in at 2nd of 20 state forests. On the DCNR forest boundary the district adds up to 260,126 acres. Look east of Austin (the nearest town we cover), around 12 miles out.
County details near Susquehannock State Forest
| County | Seat | 2024 residents | Square miles | WMUs | SRA county | CWD feeding ban | Head bin site | Bear harvest 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potter County | Coudersport | 15,993 | 1,081 | 2G, 3A | No | — | No | 109 |
| Clinton County | Lock Haven | 37,865 | 890 | 2G, 4D | No | — | No | 157 |
| McKean County | Smethport | 39,478 | 980 | 3A, 2F, 2G | No | — | Yes | 78 |
From the source record (DCNR Susquehannock State Forest page: "It comprises 265,000 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.
What Susquehannock State Forest is hunted for
The record lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
White-tailed deer
Deer harvest, WMU 2G, 2025-26: 19,900.
Black bear
PGC recorded 488 bears in WMU 2G for 2025.
Wild turkey
PGC estimates 2,966 spring birds for WMU 2G (2024).
Elk
The 2025 elk seasons produced 108 elk from 140 licenses.
Ruffed grouse
PGC survey estimate for 2025: 3,175 grouse.
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.
Susquehannock State Forest: rules before the first sit
Prices are the PGC 2026-27 license figures.
Rules on this ground
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.
Forest musts
On state forests, Sunday hunting runs on the PGC dates. Safety zones around forest buildings and picnic areas are the only closed spots.
License costs
One general license covers small game and comes with tags for an antlered deer and two turkeys (fall and spring).
Sunday and orange rules
Firearm big game and all small game seasons call for orange; archery-only, turkey and migratory bird hunts do not.
Sunday hunting now covers every season other than ducks, geese, doves and woodcock; the 2026 spring gobbler season skipped Sundays.
On the ground at Susquehannock State Forest
From the agency map layers and description.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wild area | Hammersley Wild Area · 29,829 ac |
| DCNR natural areas | 2 |
Susquehannock State Forest elk zones
| 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. | — | — | — |
| 303 | 251 sq mi, 40% public land; includes Lyme Conservation Easement open to public hunting. | — | — | — |
Only drawn license holders may hunt elk, and each license names one zone.
What the DCNR Bureau of Forestry says about it
Hunting is probably the biggest recreational activity on the forest. Other than a few safety zones around buildings, hunting is permitted throughout the state forest. Over 120 acres of wildlife food plots are maintained on the forest. Every year thousands of people travel from the metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania and neighboring states to hunt deer, turkey, bear, and grouse. Each year additional antlerless deer hunting opportunities are provided through the Deer Management Assistance Program.
During early muzzleloader and rifle deer season over 60 miles of gated roads are open for vehicle traffic to allow hunters better access. The district also provides over four thousand acres that are open to hunting by disabled hunters on all-terrain vehicle with special permits. Grouse hunting is especially popular in the Susquehannock State Forest. A map of recent timber management areas that provide good grouse habitat and enhanced hunting opportunities is available online and from the district office.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Susquehannock State Forest deer numbers by WMU
Unit-level figures from PGC, the finest level published for deer.
| Unit | Area sq mi | Game lands | Antlers | Licenses | Change | Sellout 2025 | CWD | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 2G | 4,112 | 294 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 | No | 19,900 |
| WMU 3A | 1,508 | 87 | 3 points, one side | 21,000 | +/- 0 | 7/28 | No | 14,500 |
Peak: 19,900 deer in 2025. Low: 10,200 in 2015. Bucks: 7,600; antlerless: 12,300 (2025-26). Archery 4,960; firearms 13,500; muzzleloader 1,440. Pre-2024 bars do not include the old 2H unit. Antlerless licenses for WMU 2G: 57,000 this year (+/- 0).
The elk drawing for 2026-27: 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. About 1,563 elk, per the 2026 survey.
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.
2026-27 season calendar for Susquehannock State Forest
Rows come straight from the 2026-27 digest and the seasons and bag limits page; the status column turns green while a season is open.
| Animal | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Black bear | Extended firearms | WMU 3A | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 6, 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.
Susquehannock State Forest plotted with its neighbors
Susquehannock State Forest sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbors inside 25 miles. Largest within reach: Elk State Forest, 217,000 acres.
| Area | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ole Bull State Park | State park | 11 | 9 mi | southeast | 2G |
| Lyman Run State Park | State park | 505 | 10 mi | northeast | 2G |
| Denton Hill State Park | State park | 650 | 11 mi | north | 2G |
| Sinnemahoning State Park | State park | 1,400 | 14 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Kettle Creek State Park | State park | 1,640 | 16 mi | south | 2G |
| Sizerville State Park | State park | 200 | 16 mi | west | 2G |
| State Game Lands 64 | State Game Lands | 8,100 | 17 mi | northeast | 2G, 3A |
| State Game Lands 208 | State Game Lands | 8,833 | 19 mi | northeast | 2G, 3A |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | 217,000 | 20 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Hyner Run State Park | State park | 90 | 21 mi | southeast | 2G |
| State Game Lands 204 | State Game Lands | 4,030 | 22 mi | northwest | 3A |
| Colton Point State Park | State park | 100 | 22 mi | east | 2G |
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.
Susquehannock State Forest: parent, units and county neighbors
Largest first; distance is as the crow flies.
Neighbors by county
| Name | Type | Counties | Acreage | Straight line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 512,932 | 60 mi |
| Sproul State Forest | State forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 305,450 | 23 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District | Ranger district | Warren, McKean, Forest | 262,965 | 55 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | Ranger district | Elk, Forest, McKean | 249,968 | 58 mi |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 217,000 | 20 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 57 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 37 mi |
| Tioga State Forest | State forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 161,890 | 24 mi |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 146,539 | 33 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 47 mi |
| State Game Lands 30 | State Game Lands | McKean | 11,658 | 25 mi |
| State Game Lands 89 | State Game Lands | Clinton | 10,571 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 61 | State Game Lands | McKean | 9,972 | 26 mi |
| State Game Lands 62 | State Game Lands | McKean | 9,258 | 38 mi |
| State Game Lands 64 | State Game Lands | Potter | 8,100 | 17 mi |
| State Game Lands 59 | State Game Lands | Potter, McKean | 7,023 | 23 mi |
| State Game Lands 204 | State Game Lands | Potter | 4,030 | 22 mi |
| State Game Lands 321 | State Game Lands | Clinton | 3,254 | 30 mi |
County share of Susquehannock State Forest
| County | District acres |
|---|---|
| Potter County | 248,033 |
| Clinton County | 11,413 |
| McKean County | 660 |
| Lycoming County | 7 |
| Cameron County | 1 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Susquehannock State Forest hunting hours by day
Deer, bear and grouse hunters get a half hour of light at both ends of the day. Duck, goose and dove hunters stop right at sunset.
Times worked out for Susquehannock 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.
Where to sight in near Susquehannock State Forest
The Game Commission range closest to Susquehannock State Forest is State Game Lands 44 Public Shooting Range (52 miles). Local clubs within 30 miles are included.
Shotgun / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader / air gun
Sporting clays / shotgun
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Where to stay and shop near Susquehannock State Forest
Pick a base town, then find a processor.
| Town | County | Miles | Direction to area | Population | Public land nearby (ac) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | Potter | 12 mi | east | 467 | 107,210 |
| Coudersport | Potter | 14 mi | southeast | 2,310 | 53,750 |
| Galeton | Potter | 14 mi | southwest | 955 | 96,063 |
| Renovo | Clinton | 20 mi | north | 1,051 | 156,363 |
Services close by
Nearest offices
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.
Susquehannock State Forest: what to bring along
Four items chosen for this ground and its seasons.
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Susquehannock State Forest: what hunters keep asking
Is Susquehannock State Forest big enough for a full day of hunting?
265,000 acres on the record.
Which town works well as a base for Susquehannock State Forest?
Potter, Clinton and McKean counties; Austin is the nearest town we cover, 12 miles away.
What Wildlife Management Unit covers Susquehannock State Forest?
It lies in WMU 2G and WMU 3A. The antler rule in WMU 2G is three points on a side. Also inside it: WMU 3A. Units using three up: none.
What is the antlerless allocation near Susquehannock State Forest?
57,000 for WMU 2G this year. Last year’s sellout date: 8/3.
Which 2026-27 deer segments cover Susquehannock State Forest?
Rifle season: Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. Archery starts Oct 3, 2026. The full list is in the season table above.
Is Sunday hunting allowed on Susquehannock State Forest?
All seasons include Sundays now, migratory birds excepted.
When is orange mandatory at Susquehannock State Forest?
250 sq in of fluorescent orange, visible all around, whenever the season requires it.
What paperwork do I carry on Susquehannock State Forest?
Start with the $20.97 resident license; bear, archery, muzzleloader and antlerless are extra.
What species does Susquehannock State Forest hold?
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
How do elk licenses work for Susquehannock State Forest?
Elk hunting here needs a license drawn for 304 and 303.
What is the closest public land to Susquehannock State Forest?
In order of distance: Ole Bull State Park (9 miles), Lyman Run State Park (10 miles) and Denton Hill State Park (11 miles).
Susquehannock State Forest, the last word
Double-check Susquehannock State Forest with its manager: open areas, gates and any drawn hunts.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: susquehannock · 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: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).