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White-tailed Deer Hunting in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Game Commission set 1,469,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27, from 21,000 in WMU 3A to 120,000 in WMU 4D. This guide gathers the deer calendar, limits, licenses, legal arms and public land.
Photo: Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rifle season opens Saturday, Nov 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and runs 16 days to Dec 13, 2026 in every unit, with both antlered and antlerless deer legal. Statewide archery opens Oct 3, 2026; flintlock hunters get Dec 26 to Jan 24, 2027. Hunters took an estimated 505,600 deer in the 2025-26 seasons: 185,310 antlered and 320,290 antlerless.
What the Game Commission highlights
- Archery Oct. 3-Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027 (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D from Sept. 19-Nov. 27).
- Regular firearms Nov. 28-Dec. 13, 2026 statewide; flintlock Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027.
- One antlered deer per year; antlerless deer with WMU-specific licenses (2026-27 allocation 1,469,000 across 22 WMUs).
- Antler restrictions: "three up" in 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2D; three points on one side elsewhere.
When whitetails are open
12 dated segments for whitetails, each with its length and the Sundays it contains. WMU codes link to the unit guides.
| Season | Unit | From | Through | Days | Sundays in | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery (antlered and antlerless) | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | 70 | 10 | |
| Archery (antlered and antlerless) | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide (all other WMUs) | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 49 | 7 | |
| Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide (all other WMUs) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| October muzzleloader (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Special firearms (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Regular firearms (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| Flintlock (antlered or antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, 5A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 24 | 4 | |
| Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | DMAP properties statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| Agricultural Deer Control (Ag Tag, antlerless only) | Enrolled Ag Tag properties statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | 258 | 37 | |
| Antlerless (military bases) | Letterkenny Army Depot (Franklin Co.), New Cumberland Army Depot (York Co.), Fort Detrick Raven Rock Site (Adams Co.) | No season |
Notes printed with the dates
- One antlered deer per license year; one antlerless deer with each antlerless license/DMAP/Ag Tag permit. Archery license required. No orange required.
- Antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Muzzleloader license required. 250 sq in orange.
- Junior and senior license holders, mentored permit holders, Disabled Person Permit (vehicle as blind) holders, and residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard. One antlerless deer per antlerless license.
- One antlered deer per license year; one antlerless deer with each antlerless license/DMAP/Ag Tag permit. 250 sq in orange.
- One antlered deer per license year; an unused antlered tag may be used for an antlerless deer anywhere in the state; plus antlerless deer with each license/permit. Muzzleloader license required. No orange required.
- Antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 250 sq in orange.
- Antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Web page prints the end year as 2026; digest p.5 and p.23 say Jan. 18, 2027.
- Valid DMAP harvest permit required.
- One antlerless deer per Ag Tag permit ($1.97, landowner coupon required). Any sporting arm legal for the regular firearms deer season. 250 sq in orange at all times. Unused tags reported by April 30.
- Days set by the U.S. Department of the Army. Antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
White-tailed Deer take, day and season
Limits for whitetails as quick figures and as the PGC prints them.
PGC limit: white-tailed deer
One antlered deer per license year (all seasons combined), plus one antlerless deer with each antlerless license, DMAP permit or Ag Tag permit. Flintlock hunters may use the unused antlered tag for an antlerless deer.
Antlerless deer licenses
Personal limit of 6 unfilled antlerless licenses (15 in WMUs 5C and 5D); more may be bought as deer are harvested and reported while licenses remain. Mentored permit holders: 1 antlerless license per year.
PGC limit: DMAP permits
Up to 4 permits per DMAP unit where landowner issues coupons, otherwise 2; up to 2 per SGL DMAP unit. Do not count toward antlerless personal limit.
Limit for Ag Tag permits
No limit on number per hunter; finite number per property.
Unit-level deer table
WMU-level detail for whitetails, straight from the PGC tables.
| WMU | Archery | Extended antlerless | Antler rule | Antlerless licenses | Sold out 2025 | CWD | Deer taken 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 up | 52,000 | 8/11 | – | 25,800 |
| 1B | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 up | 44,000 | 7/28 | – | 28,700 |
| 2A | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 up | 49,000 | 8/30 | – | 22,000 |
| 2B | Sep 19-Nov 27; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 24 | 3 up | 62,000 | 11/8 | – | 24,000 |
| 2C | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 117,000 | 10/18 | Yes | 34,400 |
| 2D | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 up | 112,000 | 8/29 | Yes | 42,300 |
| 2E | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 63,000 | 9/8 | Yes | 20,200 |
| 2F | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 67,000 | 7/31 | Yes | 26,500 |
| 2G | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 57,000 | 8/3 | – | 19,900 |
| 3A | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 21,000 | 7/28 | – | 14,500 |
| 3B | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 53,000 | 8/26 | – | 22,000 |
| 3C | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 57,000 | 8/28 | – | 22,700 |
| 3D | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 52,000 | 9/2 | – | 15,600 |
| 4A | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 18 | 3 points | 64,000 | N/A | Yes | 13,500 |
| 4B | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 71,000 | 11/8 | Yes | 21,100 |
| 4C | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 18 | 3 points | 51,000 | 8/13 | Yes | 23,300 |
| 4D | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 18 | 3 points | 120,000 | 9/30 | Yes | 24,800 |
| 4E | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 61,000 | 9/6 | Yes | 25,000 |
| 5A | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 18 | 3 points | 65,000 | 11/20 | Yes | 12,100 |
| 5B | Oct 3-Nov 20; Dec 26-Jan 24 | – | 3 points | 86,000 | 9/1 | Yes | 30,100 |
| 5C | Sep 19-Nov 27; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 24 | 3 points | 101,000 | 10/8 | – | 26,100 |
| 5D | Sep 19-Nov 27; Dec 26-Jan 24 | Dec 26-Jan 24 | 3 points | 44,000 | 10/18 | – | 10,100 |
PGC season table and digest, antlerless allocations and harvest reports (seasons, deer harvest 2025-26, bear report, spring turkey, PGC harvest dashboard), checked October 12, 2026.
Where deer hunters find public ground
Public ground for whitetails: 316 tracts, mostly State Game Lands, listed largest first.
| Tract | Type | Counties | WMU | Size, acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National Forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 1B/2F/3A | 512,932 |
| Sproul State Forest | State Forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 2G | 305,450 |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State Forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 2G/3A | 265,000 |
| Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Warren, McKean, Forest | 1B/2F/3A | 262,965 |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Elk, Forest, McKean | 2F | 249,968 |
| Elk State Forest | State Forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 2G | 217,000 |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State Forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 4D | 194,602 |
| Moshannon State Forest | State Forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 2E/2G/4D | 190,031 |
| Tioga State Forest | State Forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 2G/3A/3B | 161,890 |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State Forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 2G/4D | 146,539 |
| Loyalsock State Forest | State Forest | Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford | 3B | 114,552 |
| Tuscarora State Forest | State Forest | Perry, Juniata, Mifflin | 4B | 96,025 |
| Rothrock State Forest | State Forest | Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin | 4A/4D | 96,000 |
| Michaux State Forest | State Forest | Cumberland, Franklin, Adams | 5A | 85,500 |
| Delaware State Forest | State Forest | Pike, Monroe | 3D | 83,519 |
Other deer ground, by size
Buchanan State Forest (71,683 ac) · Forbes State Forest (59,000 ac) · Pinchot State Forest (54,000 ac) · State Game Lands 13 (50,745 ac) · State Game Lands 57 (46,676 ac) · State Game Lands 211 (44,479 ac) · State Game Lands 44 (39,335 ac) · Weiser State Forest (30,000 ac) · State Game Lands 75 (27,500 ac) · State Game Lands 25 (24,379 ac) · Gallitzin State Forest (24,370 ac) · State Game Lands 108 (22,739 ac) · State Game Lands 100 (21,071 ac) · Ohiopyle State Park (20,000 ac) · State Game Lands 54 (19,408 ac) · State Game Lands 36 (18,972 ac) · State Game Lands 42 (18,041 ac) · State Game Lands 33 (17,755 ac) · State Game Lands 158 (17,463 ac) · State Game Lands 14 (17,360 ac) · State Game Lands 87 (17,296 ac) · State Game Lands 141 (17,227 ac) · State Game Lands 51 (16,945 ac) · Clear Creek State Forest (16,716 ac) · State Game Lands 86 (14,320 ac) · Moraine State Park (14,000 ac) · State Game Lands 37 (13,136 ac) · Hickory Run State Park (13,000 ac) · Laurel Ridge State Park (13,000 ac) · State Game Lands 58 (12,630 ac) · State Game Lands 166 (12,375 ac) · State Game Lands 295 (12,338 ac) · State Game Lands 30 (11,658 ac) · State Game Lands 28 (11,268 ac) · State Game Lands 210 (11,131 ac) · Cook Forest State Park (11,000 ac) · State Game Lands 39 (10,869 ac) · State Game Lands 95 (10,626 ac) · State Game Lands 89 (10,571 ac) · Pymatuning State Park (10,300 ac) · Ricketts Glen State Park (10,287 ac) · State Game Lands 111 (10,286 ac) · State Game Lands 61 (9,972 ac) · State Game Lands 106 (9,857 ac) · State Game Lands 29 (9,830 ac) · State Game Lands 214 (9,661 ac) · State Game Lands 34 (9,558 ac) · State Game Lands 170 (9,463 ac) · State Game Lands 159 (9,448 ac) · State Game Lands 62 (9,258 ac) · State Game Lands 84 (9,010 ac) · State Game Lands 103 (8,995 ac) · Erie National Wildlife Refuge (8,959 ac) · State Game Lands 208 (8,833 ac) · State Game Lands 60 (8,773 ac) · State Game Lands 198 (8,688 ac) · State Game Lands 217 (8,622 ac) · State Game Lands 24 (8,585 ac) · State Game Lands 119 (8,375 ac) · State Game Lands 187 (8,157 ac) · plus 241 smaller tracts
White-tailed Deer by county
- Clearfield County17 tracts
- Erie County16 tracts
- Centre County15 tracts
- Elk County13 tracts
- Schuylkill County13 tracts
- Clinton County12 tracts
- McKean County12 tracts
- Monroe County12 tracts
- Potter County12 tracts
- Huntingdon County11 tracts
- Crawford County10 tracts
- Indiana County10 tracts
- Lycoming County10 tracts
- Somerset County10 tracts
- Wayne County10 tracts
PGC State Game Lands GIS, DCNR forest and park hunting pages and federal managers (PGC layers), retrieved 2026-10-12. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.
White-tailed Deer harvest in Pennsylvania
PGC estimates 505,600 deer taken in 2025-26. WMU 2D gave up the most, 42,300.
Deer taken in each unit, 2025-26
| WMU | Antlered | Antlerless | Total | Archery | Firearms | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | 10,000 | 15,800 | 25,800 | 9,990 | 14,600 | 1,210 |
| 1B | 11,100 | 17,600 | 28,700 | 9,020 | 18,500 | 1,180 |
| 2A | 8,400 | 13,600 | 22,000 | 6,990 | 13,600 | 1,410 |
| 2B | 9,000 | 15,000 | 24,000 | 14,730 | 8,500 | 770 |
| 2C | 11,400 | 23,000 | 34,400 | 11,320 | 21,200 | 1,880 |
| 2D | 15,000 | 27,300 | 42,300 | 13,680 | 26,300 | 2,320 |
| 2E | 7,700 | 12,500 | 20,200 | 5,910 | 13,300 | 990 |
| 2F | 10,800 | 15,700 | 26,500 | 6,770 | 18,400 | 1,330 |
| 2G | 7,600 | 12,300 | 19,900 | 4,960 | 13,500 | 1,440 |
| 3A | 7,600 | 6,900 | 14,500 | 4,140 | 9,700 | 660 |
| 3B | 7,900 | 14,100 | 22,000 | 6,650 | 14,100 | 1,250 |
| 3C | 8,000 | 14,700 | 22,700 | 6,120 | 15,300 | 1,280 |
| 3D | 6,000 | 9,600 | 15,600 | 5,460 | 9,500 | 640 |
| 4A | 5,000 | 8,500 | 13,500 | 3,240 | 9,600 | 660 |
| 4B | 6,700 | 14,400 | 21,100 | 7,200 | 12,800 | 1,100 |
| 4C | 9,400 | 13,900 | 23,300 | 8,540 | 13,800 | 960 |
| 4D | 9,400 | 15,400 | 24,800 | 7,290 | 16,500 | 1,010 |
| 4E | 7,500 | 17,500 | 25,000 | 7,730 | 15,800 | 1,470 |
| 5A | 4,800 | 7,300 | 12,100 | 4,800 | 6,800 | 500 |
| 5B | 10,300 | 19,800 | 30,100 | 15,190 | 13,600 | 1,310 |
| 5C | 8,100 | 18,000 | 26,100 | 14,540 | 10,900 | 660 |
| 5D | 3,000 | 7,100 | 10,100 | 7,760 | 2,200 | 140 |
Harvest data: 2025-26 deer report, big game harvest table. Estimates as published by the PGC.
Legal requirements for whitetails
The deer rules below come from the digest, the license page and the reporting page.
Licenses
License costs for whitetails this year.
Daily hours
Deer hunters may shoot from 30 minutes before sunup to 30 minutes after sundown, the Game Commission window for small and big game.
Fluorescent orange
Deer hunters wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on head, chest and back in the firearms, muzzleloader and extended seasons; archery and the late flintlock season do not require it.
Sunday status
Sundays count: all Sundays within the deer dates are legal hunting days. How Sundays work
Antler restrictions
"Three up": three points, including the main beam tip, on one side, excluding the brow tine. It applies in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D. Elsewhere: Three points on one side. Junior license holders, mentored youth (16 and under), disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind, and resident active-duty U.S. Armed Services personnel may take antlered deer with two or more points on one antler or a spike 3 inches or longer. Senior license holders must follow antler restrictions.
What counts as antlerless
Antlerless deer: a deer without antlers or with both antlers less than 3 inches. A point is any projection at least 1 inch long (brow tine included); the main beam tip counts as a point. A deer neither antlered nor antlerless is protected.
Flintlock rules
Flintlock-ignition single-barrel long guns (pre-1800 or reproduction) .44 caliber or larger, or .50 caliber or larger handgun; single projectile; no telescopic sights (peep sights OK). Muzzleloader license required. Unused antlered tag may be used for antlerless deer anywhere. No orange required.
Archery license
Archery license ($16.97 resident/$26.97 nonresident) required in archery deer seasons unless holding a combination license or mentored permit.
Special firearms season, who qualifies
Licensed seniors (65 or turning 65 in the license year), junior license holders, mentored permit holders, qualified active-duty military, and persons with a Disabled Person Permit to use a vehicle as a blind.
DMAP permits
Deer Management Assistance Program permits ($10.97 resident/$35.97 nonresident) valid for one antlerless deer on a specific enrolled property, in any deer season with the sporting arm legal for that season; extended antlerless firearms season Dec. 26-Jan. 24 approved on all DMAP properties. Up to 4 permits per unit with landowner coupon, otherwise 2; up to 2 per SGL DMAP unit (offered in Northwest, Northcentral, Northeast and Southeast regions). Sales begin Aug. 10, 2026. Reporting mandatory whether or not a deer is taken. Landowner applications postmarked by July 1.
Ag Tag permits
Agricultural Deer Control (Ag Tag) permits $1.97 each with landowner coupon, valid only on the specified farm; season Aug. 1-April 15; any regular-firearms deer sporting arm; 250 sq in orange always; report all tags, unused tags by April 30. Farmers get one coupon per five acres of cultivated land; no enrollment fee.
Tagging and reporting deer
Tag immediately after harvest and before moving the carcass: fill out the harvest tag in ballpoint pen and attach it to the ear; it stays until processed or prepared for mounting. The old rule requiring a deer to be tagged before hunting another has been rescinded. Report within 10 days online (HuntFish.PA.gov), by phone 1-800-838-4431, or by mail card (5 days for homemade tags).
CWD and deer carcasses
Statewide: unlawful to place high-risk parts of deer, elk or other cervids on the landscape anywhere but the harvest site; once moved, high-risk parts must go to a commercial trash service (double-bagged) or other PGC-approved method (e.g. cooperating processor/taxidermist). Transport of deer between any two locations is no longer prohibited; applies to deer brought in from other states. High-risk parts: head (brain, tonsils, eyes, lymph nodes), spinal cord/backbone, spleen, upper canine teeth with soft tissue, any article with visible brain or spinal cord tissue, unfinished taxidermy mounts, brain-tanned hides.
Donating venison
Statewide venison donation program (sharedeer.org, 866-474-2141); more than 2.5 million lbs donated since 1991; donate deer at participating processors at no charge.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission 2026-27 digest, license types and harvest reporting, checked October 12, 2026. Pennsylvania hunting laws · License guide.
White-tailed Deer weapons and methods
Read the arms table with the season table above: the legal gun depends on the segment.
| Season | Legal arms | Off limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer and bear regular firearms (and special/extended) | Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns (revolvers/single-shots) and shotguns with all-lead or expanding bullets; semiautomatic centerfire shotguns with single projectiles (no plug needed); muzzleloading long guns .44+ or handguns .50+; bows (35 lb) and crossbows (125 lb) with broadheads at least 7/8 in wide and no longer than 3.25 in. | Buckshot (except special-permit controlled hunts); semiautomatic rifles. |
| Archery deer and bear | Long, recurve and compound bows (35 lb minimum) and crossbows (125 lb minimum); broadheads 7/8 in minimum width, 3.25 in max length; magnifying scopes and red dots on crossbows; lighted pins/reticles that cast no beam. | Firearms (except License to Carry holders with authorized handguns); muzzleloaders only during muzzleloader-season overlaps with both licenses and orange. |
| October muzzleloader (antlerless deer, bear) | Single-barrel muzzleloading long gun (flintlock, in-line or percussion) .44 caliber or larger, or .50+ handgun; breech-loaded encapsulated propellant with muzzle-loaded bullet; scopes permitted. | Multi-barrel guns. |
| Flintlock deer | Flintlock-ignition single-barrel long gun .44+ (pre-1800 design or reproduction) or .50+ handgun; single projectile; peep sights; bows and crossbows also legal. | Telescopic sights; in-line or percussion ignition. |
| Special Regulations Areas | See zones.special_regulations_areas in regs.json: straight-walled centerfire only for deer/bear outside Philadelphia; Philadelphia bows/crossbows only for deer. | Bottlenecked centerfire cartridges; buckshot. |
Field rules for whitetails
Baiting (general)
Unlawful to hunt in or around any area where bait, food, salt, minerals or their residues are or were used within the past 30 days to lure game or wildlife. Normal farming/habitat practices and food plots are not baiting; crop manipulation for doves allowed; nonliving bait allowed for coyotes.
Deer baiting in Special Regulations Area
Deer may be hunted over bait in the Southeast Special Regulations Area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia; rules now include federal lands) on private, municipal and federal lands: shelled corn, apples, protein pellets or agricultural products; no mineral blocks; max 5 gallons; from two weeks before the first deer season to the close of the last; bait site labeled with name/address or Sportsman's Equipment ID.
Lures and scents for deer
Non-food lures and cover scents legal; food-based lures illegal; cervid urine attractants now legal (2025 law).
Drives
Drives permitted for deer and bear only; unlawful to drive elk or turkeys; drivers must be licensed and wear orange.
Hunting parties
Max 25 for deer, elk or bears; max 6 for small game (not waterfowl/dove hunters in blinds or stationary).
Road-killed deer and turkeys
Residents may keep for personal consumption with a PGC permit number within 24 hours; antlers, beards and spurs may not be kept; may not be used to bait coyotes.
Tree stands and blinds
Unlawful to damage trees with stands or climbing devices (except own land/with written permission). On SGLs, stands and blinds may be placed no more than two weeks before the first and removed within two weeks after the last deer season in that area, and must carry name/address, CID or Sportsman's Equipment ID. Placing a stand does not reserve the spot.
2026-27 digest, sporting arms and unlawful acts pages, checked October 12, 2026.
White-tailed Deer questions, answered from the PGC
How many antlerless deer licenses can one hunter hold?
Personal limit of 6 unfilled antlerless licenses (15 in WMUs 5C and 5D); more may be bought as deer are harvested and reported while licenses remain. Mentored permit holders: 1 antlerless license per year.
What makes a buck legal in Pennsylvania?
"Three up": three points, including the main beam tip, on one side, excluding the brow tine. That is the rule in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D; the rest of the state needs three points on one side. Junior, mentored youth, disabled-permit and resident active-duty hunters may take a buck with two points on one antler or a 3 inch spike.
Can an unused buck tag fill a doe during flintlock season?
Yes. During the flintlock season an unused antlered tag may be used for an antlerless deer anywhere in the state.
How do I get a Pennsylvania deer tested for CWD?
Free testing through PGC head-collection bins in CWD-detected WMUs (double-bagged head with completed harvest tag on the ear; antlers not returned). Results in about 2-3 weeks via 1-833-INFOCWD, INFOCWD@pa.gov or pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/CWDResultsLookup. Paid testing through the PA Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System. Random sampling at processors does not guarantee testing.
What can I hunt whitetails with?
Deer and bear regular firearms (and special/extended): Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns (revolvers/single-shots) and shotguns with all-lead or expanding bullets; semiautomatic centerfire shotguns with single projectiles (no plug needed); muzzleloading long guns .44+ or handguns .50+; bows (35 lb) and crossbows (125 lb) with broadheads at least 7/8 in wide and no longer than 3.25 in.
May deer hunters go out on Sundays?
Sundays count: all Sundays within the deer dates are legal hunting days.
What is the limit on whitetails?
One antlered deer per license year (all seasons combined), plus one antlerless deer with each antlerless license, DMAP permit or Ag Tag permit. Flintlock hunters may use the unused antlered tag for an antlerless deer. Personal limit of 6 unfilled antlerless licenses (15 in WMUs 5C and 5D); more may be bought as deer are harvested and reported while licenses remain. Mentored permit holders: 1 antlerless license per year.
Which days are whitetails legal in 2026-27?
The deer dates are archery (antlered and antlerless) Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026 (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D); archery (antlered and antlerless) Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027 (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D); archery (antlered and antlerless) Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026 (Other WMUs); archery (antlered and antlerless) Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027 (Other WMUs); october muzzleloader (antlerless only) Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. Every segment is in the season table.
How many public tracts list whitetails?
316 tracts on our list qualify; the largest are Allegheny National Forest, Sproul State Forest and Susquehannock State Forest.
What license do I need for whitetails?
Deer hunters need: Resident Adult Hunting License ($20.97); Nonresident Adult Hunting License ($101.97); Resident Archery License ($16.97); Resident Muzzleloader License ($11.97).
Do deer hunters have to wear orange?
Deer hunters wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on head, chest and back in the firearms, muzzleloader and extended seasons; archery and the late flintlock season do not require it.
What time does legal light end for whitetails?
Deer hunters may shoot from 30 minutes before sunup to 30 minutes after sundown, the Game Commission window for small and big game.
Kit for hunting White-tailed Deer country
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Before the deer trip
The Game Commission’s season page is the final word on whitetails; this guide was checked against it on October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0); Sarah Stierch (CC0 1.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).