Home › Pennsylvania › Seasons › WMUs › WMU 3A

Wildlife Management Unit

WMU 3A Hunting Guide

WMU 3A covers 1,508 square miles across parts of 4 counties, with 87 square miles of State Game Lands.

1,508Area, sq mi
87SGL sq mi
21,000Antlerless licenses
Not foundCWD

Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)

WMU 3A at a glance

The Game Commission draws WMU 3A on roads and rivers, not county lines, so it takes in parts of Tioga, Potter, McKean and Bradford. The PGC map credits 3A with 87 square miles of State Game Lands and 81 square miles of other public land. A legal buck in 3A has at least three points on one side.

1,508Square miles
87SGL area
81Other public
11%Public
4County count
18Public tracts

3A boundary roads

From the New York/PA state line, PA Route 14 south to US Route 6 near Troy; US Route 6 west to US Route 219 at Lantz Corners; US Route 219 north to New York/PA state line.

Official unit map

PGC WMU boundary maps. Checked October 12, 2026.

2026-27 calendar for WMU 3A

Filter the 55 rows below by species. Every Sunday inside a non-migratory season is open this year.

GameSeasonBeginsEndsDaysSundaysToday
White-tailed deerAg Tag, antlerlessAug 1, 2026Apr 15, 202725837
White-tailed deerArcheryOct 3, 2026Nov 20, 2026497
White-tailed deerOctober muzzleloader antlerlessOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 202692
White-tailed deerSpecial firearms antlerlessOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 202641
White-tailed deerRegular firearmsNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026163
White-tailed deerArcheryDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 2027305
White-tailed deerExtended firearms antlerlessDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 2027305
White-tailed deerFlintlockDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 2027305
Black bearArcheryOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 202692
Black bearMuzzleloaderOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 202641
Black bearSpecial firearmsOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 202641
Black bearRegular firearmsNov 21, 2026Nov 24, 202641
Black bearExtended firearmsNov 28, 2026Dec 6, 202692
Wild turkeyFall seasonOct 31, 2026Nov 15, 2026163
Wild turkeySpring gobbler youth huntApr 24, 2027Apr 25, 202721
Wild turkeySpring gobbler, morningsMay 1, 2027May 15, 2027152
Wild turkeySpring gobbler, all dayMay 16, 2027May 31, 2027163
Ruffed grouseRegular seasonOct 17, 2026Dec 24, 20266910
PheasantJunior huntOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 202692
PheasantRegular seasonOct 24, 2026Dec 24, 2026629
PheasantRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 20276510
Bobwhite quailRegular seasonSep 1, 2026Dec 24, 202611516
Bobwhite quailRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Mar 31, 20279614
CottontailJunior huntOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 2026163
CottontailRegular seasonOct 17, 2026Dec 24, 20266910
CottontailRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 20276510
Snowshoe hareRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Dec 31, 202661
SquirrelsJunior huntSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 2026163
SquirrelsRegular seasonSep 12, 2026Dec 24, 202610415
SquirrelsRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 20276510
WoodchuckRegular seasonJul 1, 2026Dec 24, 202617725
WoodchuckRegular seasonDec 26, 2026Jun 30, 202718727
CrowRegular, Thu to SunAug 20, 2026Mar 21, 202721431
CoyoteHuntingJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202736552
FoxHuntingOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202712118
RaccoonHuntingOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202712118
PorcupineHuntingOct 10, 2026Nov 27, 2026497
PorcupineHuntingDec 14, 2026Dec 24, 2026111
PorcupineHuntingDec 26, 2026Jan 31, 2027376
Mourning doveRegular seasonSep 1, 2026Nov 27, 20268812
Mourning doveRegular seasonDec 18, 2026Jan 2, 2027162
WoodcockRegular seasonOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 2026538
BobcatTrappingDec 19, 2026Jan 10, 2027234
BobcatHuntingJan 9, 2027Feb 3, 2027264
Opossum, skunkHuntingJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202736552
Starling, sparrowNo closed seasonJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202736552
GallinulesRegular seasonSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 20268111
RailsRegular seasonSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 20268111
SnipeRegular seasonOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 2026538
FurbearersTrappingOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202712118
Mink and muskratTrappingNov 21, 2026Jan 10, 2027518
BeaverTrappingDec 19, 2026Mar 31, 202710315
FisherTrappingDec 19, 2026Jan 10, 2027234
Coyote, foxCable restraintsDec 26, 2026Feb 21, 2027589
River otterTrappingFeb 13, 2027Feb 21, 202792

Missing ducks or doves? Their zones are not WMUs.

seasons and bag limits, 2026-27 digest. Checked October 12, 2026.

Deer numbers for unit 3A

WMU 3A gets 21,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0 on last year). The 2025-26 sell-out date was 7/28. In 2025-26 the unit produced an estimated 14,500 deer, 9,700 of them in firearms seasons. Archery runs Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027.

3 pointsAntler rule
21,000Antlerless licenses
+/- 0Change
7/28Sold out 2025
8.56Per sq mi, 2024
14,500Deer, 2025-26
WMU 3A deer harvest by license year05,00010,00015,00020,0002009: 9,3009,30020092010: 9,8009,80020102011: 9,8009,80020112012: 11,00011,00020122013: 9,6009,60020132014: 7,6007,60020142015: 8,3008,30020152016: 9,2009,20020162017: 10,40010,40020172018: 12,20012,20020182019: 11,40011,40020192020: 13,70013,70020202021: 10,80010,80020212022: 11,30011,30020222023: 11,20011,20020232024: 12,90012,90020242025: 14,50014,5002025
SeasonAntleredAntlerlessTotal
Archery2,9801,1604,140
Firearms4,6005,1009,700
Muzzleloader20640660

allocations, 2025-26 deer report, PGC harvest dashboard. Checked October 12, 2026.

WMU 3A State Game Lands and forests

Public ground in 3A: 18 tracts on our list, from Allegheny National Forest down. Look for orange pins: 2 tracts list elk.

TractTypeCountiesAcresGame named
Allegheny National ForestNational ForestWarren, Elk, Forest512,932deer, bear, turkey +4
Susquehannock State ForestState ForestPotter, Clinton, McKean265,000deer, bear, turkey +2
Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger DistrictNational Forest Ranger DistrictWarren, McKean, Forest262,965deer, bear, turkey +3
Tioga State ForestState ForestTioga, Lycoming, Bradford161,890deer, bear, turkey +2
State Game Lands 37State Game LandsTioga13,136deer, bear, turkey +4
State Game Lands 62State Game LandsMcKean9,258deer, turkey, grouse
State Game Lands 208State Game LandsTioga8,833deer, bear, turkey +5
State Game Lands 64State Game LandsPotter8,100deer, bear, turkey +5
State Game Lands 59State Game LandsPotter, McKean7,023deer, turkey, elk +2
Tioga-Hammond LakesCorps of Engineers LakeTioga6,488pheasant
State Game Lands 204State Game LandsPotter4,030–
State Game Lands 301State Game LandsMcKean2,332deer, squirrel, waterfowl
State Game Lands 123State Game LandsBradford1,604pheasant
State Game Lands 313State Game LandsTioga485–
Kinzua Bridge State ParkState ParkMcKean275deer, bear, turkey +3
Oswayo Fish HatcheryPheasant Release AreaPotter166pheasant
Cowanesque LakeCorps of Engineers LakeTioga––
Oswayo State Fish HatcheryPheasant Release AreaPotter–pheasant

PGC State Game Lands GIS and DCNR and federal land data, overlaid on the PGC WMU layer; a tract counts when at least 1% of it, or 100 acres, falls in the unit. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

WMU 3A: bears, turkeys, trapping

Bear hunters took 206 bears in 3A in 2025, 1.4 per 10 square miles. The bear archery season in 3A is Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. Bear hunting continues into deer season here, Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. Fall turkey in 3A: Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026. Hunters took 1,322 spring gobblers in 3A in 2024. Open permit species: bobcat, fisher and river otter. Beaver trappers here are held to 20 daily / 20 season.

WMU 3A bear harvest01002003004002018: 22222220182019: 26826820192020: 19919920202021: 23823820212022: 17417420222023: 20320320232024: 20320320242025: 2062062025
WMU 3A spring gobbler harvest05001,0001,5002,0002015: 1,2791,27920152016: 97097020162017: 1,2121,21220172018: 1,2791,27920182019: 1,2681,26820192020: 88788720202021: 67167120212022: 92092020222023: 1,1301,13020232024: 1,3221,3222024
WMU 3A fall turkey harvest05001,0001,5002,0002009: 1,0481,04820092010: 88888820102011: 54954920112012: 69069020122013: 80480420132014: 72472420142015: 57957920152016: 41141120162017: 35535520172018: 55255220182019: 41441420192020: 36736720202021: 17117120212022: 30030020222023: 2002002023

bear report, bear 2024, spring turkey, PGC harvest dashboard, furbearer WMUs. Checked October 12, 2026.

Counties and CWD status in 3A

Counties partly in 3A also fall in a neighbouring unit.

The PGC does not list 3A as a CWD unit. Look for CWD head bins in McKean. More on CWD

County shares from the PGC WMU layer intersected with Census county outlines (counties.json); CWD lists from the digest and feeding order. Checked October 12, 2026.

Dissected plateau in autumn from Cherry Springs Vista, Susquehannock State Forest, Potter County
Dissected plateau in autumn from Cherry Springs Vista, Susquehannock State Forest, Potter CountyPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Hammersley Wild Area hollows from Hammersley Vista on McConnell Road, Susquehannock State Forest
Hammersley Wild Area hollows from Hammersley Vista on McConnell Road, Susquehannock State ForestPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Tionesta Creek flowing between autumn-colored banks in Allegheny National Forest
Tionesta Creek flowing between autumn-colored banks in Allegheny National ForestPhoto: Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)

3A: what hunters ask

When is archery in WMU 3A?

Archery runs Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. Every Sunday in the segment is a legal day.

Is there a fall turkey season in 3A?

Fall turkey in 3A: Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026.

What bear seasons apply in 3A?

The bear archery season in 3A is Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. Bear hunting continues into deer season here, Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. Bear hunters took 206 bears in 3A in 2025, 1.4 per 10 square miles.

Which State Game Lands are in 3A?

The PGC map credits 3A with 87 square miles of State Game Lands and 81 square miles of other public land. Allegheny National Forest, Susquehannock State Forest and Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District are the largest.

What was the 2025-26 deer harvest in 3A?

In 2025-26 the unit produced an estimated 14,500 deer, 9,700 of them in firearms seasons. Statewide that was 19th of 22.

Which furbearer permits work in 3A?

Open permit species: bobcat, fisher and river otter. Beaver trappers here are held to 20 daily / 20 season.

Which counties are in WMU 3A?

It covers 1,508 square miles; the counties with the largest share in it are Tioga, Potter, McKean and Bradford.

Did the 3A antlerless allocation change?

WMU 3A gets 21,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0 on last year). The 2025-26 sell-out date was 7/28. A resident license is $6.97; nonresidents pay $26.97.

Do antler restrictions apply in 3A?

The rule is 3 points on one side. Juniors and mentored youth are exempt and may take a two-pointer or a 3 inch spike.

Are there CWD rules in 3A?

The PGC does not list 3A as a CWD unit. Look for CWD head bins in McKean. Anywhere in the state, head and spine parts go in the trash once moved.

Leaving WMU 3A

Adjacent WMUs

WMU 2G · WMU 3B · WMU 2F · WMU 3C

Who to call nearby

Susquehannock District Office (Susquehannock State Forest)

Coudersport, Potter County · about 4 mi away

Elk District Office (Elk State Forest)

Emporium, Cameron County · about 28 mi away