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License year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Pennsylvania Hunting License Guide
All 62 licenses, permits and stamps the Game Commission lists for 2026-27, with resident and nonresident prices side by side, plus Hunter-Trapper Education, mentored hunting, antlerless license rounds and buying deadlines.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Every license, permit and stamp, resident and nonresident
62 items in 10 groups. The resident adult license includes the antlered deer tag, a fall turkey tag and a spring turkey tag. Archery and muzzleloader privileges are add-ons unless a combination license includes them, and bear always needs its own license.
Hunting and furtaker licenses
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Hunting License | PA residents 17-64 | $20.97 | $101.97 | Includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey tags plus small game. |
| Junior Hunting License | PA residents 12-16 (11 if turning 12 by June 30 and HTE complete) | $6.97 | $41.97 | Parent/guardian signature; no archery/muzzleloader/furtaker add-ons. |
| Junior Combination License | PA residents 12-16 | $9.97 | $51.97 | Hunting, furtaker, archery and muzzleloader privileges. |
| Junior Furtaker License | PA residents 12-16 | $6.97 | $41.97 | |
| Adult Furtaker License | PA residents 17+ | $20.97 | $81.97 | |
| Landowner Hunting License | Residents 12+ owning 80+ contiguous acres enrolled in a PGC public access program | $4.97 | – | |
| 7-Day Small Game License | Nonresidents 12+ | – | $31.97 | Consecutive 7 days; includes waterfowl and pheasants; not valid for coyotes or big game incl. turkey. |
Senior and lifetime licenses
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Hunting License | PA residents 65+ (64 if turning 65 by June 30) | $13.97 | – | |
| Senior Furtaker License | PA residents 65+ | $13.97 | – | |
| Senior Lifetime Hunting License | PA residents 65+ | $51.97 | – | Renewed each license year at no charge. |
| Senior Lifetime Furtaker License | PA residents 65+ | $51.97 | – | Renewed each license year at no charge. |
| Senior Lifetime Combination License | PA residents 65+ | $101.97 | – | Hunting, furtaker, archery, muzzleloader; renewed free annually. |
| Senior Lifetime Combination Upgrade | Current senior lifetime hunting or furtaker holders | $51.97 | – | |
| Senior Lifetime renewals (hunting, furtaker, combination) | Senior lifetime holders | $0 | – |
Military, veteran and instructor licenses
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Personnel / National Guard / Reserves / POW Hunting License | Qualifying residents | $2.97 | – | |
| Hunting Heritage License | Active PA Hunter-Trapper Education instructors 17+ | $2.97 | – | |
| Disabled Veteran Annual Hunting License | 100% service-incurred disability or loss/loss of use of limbs | Free | – | County treasurers and PGC offices. |
| Disabled Veteran Annual Furtaker License | Same as above | Free | – | |
| Reduced Disabled Veteran Hunting License | 60-99% service-incurred disability rating | $2.97 | – | |
| Reduced Disabled Veteran Furtaker License | 60-99% service-incurred disability rating | $2.97 | – | |
| Disabled Veteran Lifetime Hunting License | Qualified disabled veterans, permanent condition | Free | – | County treasurers only. |
| Disabled Veteran Lifetime Furtaker License | Qualified disabled veterans, permanent condition | Free | – | County treasurers only. |
Mentored permits
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mentored Youth Permit | Under 12 | $2.97 | $2.97 | Includes antlered deer, fall and spring turkey tags. |
| Mentored Junior Hunting Permit | 12-16 | $6.97 | $41.97 | Max 3 years. |
| Mentored Adult Permit | 17+, never licensed | $20.97 | $101.97 | Max 3 years. |
Archery, muzzleloader and bear add-ons
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery License | Add-on | $16.97 | $26.97 | Not needed in firearms deer seasons. |
| Muzzleloader License | Add-on | $11.97 | $21.97 | Required for October muzzleloader and flintlock seasons. |
| Bear License | Ages 7+ (digest) | $16.97 | $36.97 | Covers bear archery and muzzleloader seasons without archery/muzzleloader licenses; on sale through Dec. 13. |
Deer: antlerless, DMAP and Ag Tag
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antlerless Deer License | WMU-specific | $6.97 | $26.97 | |
| Landowner Antlerless Deer License | Owner of 50+ contiguous acres open to public hunting, county treasurer only | $6.97 | $26.97 | |
| Disabled Veteran Antlerless License | 60-100% service-incurred disability or limb loss | $6.97 | – | One guaranteed per year. |
| Armed Forces Antlerless License | Active duty or within 60 days of honorable discharge | $6.97 | – | One guaranteed. |
| DMAP Harvest Permit | Hunting license holders | $10.97 | $35.97 | Sales begin Aug. 10. |
| Agriculture Deer Permit (Ag Tag) | Hunting license or mentored permit + landowner coupon | $1.97 | not split by residency |
Elk
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk License Application | Must hold a PA hunting license; 12+ | $11.97 | not split by residency | Single application, up to five season/zone/sex options; deadline 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25, 2026. |
| Elk License (if drawn) | Drawn applicants | $25 | $250 | Nonresidents capped at 10% of licenses. |
Furbearer permits
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat Permit | Furtaker or combination license holders | $6.97 | not split by residency | Buy before Dec. 19. |
| Fisher Permit | Furtaker or combination license holders | $6.97 | not split by residency | Buy before Dec. 19. |
| River Otter Permit | Furtaker or combination license holders | $6.97 | not split by residency | Buy before Feb. 13. |
Pheasant, migratory bird and waterfowl
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Pheasant Permit | Adult and most senior hunters | $26.97 | not split by residency | Senior lifetime holders licensed before May 13, 2017 exempt. |
| Junior Pheasant Permit | Junior hunters and mentored hunters under 17 | Free | not split by residency | |
| Migratory Game Bird License | Required for all migratory birds | $3.97 | $6.97 | |
| Federal Duck Stamp (E-Stamp) via HuntFishPA | Waterfowl hunters 16+ | $30.97 | not split by residency | Price as sold by PGC (includes fees); E-Stamp valid all season, physical stamp mailed in March. Digest p.11 prints $28.97. |
| Snow Goose Permit | Conservation season participants (if held) | $1.97 | not split by residency | No conservation season in 2026-27. |
Range permit and replacements
| License or permit | Who can buy | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting Range Permit | Non-license holders using SGL ranges | $31.97 | not split by residency | Valid 365 days from purchase. |
| Replacement license or permit | Lost/destroyed | $6.97 per privilege | not split by residency |
Each name links to the page its price came from. The duck stamp is the price PGC charges through HuntFishPA, which includes fees. Sources: digest license fee table, p. 59; PGC license types; elk application, last checked October 12, 2026.
Antlerless deer licenses: rounds and allocations
The Board allocated 1,469,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27. Each is tied to one WMU, and the personal limit rose with each round.
Sales rounds, 2026
| Round | Date | Who could buy | Personal limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 22, 2026 | PA residents only, 8 a.m.; one license guaranteed in any WMU until 7 a.m. July 13 | 1 |
| 1 (continued) | Jul 13, 2026 | All license buyers incl. nonresidents, 8 a.m.; first come first served | 1 |
| 2 | Jul 27, 2026 | All license buyers | 2 |
| 3 | Aug 10, 2026 | All license buyers; DMAP sales begin | 3 |
| 4 | Aug 24, 2026 | All license buyers | 6 unfilled (15 in WMUs 5C and 5D) |
Resident $6.97, nonresident $26.97; valid only in the WMU selected. On Sept. 25, 2026 the Board removed the fixed sales schedule from regulation for future years (30 days notice required).
Licenses by WMU
| Unit | Licenses | Change from 2025-26 | 2025-26 sellout |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 1A | 52,000 | +6,000 | 8/11 |
| WMU 1B | 44,000 | +/- 0 | 7/28 |
| WMU 2A | 49,000 | +5,000 | 8/30 |
| WMU 2B | 62,000 | +3,000 | 11/8 |
| WMU 2C | 117,000 | +24,000 | 10/18 |
| WMU 2D | 112,000 | +16,000 | 8/29 |
| WMU 2E | 63,000 | +12,000 | 9/8 |
| WMU 2F | 67,000 | +16,000 | 7/31 |
| WMU 2G | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 |
| WMU 3A | 21,000 | +/- 0 | 7/28 |
| WMU 3B | 53,000 | +/- 0 | 8/26 |
| WMU 3C | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/28 |
| WMU 3D | 52,000 | +/- 0 | 9/2 |
| WMU 4A | 64,000 | +/- 0 | N/A |
| WMU 4B | 71,000 | +11,000 | 11/8 |
| WMU 4C | 51,000 | +/- 0 | 8/13 |
| WMU 4D | 120,000 | +37,000 | 9/30 |
| WMU 4E | 61,000 | +/- 0 | 9/6 |
| WMU 5A | 65,000 | +19,000 | 11/20 |
| WMU 5B | 86,000 | +/- 0 | 9/1 |
| WMU 5C | 101,000 | +3,000 | 10/8 |
| WMU 5D | 44,000 | +5,000 | 10/18 |
Sources: antlerless sales; PGC antlerless page; allocations, last checked October 12, 2026.
Buying windows and deadlines
A few permits stop selling partway through the season, and several tags must be reported by a fixed date.
Elk application
Due 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25 at the Elk Country Visitor Center.
DMAP permits
Sales began Aug. 10, 2026; landowner applications were due July 1.
Bear license
Covers bear archery and muzzleloader seasons without archery/muzzleloader licenses; on sale through Dec. 13.
Bobcat and fisher permits
Buy before Dec. 19.
River otter permit
Buy before Feb. 13.
Ag Tag permits
Season Aug. 1 to April 15; unused tags reported by April 30.
Harvest reports
Report deer harvests within 10 days (5 days if a homemade tag is required) online at HuntFish.PA.gov, by phone 1-800-838-4431, or by mail report card.
Shooting range permit
Valid 365 days from purchase.
Where to buy, residency and ID
County treasurers
The Resident Landowner Antlerless Deer License is sold only by county treasurers, and the Disabled Veteran Lifetime licenses only there too. County treasurers and PGC offices issue the Disabled Veteran Annual license.
Online purchases
A bear license bought online cannot be used until the physical tag arrives in the mail. The Federal Duck Stamp is sold as an E-Stamp through HuntFishPA, valid all season, with the physical stamp mailed in March.
Residency
Domiciled in PA at least 30 consecutive days before application; proof such as a PA driver's license.
Carry identification
Carry licenses plus identification to show a game warden or landowner on request.
Lost license
A replacement costs $6.97 per privilege.
Harvest reporting
Deer and turkey are reported within 10 days at HuntFish.PA.gov, by phone at 1-800-838-4431 or by mail card.
Game Commission offices
| PGC office | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| PGC Northcentral Region Office | Jersey Shore | (833) 742-4868 |
| PGC Northeast Region Office | Dallas | (833) 742-4868 |
| PGC Northwest Region Office | Franklin | (833) 742-4868 |
| PGC Southcentral Region Office | Huntingdon | (833) 742-4868 |
| PGC Southeast Region Office | Reading | (833) 742-4868 |
| PGC Southwest Region Office | Bolivar | (833) 742-4868 |
| Pennsylvania Game Commission Headquarters | Harrisburg | (833) 742-4868 |
Sources: license fee table; tagging and reporting; license rules; PGC offices, last checked October 12, 2026.
Hunter-Trapper Education
The in-person course is free and open from age 11. A pass mark of 80 percent is required in every format.
| Topic | PGC rule |
|---|---|
| Who needs it | Anyone who has never held a hunting license in PA or another state/nation must complete an accredited Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) course before buying a hunting license. Exempt: U.S. Armed Forces members currently serving or honorably discharged within six months of application. |
| Course options and ages | In-person Basic HTE course free for ages 11+; interactive online course $49.95 (PA residents 11+); standard online course $34.95 (PA residents 16+); NRA online course free (PA residents 11+). Pass mark 80%. |
| Junior license age | 12 (11-year-olds who completed HTE may buy if they turn 12 by June 30, but may not hunt until 12). |
| Accompaniment rules | Ages 12-13 must be accompanied by an adult family member 18+ (or adult in place of a parent); 14-15 by any adult 18+; 16 may hunt alone. Accompanying adult must be within sight and verbal control without electronic aids. |
| Furtaker applicants | Furtaker license applicants must show prior trapping license, a training certificate, a sanctioned trapping course affidavit, or furbearer hunting/trapping within the last five years. Cable restraint certification required for cable restraints ($15 in-person, $34.50 online). |
| Bowhunter education | Not required by PA; Successful Bowhunting course offered (certificate accepted by states that require bowhunter education). |
| Other states | PA accepts hunter education certificates from other states. |
Sources: Hunter-Trapper Education; digest p. 56, last checked October 12, 2026.
Exemptions and tags
License exemptions
Hunting license not required to hunt squirrels or rabbits in the junior hunts for participants who completed Hunter-Trapper Education.
License and fee exemptions under Game and Wildlife Code section 2706 (e.g., certain landowners) are referenced; persons hunting without a license use a homemade tag.
Furtaker license not needed to hunt coyotes and porcupines (hunting license suffices); dog training needs no license.
Tags that come with each license
Includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey tags plus small game.
Includes antlered deer, fall and spring turkey tags.
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.
Sources: license exemptions; tagging, last checked October 12, 2026.
License and fee questions
What do resident and nonresident adults pay for a license?
$20.97 for residents 17 to 64 and $101.97 for nonresidents 17 and older. Seniors 65 and up pay $13.97, or $51.97 for a lifetime license renewed free each year.
Does a nonresident need anything extra to hunt deer?
Nonresidents start with the $101.97 adult license. Archery season adds the $26.97 archery license, flintlock and October muzzleloader seasons the $21.97 muzzleloader license, and each antlerless deer needs a $26.97 WMU license.
Is there a short-term license for visitors?
The Nonresident 7-Day Small Game License, $31.97, covers seven consecutive days including waterfowl and pheasants. It is not valid for coyotes or big game, turkey included.
What does a bear license cost?
$16.97 for residents and $36.97 for nonresidents, ages 7 and older. It covers the bear archery and muzzleloader seasons without the separate archery or muzzleloader license.
Do I need a pheasant permit?
Adults need the $26.97 permit. Junior and mentored hunters under 17 get it free, and senior lifetime holders licensed before May 13, 2017 are exempt.
Which licenses and stamps does a waterfowl hunter need?
A hunting license, the migratory game bird license ($3.97 resident, $6.97 nonresident) and, at 16 or older, a Federal Duck Stamp, sold through HuntFishPA for $30.97.
How many antlerless licenses can one hunter hold?
Up to six unfilled at once in the last round, or 15 in WMUs 5C and 5D. More can be bought as deer are taken and reported while licenses remain in that unit.
When is the elk application due?
The $11.97 application closed at 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026, and the drawing was July 25. A drawn resident pays $25 for the license, a nonresident $250.
Who must take Hunter-Trapper Education?
Anyone who has never held a hunting license, in Pennsylvania or anywhere else. Current Armed Forces members and those honorably discharged within six months are exempt, and mentored hunters need no course.
Can I hunt without a license?
Junior hunters who finished Hunter-Trapper Education may hunt squirrels and rabbits in the junior hunts without one. Certain landowners are exempt under section 2706 of the Game and Wildlife Code and use a homemade tag.
The official word
This is a plain-language summary of the 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Digest. PGC game wardens enforce the Game and Wildlife Code itself.
Other photos on this page: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0); Grand Teton (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain).