Home › Pennsylvania › Seasons › WMUs › WMU 3C

Northeast Pennsylvania

WMU 3C Hunting Guide

Unit 3C is the 8th largest of the 22 WMUs at 2,192 square miles; about 3% of it is public land.

2,192Unit area
71State Game Lands
57,000Antlerless allocation
NoCWD

Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC0 1.0)

The lay of WMU 3C

5 Counties fall partly or wholly inside 3C: Susquehanna, Wayne, Bradford, Lackawanna and Wyoming. For public access the figures are 71 square miles of game lands plus 0 of forests, parks and federal ground. Bucks need three points on one side here.

2,192Sq mi, total
71SGL sq mi
0Other public
3%Percent public
5Counties
19Mapped tracts

WMU 3C boundary

From the New York/PA state line, PA Route 652 west to US Route 6 at Indian Orchard; US Route 6 west to Tunkhannock; the boundary between WMUs 3C and 3B between Tunkhannock and Towanda is the Susquehanna River; US Route 6 west to PA Route 14 near Troy; PA Route 14 north to the New York/PA state line.

Map image for 3C

PGC WMU boundary maps. Checked October 12, 2026.

When each season runs in 3C

Dates for unit 3C: 56 rows, sorted by species.

GameSegmentFirst dayLast dayDaysSundaysStatus
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 3, 2026Nov 20, 2026497
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 turkeyFall seasonNov 25, 2026Nov 27, 202630
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

Waterfowl and dove seasons follow statewide or highway zones and are not listed here.

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

Deer hunting in WMU 3C

57,000 antlerless licenses were set for 3C, +/- 0 against 2025-26. Sales closed out on 8/28 last year. Hunters took about 22,700 deer here in 2025-26: 8,000 antlered and 14,700 antlerless. Archery dates: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027.

3 pointsAntler rule
57,000Antlerless licenses
+/- 0Change
8/28Sold out 2025
10.41Density 2024
22,700Deer, 2025-26
WMU 3C deer harvest by license year07,50015,00022,50030,0002009: 13,30013,30020092010: 14,50014,50020102011: 17,00017,00020112012: 18,40018,40020122013: 19,70019,70020132014: 16,80016,80020142015: 18,10018,10020152016: 19,60019,60020162017: 20,60020,60020172018: 19,90019,90020182019: 22,20022,20020192020: 25,30025,30020202021: 17,00017,00020212022: 20,00020,00020222023: 19,50019,50020232024: 22,80022,80020242025: 22,70022,7002025
SeasonBucksDoes and button bucksTotal
Archery3,1702,9506,120
Firearms4,80010,50015,300
Muzzleloader301,2501,280

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

Mapped public land, WMU 3C

19 tracts, sorted by acres; a tract that crosses a unit line appears in both units.

Public landTypeCountyAcresGame listed
Pinchot State ForestState ForestLackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe54,000deer, bear, turkey +6
State Game Lands 159State Game LandsWayne9,448deer, grouse, squirrel +3
State Game Lands 35State Game LandsSusquehanna7,772deer, turkey, grouse +2
State Game Lands 70State Game LandsWayne, Susquehanna6,335deer, bear, turkey +2
State Game Lands 219State Game LandsBradford5,703pheasant
State Game Lands 299State Game LandsWayne2,646deer, bear, turkey +3
State Game Lands 236State Game LandsSusquehanna2,044pheasant
State Game Lands 289State Game LandsBradford1,642pheasant, dove
State Game Lands 123State Game LandsBradford1,604pheasant
Prompton State ParkState ParkWayne1,400deer, bear, turkey +4
State Game Lands 140State Game LandsSusquehanna1,346deer, turkey, grouse +7
State Game Lands 307State Game LandsLackawanna1,221deer, turkey, grouse +1
Mount Pisgah State ParkState ParkBradford1,100deer, bear, turkey +4
Lackawanna State ParkState ParkLackawanna900deer, bear, turkey +4
State Game Lands 239State Game LandsBradford840pheasant
Salt Springs State ParkState ParkSusquehanna800deer, bear, turkey +3
State Game Lands 175State Game LandsSusquehanna733deer, turkey, grouse +2
Vosburg Neck State ParkState ParkWyoming575deer, bear, turkey +4
Archbald Pothole State ParkState ParkLackawanna100deer, bear, turkey +3

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.

Other big game and fur in 3C

204 bears came from 3C in 2025. Archery for bear runs Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026 in this unit. After the four-day season, bears stay legal Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. Fall birds are open Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026; Nov 25 to Nov 27, 2026. The spring 2024 survey put the 3C gobbler harvest at 2,805. 3C is open for bobcat, fisher and river otter with a permit. 3C beaver limit: 20 daily / 40 season.

WMU 3C bear harvest0751502253002018: 13413420182019: 22422420192020: 17017020202021: 21821820212022: 16516520222023: 22122120232024: 14514520242025: 2042042025
WMU 3C spring gobbler harvest01,0002,0003,0004,0002015: 2,4682,46820152016: 2,3212,32120162017: 2,4122,41220172018: 2,4462,44620182019: 2,4842,48420192020: 2,1602,16020202021: 1,7701,77020212022: 2,3382,33820222023: 2,3452,34520232024: 2,8052,8052024
WMU 3C fall turkey harvest05001,0001,5002,0002009: 1,4191,41920092010: 1,0091,00920102011: 43143120112012: 78278220122013: 80680620132014: 1,0531,05320142015: 99799720152016: 59459420162017: 31931920172018: 53553520182019: 46646620192020: 61561520202021: 26926920212022: 43143120222023: 2862862023

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

Which counties 3C covers

Each county guide shows every unit it touches, with the same shares.

CWD has not been found in this unit. The 2026 head-bin list includes Wayne. CWD in Pennsylvania

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.

Sunbeams breaking through clouds over the plateau from Pine Hill, Pinchot State Forest
Sunbeams breaking through clouds over the plateau from Pine Hill, Pinchot State ForestPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Sunbeams over red autumn scrub from Pine Hill in Pinchot State Forest
Sunbeams over red autumn scrub from Pine Hill in Pinchot State ForestPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Choke Creek Falls in autumn, Pinchot State Forest, Lackawanna County
Choke Creek Falls in autumn, Pinchot State Forest, Lackawanna CountyPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)

WMU 3C FAQ

How many bears come from 3C?

Archery for bear runs Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026 in this unit. After the four-day season, bears stay legal Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. 204 bears came from 3C in 2025.

What is the biggest public tract in 3C?

For public access the figures are 71 square miles of game lands plus 0 of forests, parks and federal ground. By acreage, Pinchot State Forest, State Game Lands 159 and State Game Lands 35 lead.

How does the 3C deer harvest compare?

Hunters took about 22,700 deer here in 2025-26: 8,000 antlered and 14,700 antlerless. Only 11 units gave up more.

What are the trapping rules in 3C?

3C is open for bobcat, fisher and river otter with a permit. 3C beaver limit: 20 daily / 40 season.

Where are the WMU 3C boundaries?

The boundary text above lists the roads; the unit spans 2,192 square miles across Susquehanna, Wayne, Bradford, Lackawanna and Wyoming.

Can I still buy an antlerless license for 3C?

57,000 antlerless licenses were set for 3C, +/- 0 against 2025-26. Sales closed out on 8/28 last year. They are sold by unit at $6.97 for residents.

How many points does a buck need in 3C?

Bucks in 3C need 3 points on one side. The junior and mentored youth exemption allows two points on one side.

Is chronic wasting disease in 3C?

CWD has not been found in this unit. The 2026 head-bin list includes Wayne. The carcass rule is the same statewide.

What are archery dates in 3C?

Archery dates: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. Sundays inside those dates are open.

Can I hunt turkeys in the fall in 3C?

Fall birds are open Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026; Nov 25 to Nov 27, 2026.

Plan the rest of the trip

Neighbouring units

WMU 3B · WMU 3D · WMU 3A

Closest agency offices

Pinchot Forest District Office

North Abington Twp, Lackawanna County · about 17 mi away

PGC Northeast Region Office

Dallas, Luzerne County · about 30 mi away