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Southcentral region unit

WMU 4B Hunting Guide

Everything that changes when you cross into WMU 4B: dates, antler rule, antlerless licenses, CWD status and public ground.

Seasons herePublic groundDeer data
1,583Square miles
66SGL sq mi
71,000Antlerless licenses
PresentCWD

Photo: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to know WMU 4B

Hunters in Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin and Cumberland and other counties may be in WMU 4B, depending on which side of the boundary roads they are. About 15% of WMU 4B is public: 66 square miles of game lands and 174 of other public land. Antler restriction: 3 points on one side.

1,583Size (sq mi)
66SGL (sq mi)
174Non-SGL public
15%Public share
8Counties overlapped
20Tracts on our list

The boundary, route by route

From Mount Union, US Route 22/522 east to Lewistown; from Lewistown, US Route 22/322 east to PA Route 35 near Mifflintown; PA Route 35 east to PA Route 104 at Mount Pleasant Mills; PA Route 104 south to intersection with US Route 11/15; from this intersection, directly east to Susquehanna River; Susquehanna River south to I-81 near Harrisburg; I-81 south to I-76 near Carlisle; I-76 west to PA Route 997 near Newburg; PA Route 997 south to US Route 11 at Green Village; US Route 11 south to US Route 30 at Chambersburg; US Route 30 west to US Route 522 near McConnellsburg; US Route 522 north to US Route 22.

PGC map of WMU 4B

PGC WMU boundary maps. Checked October 12, 2026.

Every season that applies in 4B

53 hunting and trapping segments apply in WMU 4B this license year.

SpeciesSegmentOpeningClosingDaysSundaysRight now
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
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

This table leaves out elk and migratory birds, which have their own zones.

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

Antlerless licenses and deer harvest, 4B

The Board set 71,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 4B (+11,000). In 2025-26 the unit sold out on 11/8. Deer harvest, 2025-26: 21,100 in WMU 4B. For archers: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027.

3 pointsAntler rule
71,000Antlerless licenses
+11,000Change
11/8Sold out 2025
11.88Deer/sq mi 2024
21,100Deer, 2025-26
WMU 4B deer harvest by license year07,50015,00022,50030,0002009: 8,1008,10020092010: 9,6009,60020102011: 10,80010,80020112012: 11,20011,20020122013: 11,10011,10020132014: 10,20010,20020142015: 12,70012,70020152016: 11,40011,40020162017: 12,70012,70020172018: 12,10012,10020182019: 13,00013,00020192020: 15,80015,80020202021: 11,90011,90020212022: 13,20013,20020222023: 14,50014,50020232024: 18,80018,80020242025: 21,10021,1002025
SegmentBucksAntlerlessAll deer
Archery3,2503,9507,200
Firearms3,4009,40012,800
Muzzleloader501,0501,100

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

Where to hunt public ground in 4B

The map pins every tract that overlaps 4B; 15 are game lands.

NameTypeCountyAcresListed game
Tuscarora State ForestState ForestPerry, Juniata, Mifflin96,025deer, turkey, grouse +1
Buchanan State ForestState ForestBedford, Fulton, Franklin71,683deer, bear, turkey
State Game Lands 170State Game LandsPerry, Cumberland9,463deer, grouse, squirrel +1
State Game Lands 88State Game LandsPerry, Juniata7,005deer, turkey, grouse +1
State Game Lands 235State Game LandsFranklin6,271deer, turkey, grouse +2
State Game Lands 76State Game LandsFranklin4,297deer, turkey, grouse +1
State Game Lands 251State Game LandsHuntingdon4,229pheasant
State Game Lands 169State Game LandsCumberland2,513pheasant, dove
State Game Lands 281State Game LandsPerry1,648deer, turkey, grouse +2
State Game Lands 230State Game LandsCumberland, Perry1,290pheasant, dove
State Game Lands 215State Game LandsJuniata1,276pheasant
State Game Lands 256State Game LandsPerry1,258deer, turkey, grouse +1
State Game Lands 254State Game LandsPerry, Dauphin1,163deer, grouse, squirrel +1
State Game Lands 171State Game LandsJuniata, Perry1,068deer, grouse, squirrel
State Game Lands 290State Game LandsDauphin, Perry1,042rabbit, pheasant, dove
State Game Lands 258State Game LandsPerry, Dauphin, Northumberland852deer, grouse, rabbit +2
State Game Lands 194State Game LandsSnyder717pheasant
Cowans Gap State ParkState ParkFulton, Franklin630deer, bear, turkey +3
Little Buffalo State ParkState ParkPerry300deer, bear, turkey +4
Colonel Denning State ParkState ParkCumberland35deer, 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.

Bear, turkey and furbearers in 4B

Unit 4B produced 66 bears in 2025, with archers taking 8. Bowhunters may take a bear Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. No extended bear days here. For fall turkey, Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026. Gobblers taken in spring 2024: 1,268. Bobcat and fisher are open here by permit. Beaver limit: 5 daily / 5 season.

WMU 4B bear harvest0751502253002018: 11411420182019: 19219220192020: 11211220202021: 12112120212022: 767620222023: 474720232024: 505020242025: 66662025
WMU 4B spring gobbler harvest05001,0001,5002,0002015: 1,2171,21720152016: 1,1911,19120162017: 1,3691,36920172018: 1,2791,27920182019: 1,1761,17620192020: 1,0841,08420202021: 86486420212022: 1,2651,26520222023: 1,6201,62020232024: 1,2681,2682024
WMU 4B fall turkey harvest02254506759002009: 60460420092010: 62962920102011: 68068020112012: 55355320122013: 71071020132014: 68868820142015: 75775720152016: 44744720162017: 31731720172018: 27127120182019: 25825820192020: 29829820202021: 31031020212022: 31831820222023: 1851852023

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

Counties that overlap 4B

Read the percentage as how much of that county sits in 4B.

Chronic wasting disease is present in 4B. Feeding bans cover Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Fulton and Snyder, in whole or by township. PGC head bins are in Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Fulton and Snyder this year. CWD guide

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.

Orange, red and yellow autumn treetops on Big Mountain in Buchanan State Forest
Orange, red and yellow autumn treetops on Big Mountain in Buchanan State ForestPhoto: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)
Long view over ridge-and-valley country from a rocky overlook in south-central Pennsylvania
Long view over ridge-and-valley country from a rocky overlook in south-central PennsylvaniaPhoto: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0)
White-tailed doe standing in light snow
White-tailed doe standing in light snowPhoto: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain)

Common questions about 4B

What area does WMU 4B cover?

1,583 square miles taking in parts of Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin, Cumberland and Huntingdon.

Can I trap bobcats or otters in 4B?

Bobcat and fisher are open here by permit. Beaver limit: 5 daily / 5 season.

What makes a legal buck in 4B?

In 4B: 3 points on one side. Junior, mentored youth, disabled-permit and resident active-duty hunters may take a buck with two points on one side or a 3 inch spike.

How many doe tags are there in 4B?

The Board set 71,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 4B (+11,000). In 2025-26 the unit sold out on 11/8. Each license costs $6.97 (resident) and works only in the unit picked.

When can I bowhunt deer in 4B?

For archers: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. Crossbows are legal in archery season.

Is WMU 4B a CWD unit?

Chronic wasting disease is present in 4B. Feeding bans cover Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Fulton and Snyder, in whole or by township. PGC head bins are in Perry, Juniata, Franklin, Mifflin, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Fulton and Snyder this year. The statewide high-risk parts rule applies everywhere.

Is there extended bear hunting in 4B?

Bowhunters may take a bear Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. No extended bear days here. Unit 4B produced 66 bears in 2025, with archers taking 8.

How long is fall turkey in 4B?

For fall turkey, Oct 31 to Nov 15, 2026.

How many deer were taken in 4B last season?

Deer harvest, 2025-26: 21,100 in WMU 4B. 15th highest of 22.

Where can I hunt public land in 4B?

About 15% of WMU 4B is public: 66 square miles of game lands and 174 of other public land. Start with Tuscarora State Forest, Buchanan State Forest and State Game Lands 170.

Neighbours of 4B

Nearby units

WMU 4D · WMU 4A · WMU 4E · WMU 5A · WMU 5B

Agency offices close by

Michaux District Office (Michaux State Forest)

Fayetteville, Franklin County · about 29 mi away

(717) 352-2211Map itSite
Pennsylvania Game Commission Headquarters

Harrisburg, Dauphin County · about 29 mi away

(833) 742-4868Map itSite
WMU guideSeason calendarDeer page