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PGC unit 5A
WMU 5A Hunting Guide
Seasons, boundary, public land and harvest history for WMU 5A, which touches 4 counties.
Photo: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)
WMU 5A in brief
WMU 5A sits mostly in the Southcentral region and crosses 4 counties. State Game Lands make up 14 of its 1,310 square miles, and other public land adds 134. The antler rule in 5A is three points on one side.
Boundary description
From the Maryland/PA state line, PA Route 75 north to US Route 30 at Fort Loudon; US Route 30 east to US Route 11 at Chambersburg; US Route 11 north to PA Route 997 at Green Village; PA Route 997 north to I-76 near Newburg; I-76 east to I-81 at Carlisle; I-81 east to US Route 15 near Harrisburg; US Route 15 south to PA Route 94 near York Springs; PA Route 94 south to Maryland/PA state line.
PGC WMU boundary maps. Checked October 12, 2026.
WMU 5A season table
54 dated rows reach 5A, from the statewide small game seasons to the unit-specific deer, bear, turkey and furbearer dates.
| Species | Hunt | Starts | Ends | Length | Sundays | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Ag Tag, antlerless | Aug 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | 258 | 37 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 49 | 7 | |
| White-tailed deer | October muzzleloader antlerless | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special firearms antlerless | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular firearms | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended firearms antlerless | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 24 | 4 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended firearms antlerless | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| White-tailed deer | Flintlock | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 30 | 5 | |
| Black bear | Archery | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Black bear | Special firearms | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Black bear | Regular firearms | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Black bear | Extended firearms | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler youth hunt | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | 2 | 1 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler, mornings | May 1, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | 15 | 2 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler, all day | May 16, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | 16 | 3 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Regular season | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 69 | 10 | |
| Pheasant | Junior hunt | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Pheasant | Regular season | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 62 | 9 | |
| Pheasant | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 65 | 10 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular season | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 115 | 16 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 96 | 14 | |
| Cottontail | Junior hunt | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| Cottontail | Regular season | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 69 | 10 | |
| Cottontail | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 65 | 10 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 6 | 1 | |
| Squirrels | Junior hunt | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| Squirrels | Regular season | Sep 12, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 104 | 15 | |
| Squirrels | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 65 | 10 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular season | Jul 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 177 | 25 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular season | Dec 26, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | 187 | 27 | |
| Crow | Regular, Thu to Sun | Aug 20, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | 214 | 31 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | 365 | 52 | |
| Fox | Hunting | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 121 | 18 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 121 | 18 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | 49 | 7 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | 11 | 1 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 37 | 6 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular season | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | 88 | 12 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular season | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | 16 | 2 | |
| Woodcock | Regular season | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | 53 | 8 | |
| Bobcat | Trapping | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 23 | 4 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 3, 2027 | 26 | 4 | |
| Opossum, skunk | Hunting | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | 365 | 52 | |
| Starling, sparrow | No closed season | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | 365 | 52 | |
| Gallinules | Regular season | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 81 | 11 | |
| Rails | Regular season | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 81 | 11 | |
| Snipe | Regular season | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | 53 | 8 | |
| Furbearers | Trapping | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 121 | 18 | |
| Mink and muskrat | Trapping | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 51 | 8 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Dec 19, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 103 | 15 | |
| Coyote, fox | Cable restraints | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 58 | 9 |
seasons and bag limits, 2026-27 digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Deer in WMU 5A
Antlerless licenses for unit 5A: 65,000 (+19,000). Licenses for 5A were gone by 11/20 in 2025-26. The 2025-26 estimate for 5A is 12,100 deer, 4,800 of them antlered. Deer archery in 5A: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. The unit has an extended antlerless season, Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027.
| Segment | Antlered | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2,480 | 2,320 | 4,800 |
| Firearms | 2,300 | 4,500 | 6,800 |
| Muzzleloader | 20 | 480 | 500 |
allocations, 2025-26 deer report, PGC harvest dashboard. Checked October 12, 2026.
5A public hunting ground
7 public tracts on our list overlap WMU 5A, 3 of them State Game Lands; the biggest is Michaux State Forest.
| Tract | Kind | Counties | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michaux State Forest | State Forest | Cumberland, Franklin, Adams | 85,500 | deer, turkey, grouse +1 |
| State Game Lands 169 | State Game Lands | Cumberland | 2,513 | pheasant, dove |
| Kings Gap Environmental Education Center | State Park | Cumberland | 2,500 | deer, bear, turkey +3 |
| State Game Lands 249 | State Game Lands | Adams | 1,960 | pheasant, dove |
| Caledonia State Park | State Park | Franklin, Adams | 740 | deer, bear, turkey +3 |
| State Game Lands 305 | State Game Lands | Cumberland | 730 | – |
| Pine Grove Furnace State Park | State Park | Cumberland | 75 | deer, 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 and turkey harvest, 5A
The 2025 bear count for unit 5A was 9. Bear archery here runs Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. An extended bear firearms season follows the rifle opener, Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. 5A fall turkey: Oct 31 to Nov 3, 2026. Spring 2024 harvest: 822 gobblers. Permit furbearers in 5A: bobcat. Beavers: 5 daily / 5 season.
bear report, bear 2024, spring turkey, PGC harvest dashboard, furbearer WMUs. Checked October 12, 2026.
County guides for unit 5A
Counties sorted by how much of them lies in 5A.
- Adams County90% in unit
- Cumberland County70% in unit
- Franklin County55% in unit
- York County4% in unit
WMU 5A is one of the 11 units where CWD has been detected. Counties here under a feeding ban: Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York. 2026 head bins: Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York. CWD rules and bins
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.



Questions on unit 5A
When does archery deer season open in 5A?
Deer archery in 5A: Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. Archery needs the archery license unless you hold a combination license.
Can I get a deer tested in 5A?
WMU 5A is one of the 11 units where CWD has been detected. Counties here under a feeding ban: Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York. 2026 head bins: Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York. Disposal of high-risk parts follows the statewide rule.
What are the 5A bear dates?
Bear archery here runs Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026. An extended bear firearms season follows the rifle opener, Nov 28 to Dec 6, 2026. The 2025 bear count for unit 5A was 9.
What are fall turkey dates in 5A?
5A fall turkey: Oct 31 to Nov 3, 2026.
How many bucks came out of 5A?
The 2025-26 estimate for 5A is 12,100 deer, 4,800 of them antlered. Rank among units: 21st.
How many game lands are in 5A?
State Game Lands make up 14 of its 1,310 square miles, and other public land adds 134. Top tracts by size: Michaux State Forest, State Game Lands 169 and Kings Gap Environmental Education Center.
What does WMU 5A include?
1,310 square miles in the Southcentral region, overlapping Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York.
Is there a bobcat season in 5A?
Permit furbearers in 5A: bobcat. Beavers: 5 daily / 5 season.
Is WMU 5A a three-up unit?
5A uses 3 points on one side. Juniors, mentored youth and some permit holders may take a smaller buck.
How many antlerless licenses does WMU 5A get?
Antlerless licenses for unit 5A: 65,000 (+19,000). Licenses for 5A were gone by 11/20 in 2025-26. 5A licenses cannot be used in another WMU; residents pay $6.97.