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Southeast region unit

WMU 5C Hunting Guide

Everything that changes when you cross into WMU 5C: dates, antler rule, antlerless licenses, CWD status and public ground.

1,982Square miles
52SGL sq mi
101,000Antlerless licenses
NoCWD

Photo: Gail Frederick (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to know WMU 5C

Hunters in Lehigh, Northampton, Chester, Berks and Montgomery and other counties may be in WMU 5C, depending on which side of the boundary roads they are. About 3% of WMU 5C is public: 52 square miles of game lands and 1 of other public land. Antler restriction: 3 points on one side.

1,982Size (sq mi)
52SGL (sq mi)
1Non-SGL public
3%Public share
7Counties overlapped
26Tracts on our list

The boundary, route by route

From Maryland/PA state line, north along the Octoraro Creek to PA Route 372; PA Route 372 east to PA Route 10; PA 10 to I-76; I-76 west to US Route 222; PA Route 222 north to PA Route 61 west of Reading; PA Route 61 north to I-78 near Hamburg; I-78 east to PA Route 143; PA Route 143 north to PA Route 309; PA Route 309 south to PA Route 873 northwest of Allentown; PA Route 873 north to PA Route 248; PA Route 248 east to PA Route 946; Route 946 east to Route 512; Route 512 to PA Route 611 near Mount Bethel; Route 611 north to Portland Toll Bridge; Portland Toll Bridge east to New Jersey/PA state line; New Jersey/PA state line south to Tohickson Creek; Tohickson Creek west to PA Route 611; Route 611 north to S Park/Ridge Road; S Park/Ridge Road south to I-476; I-476 east to PA Route 113; PA Route 113 south to US Route 30; US Route 30 west to PA Route 82; PA Route 82 east to the Delaware/PA line near Yorklyn.

PGC map of WMU 5C

PGC WMU boundary maps. Checked October 12, 2026.

Every season that applies in 5C

50 hunting and trapping segments apply in WMU 5C this license year.

SpeciesSegmentOpeningClosingDaysSundaysRight now
White-tailed deerAg Tag, antlerlessAug 1, 2026Apr 15, 202725837
White-tailed deerArcherySep 19, 2026Nov 27, 20267010
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 bearArcherySep 19, 2026Nov 27, 20267010
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 13, 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
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
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, 5C

The Board set 101,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 5C (+3,000). In 2025-26 the unit sold out on 10/8. Deer harvest, 2025-26: 26,100 in WMU 5C. For archers: Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. 5C is one of the units with extended antlerless days: Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027.

3 pointsAntler rule
101,000Antlerless licenses
+3,000Change
10/8Sold out 2025
12.46Deer/sq mi 2024
26,100Deer, 2025-26
WMU 5C deer harvest by license year010,00020,00030,00040,0002009: 30,80030,80020092010: 33,40033,40020102011: 33,20033,20020112012: 31,40031,40020122013: 29,80029,80020132014: 30,20030,20020142015: 21,00021,00020152016: 23,90023,90020162017: 24,40024,40020172018: 24,00024,00020182019: 22,00022,00020192020: 23,60023,60020202021: 21,30021,30020212022: 23,90023,90020222023: 22,20022,20020232024: 24,70024,70020242025: 26,10026,1002025
SegmentBucksAntlerlessAll deer
Archery5,8508,69014,540
Firearms2,2008,70010,900
Muzzleloader50610660

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

Where to hunt public ground in 5C

The map pins every tract that overlaps 5C; 11 are game lands.

NameTypeCountyAcresListed game
French Creek State ParkState ParkBerks, Chester6,000deer, bear, turkey +4
Nockamixon State ParkState ParkBucks3,500deer, bear, turkey +4
Ontelaunee-Reading Watershed (CWMA 422)Cooperative Wildlife Management AreaBerks3,299–
State Game Lands 43State Game LandsChester, Berks2,571deer, grouse, squirrel +3
State Game Lands 52State Game LandsBerks, Lancaster2,432deer, turkey, squirrel +2
State Game Lands 157State Game LandsBucks2,102deer, turkey, squirrel +2
Big Elk Creek State ParkState ParkChester1,800deer
White Clay Creek PreserveState ParkChester1,800deer
State Game Lands 56State Game LandsBucks1,791deer, turkey, squirrel +1
Northampton County Lands (CWMA 444)Cooperative Wildlife Management AreaNorthampton1,733–
William Penn State ForestState ForestBerks, Chester, Delaware1,683deer, grouse, squirrel +2
Lehigh County Lands (CWMA 433)Cooperative Wildlife Management AreaLehigh1,370–
State Game Lands 205State Game LandsLehigh1,315pheasant, dove
Marsh Creek State ParkState ParkChester1,000deer, bear, turkey +3
Jacobsburg Environmental Education CenterState ParkNorthampton937deer, bear, turkey +3
Fish and Boat Commission Lands (CWMA 403)Cooperative Wildlife Management AreaNorthampton, Lehigh, Bucks600–
State Game Lands 234State Game LandsMontgomery490pheasant, dove
State Game Lands 196State Game LandsBucks424–
State Game Lands 315State Game LandsBerks342deer
State Game Lands 139State Game LandsBucks289deer, turkey, squirrel +2
State Game Lands 182State Game LandsBerks273–
Delaware Canal State ParkState ParkBucks, Northampton172deer
Dry DamPheasant Release AreaChester19pheasant
State Game Lands 324State Game LandsBerks6furbearers
Chester Water AuthorityPheasant Release AreaChester–pheasant
Struble LakePheasant Release AreaChester–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.

Bear, turkey and furbearers in 5C

Unit 5C produced 19 bears in 2025, with archers taking 4. Bowhunters may take a bear Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026. 5C has extended bear days, Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. WMU 5C is closed to fall turkey this year. Gobblers taken in spring 2024: 481. 5C is closed to bobcat, fisher and otter. Beaver limit: 20 daily / 20 season.

WMU 5C bear harvest071522302018: 101020182019: 141420192020: 222220202021: 101020212022: 8820222023: 151520232024: 171720242025: 19192025
WMU 5C spring gobbler harvest05001,0001,5002,0002015: 1,1581,15820152016: 1,0541,05420162017: 83283220172018: 79579520182019: 73573520192020: 58058020202021: 41741720212022: 55655620222023: 59859820232024: 4814812024
WMU 5C fall turkey harvest0501001502002009: 15115120092010: 0020102011: 0020112012: 0020122013: 0020132014: 0020142015: 0020152016: 0020162017: 0020172018: 0020182019: 0020192020: 0020202021: 0020212022: 0020222023: 002023

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

Counties that overlap 5C

Read the percentage as how much of that county sits in 5C.

No wild CWD detection is listed for 5C. PGC head bins are in Lancaster 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.

Shade tree on the grassy shore of Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Shade tree on the grassy shore of Lake Nockamixon, Bucks CountyPhoto: Gail Frederick (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 deer buck in the trees
White-tailed deer buck in the treesPhoto: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0)

Common questions about 5C

Is there extended bear hunting in 5C?

Bowhunters may take a bear Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026. 5C has extended bear days, Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. Unit 5C produced 19 bears in 2025, with archers taking 4.

How long is fall turkey in 5C?

WMU 5C is closed to fall turkey this year.

How many deer were taken in 5C last season?

Deer harvest, 2025-26: 26,100 in WMU 5C. 6th highest of 22.

Where can I hunt public land in 5C?

About 3% of WMU 5C is public: 52 square miles of game lands and 1 of other public land. Start with French Creek State Park, Nockamixon State Park and Ontelaunee-Reading Watershed (CWMA 422).

What area does WMU 5C cover?

1,982 square miles taking in parts of Lehigh, Northampton, Chester, Berks, Montgomery and Bucks.

Can I trap bobcats or otters in 5C?

5C is closed to bobcat, fisher and otter. Beaver limit: 20 daily / 20 season.

What makes a legal buck in 5C?

In 5C: 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 5C?

The Board set 101,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 5C (+3,000). In 2025-26 the unit sold out on 10/8. Each license costs $6.97 (resident) and works only in the unit picked.

When can I bowhunt deer in 5C?

For archers: Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 2027. Crossbows are legal in archery season.

Is WMU 5C a CWD unit?

No wild CWD detection is listed for 5C. PGC head bins are in Lancaster this year. The statewide high-risk parts rule applies everywhere.

Neighbours of 5C

Nearby units

WMU 5B · WMU 5D · WMU 4C · WMU 3D

Agency offices close by

William Penn District Office (William Penn State Forest)

Elverson, Berks County · about 13 mi away

PGC Southeast Region Office

Reading, Berks County · about 18 mi away