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Bedford County · WMU 4A and WMU 4B
Buchanan State Forest Hunting
Everything we could verify about Buchanan State Forest: acreage, rules, game, stocking and the ground nearby.
Photo: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)
Buchanan State Forest in brief
In Bedford, Fulton and Franklin counties, Buchanan State Forest is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping; it falls in WMU 4A and WMU 4B. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry sets the rules on the ground. The 71,683 acres figure places it 13th of 20 state forests by size. Bureau of Forestry GIS gives 71,896 acres. Hyndman is the closest town on this site, about 10 miles in a straight line.
Counties that hold Buchanan State Forest
| County | County seat | Population | Sq mi | Units | SRA | Feeding ban | Head bins | 2024 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford County | Bedford | 47,643 | 1,012 | 4A, 2C | No | Whole county | Yes | 40 |
| Fulton County | McConnellsburg | 14,452 | 438 | 4A, 4B | No | Whole county | Yes | 16 |
| Franklin County | Chambersburg | 159,285 | 772 | 5A, 4B, 4A | No | Whole county | Yes | 9 |
From the source record (DCNR Buchanan State Forest page: "Buchanan State Forest covers 71,683 acres in:"), counties and WMUs from the PGC county and WMU layers; county facts from the Census and the 2026-27 digest; bear counts from the PGC 2024 bear release. Checked October 12, 2026.
Buchanan State Forest up close
PGC and DCNR map data, followed by the agency text.
| Feature | From PGC and DCNR |
|---|---|
| State forest wild area | Martin Hill Wild Area · 11,668 ac |
| State forest natural areas | 2 |
In the agency’s own words
Hunting deer, turkey, black bear, and most small game is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons. Other than a few safety zones around buildings and picnic areas, hunting is permitted throughout the state forest. A 1,357-acre tract has been designated in the Sideling Hill area for off-road access by disabled hunters.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Access, licenses and rules for Buchanan State Forest
Ground-specific rules first, then licenses, orange and Sundays.
How access works
Open to hunting and trapping under PGC seasons and regulations throughout the forest except safety zones around buildings and picnic areas; Sunday hunting follows PGC dates.
On the forest
State forest Sundays are open whenever PGC opens them. Closed ground is limited to safety zones at buildings and picnic areas.
Paperwork for the game here
Every hunter starts with a general license; it already carries the antlered deer and both turkey tags.
Orange, plus Sunday hunting
The rule covers small game and the firearms seasons for big game. It does not apply in archery seasons or to turkey, waterfowl, dove or furbearer hunting.
This is the first license year with Sunday hunting in all seasons but migratory birds; spring gobbler 2026 had no Sundays.
Buchanan State Forest: which seasons are running
PGC unit lines follow roads and rivers, so a county can straddle two units. This list keeps every segment that touches Buchanan State Forest.
| Game | Segment | WMU | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Agricultural Deer Control (Ag Tag, antlerless only) | This area | Aug 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | October muzzleloader (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special firearms (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Rifle (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | WMU 4A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | This area | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Flintlock (antlered or antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Archery | This area | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Special firearms | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | This area | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler youth hunt | Statewide | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (morning only) | Statewide | May 1, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (all day) | Statewide | May 16, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Junior hunt | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Regular (Thursday-Sunday only) | Statewide | Aug 20, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Fox | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | This area | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 3, 2027 | |
| Opossum, striped skunk and weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Starling and English sparrow | No closed season | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Gallinules | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Virginia and sora rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 |
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
Game listed for Buchanan State Forest
Species named by the agency for this ground: whitetails, black bears and wild turkeys.
White-tailed deer
Last season WMU 4A gave up about 13,500 deer.
Black bear
Bears from WMU 4A in 2025: 73.
Wild turkey
About 1,555 gobblers came from WMU 4A in spring 2024.
Species from the area record; bag limits and seasons from the PGC seasons and bag limits; harvest from PGC deer report, PGC harvest data and PGC turkey report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Public ground a short drive from Buchanan State Forest
Inside a 25-mile ring sit 9 more areas; orange marks Buchanan State Forest. Of these, State Game Lands 48 is largest (11,080 acres).
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Game Lands 48 | State Game Lands | 11,080 | 9 mi | northwest | 2C |
| State Game Lands 97 | State Game Lands | 7,587 | 10 mi | northeast | 4A |
| State Game Lands 49 | State Game Lands | 6,437 | 11 mi | east | 4A |
| State Game Lands 104 | State Game Lands | 8,138 | 12 mi | west | 2C |
| State Game Lands 128 | State Game Lands | 1,710 | 16 mi | east | 4A |
| Shawnee State Park | State park | 3,000 | 16 mi | north | 2C |
| State Game Lands 65 | State Game Lands | 6,000 | 18 mi | east | 4A |
| State Game Lands 82 | State Game Lands | 7,930 | 19 mi | west | 2C |
| State Game Lands 228 | State Game Lands | 4,226 | 22 mi | northwest | 2C |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR Bureau of Forestry boundary GIS (point inside largest parcel)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
How many deer come off the Buchanan State Forest unit
Antlerless licenses are sold by WMU, and harvest is estimated the same way.
| WMU | Size | SGL sq mi | Buck rule | Antlerless tags | Change | Last sellout | CWD | Deer harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 4A | 1,736 | 157 | 3 points, one side | 64,000 | +/- 0 | N/A | Yes | 13,500 |
| WMU 4B | 1,583 | 66 | 3 points, one side | 71,000 | +11,000 | 11/8 | Yes | 21,100 |
The best year on the chart was 2020 with 16,000 deer; the low was 10,100 in 2016. Of the 2025-26 total, 5,000 were bucks and 8,500 antlerless. 3,240 by bow, 9,600 by firearm, 660 by muzzleloader. The 2026-27 allocation for WMU 4A is 64,000 antlerless licenses, +/- 0 versus 2025-26.
Chronic wasting disease is present in WMU 4A and WMU 4B, so mind the high-risk parts rule. More on CWD
WMU areas from the PGC WMU pages; antlerless allocations from the PGC allocation; deer harvest from the 2025-26 PGC report and the PGC historic harvest dashboard; bears from PGC releases; turkeys from PGC job report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Units and neighbors of Buchanan State Forest
Each name opens its own page.
Same counties, other ground
| Area | Category | Counties | Acres | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscarora State Forest | State forest | Perry, Juniata, Mifflin | 96,025 | 63 mi |
| Michaux State Forest | State forest | Cumberland, Franklin, Adams | 85,500 | 63 mi |
| Gallitzin State Forest | State forest | Somerset, Cambria, Indiana | 24,370 | 30 mi |
| State Game Lands 73 | State Game Lands | Bedford, Blair, Huntingdon | 20,814 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 26 | State Game Lands | Cambria, Bedford, Blair | 12,347 | 34 mi |
| State Game Lands 48 | State Game Lands | Bedford | 11,080 | 9 mi |
| State Game Lands 104 | State Game Lands | Bedford, Somerset | 8,138 | 12 mi |
| State Game Lands 97 | State Game Lands | Bedford | 7,587 | 10 mi |
| State Game Lands 124 | State Game Lands | Franklin, Fulton | 6,847 | 28 mi |
| State Game Lands 49 | State Game Lands | Bedford, Fulton | 6,437 | 11 mi |
| State Game Lands 235 | State Game Lands | Franklin | 6,271 | 38 mi |
| State Game Lands 65 | State Game Lands | Fulton | 6,000 | 18 mi |
| State Game Lands 53 | State Game Lands | Fulton | 5,958 | 27 mi |
| Blue Knob State Park | State park | Bedford | 5,000 | 33 mi |
| State Game Lands 76 | State Game Lands | Franklin | 4,297 | 47 mi |
| State Game Lands 81 | State Game Lands | Huntingdon, Fulton | 4,037 | 39 mi |
| State Game Lands 41 | State Game Lands | Bedford, Blair | 3,234 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 261 | State Game Lands | Bedford | 3,220 | 26 mi |
How Buchanan State Forest splits across counties
| County | State forest acres |
|---|---|
| Bedford County | 32,289 |
| Fulton County | 30,407 |
| Franklin County | 9,177 |
| Huntingdon County | 8 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Towns and services near Buchanan State Forest
Closest towns first; businesses sorted by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Area lies | People | Public acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyndman | Bedford | 10 mi | east | 855 | 36,122 |
| Bedford | Bedford | 15 mi | south | 2,843 | 11,061 |
| Central City | Somerset | 25 mi | southeast | 969 | 16,681 |
| McConnellsburg | Fulton | 30 mi | west | 1,118 | 33,423 |
Processors, taxidermists and shops
PGC and DCNR contacts
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates and Gazetteer; public acres within 10 miles from PGC, DCNR and federal layers; businesses from Hunters Sharing the Harvest, PDA, store locators and listings; offices from PGC and DCNR pages. Checked October 12, 2026. Call ahead.
Buchanan State Forest: nearest ranges
For a permit range, drive about 29 miles to State Game Lands 50 Public Shooting Range. Closer private options are listed beside it.
Rifle range 50/100 yd, 8 points; Archery range 10/20/30/40/50 yd, 8 lanes
Trap / archery
Trap / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Kit for hunting Buchanan State Forest
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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When the day starts and ends at Buchanan State Forest
Legal light opens 30 minutes before sunrise for every game species. In the evening, migratory birds close at sunset and the rest 30 minutes later.
Times worked out for Buchanan State Forest in Eastern time from the rule in the Pennsylvania Game Commission digest (shooting hours). Some furbearers may be taken at night; check the digest. Shooting hours for every county.
Hunter questions about Buchanan State Forest
How many antlerless licenses are there for the Buchanan State Forest area?
WMU 4A has 64,000 antlerless licenses for 2026-27 (+/- 0); in 2025-26 they sold out on N/A.
Which WMU is Buchanan State Forest in?
WMU 4A and WMU 4B. WMU 4A uses the standard three-points-on-one-side rule. Part of it lies in WMU 4B too. The three-up list covers none of them.
Is Buchanan State Forest open to hunters on Sunday?
Yes, except for migratory birds.
When is the rifle opener at Buchanan State Forest?
Archery opens Oct 3, 2026; the regular firearms season runs Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. The table above has all dates.
Can out-of-state hunters use Buchanan State Forest?
Nonresidents pay $101.97 for the adult license; residents $20.97.
Do non-hunters wear orange on Buchanan State Forest?
Yes in firearms deer, bear and elk seasons and all small game seasons: 250 sq in.
What areas neighbor Buchanan State Forest?
Close by are State Game Lands 48 (9 miles), State Game Lands 97 (10 miles) and State Game Lands 49 (11 miles), measured in a straight line.
Which game is listed for Buchanan State Forest?
The record lists whitetails, black bears and wild turkeys.
Where is the official page for Buchanan State Forest?
Use the agency link in the at-a-glance band.
How many deer are taken around Buchanan State Forest?
WMU 4A: 13,500 deer in 2025-26.
Who looks after Buchanan State Forest?
the DCNR Bureau of Forestry is the manager; the ground is a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping.
Heading to Buchanan State Forest soon?
Every property has its own fine print. Read the Buchanan State Forest page at the agency and carry your licenses.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: buchanan · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 1 · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 9; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Acorns Resort (CC BY 2.0).