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Clearfield County, state forest
Moshannon State Forest Hunting
Who runs it, which seasons apply for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and elk, what PGC has mapped on it and the public ground around it in Clearfield, Centre, Elk, Cameron and Clinton counties.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Quick facts on Moshannon State Forest
Moshannon State Forest sits in the PGC Northcentral region as a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping (Clearfield, Centre, Elk, Cameron and Clinton counties, WMU 2E, WMU 2G and WMU 4D). Manager on record: the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. Its 190,031 acres rank 5th of 20 state forests with a published figure. The boundary polygons total 191,151 acres. Benezette is the nearest town we cover, roughly 6 miles away (the area lies south of it).
County facts for Moshannon State Forest
| County | Seat | Residents | Sq mi | WMU | SRA | CWD feeding | Head bin | Bears (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearfield County | Clearfield | 78,132 | 1,145 | 2E, 2G, 4D, 2D | No | 6 municipalities | Yes | 67 |
| Centre County | Bellefonte | 159,805 | 1,107 | 4D, 2G | No | — | Yes | 64 |
| Elk County | Ridgway | 30,124 | 827 | 2G, 2F | No | — | Yes | 44 |
| Cameron County | Emporium | 4,348 | 396 | 2G | No | — | No | 56 |
| Clinton County | Lock Haven | 37,865 | 890 | 2G, 4D | No | — | No | 157 |
From the source record (DCNR Moshannon State Forest page: "The forest totals 190,031 acres on the Allegheny Plateau"), 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.
Rules that apply on Moshannon State Forest
Area rules, then the statewide basics.
Access and limits
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.
State forest rules
Sundays are huntable on the forest in step with PGC seasons. Stay clear of buildings and picnic areas; their safety zones are closed.
What to buy
A general license is the base; antlered deer, fall turkey and spring gobbler tags come with it.
Orange and Sundays
You need orange in small game seasons and during any firearms deer, bear or elk season; it is not required for archery, turkey, waterfowl or doves.
PGC opened Sundays across all seasons for 2026-27 except migratory game birds.
Moshannon State Forest: features, plots and stocking
Features mapped by the managing agency, then its own description.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wild area | Quehanna Wild Area · 24,003 ac |
| Wild area | Restricted Area · 237 ac |
| Natural area count | 1 |
Moshannon State Forest and the 2026 elk zones
| Elk zone | Description | Bull | Cow | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 448 sq mi, 38% public land; low elk population, high human/elk conflicts around Weedville. | — | — | — |
| 306 | 193 sq mi, 91% public land; Quehanna Plateau. | — | — | — |
| 305 | 152 sq mi, 50% public land; SGL 311, Elk State Forest and Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek; surrounds Benezette. | — | — | — |
| 308 | 197 sq mi, 35% public land; SGL 321, SGL 100 and Moshannon State Forest; high elk population. | — | — | — |
| 307 | 143 sq mi, 29% public land; low, nomadic elk population. | — | — | — |
Elk may be hunted only with a license drawn in the July lottery; zone counts are the 2026 PGC allocation.
Description on file
Hunting for deer, turkey, grouse, rabbits, and black bear is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons. Other than a few safety zones around buildings, hunting is permitted throughout the state forest. The forest totals 190,031 acres on the Allegheny Plateau.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Moshannon State Forest: game and bag limits
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk, ruffed grouse and cottontails, per the agency record.
White-tailed deer
The 2025-26 estimate for WMU 2E is 20,200 deer.
Black bear
WMU 2E bear harvest, 2025: 57.
Wild turkey
Spring 2024 gobbler harvest in WMU 2E: about 2,208.
Elk
PGC counted 108 elk on 140 tags in 2025.
Ruffed grouse
Pennsylvania hunters took about 3,175 grouse statewide in 2025 (Game Take Survey).
Cottontail rabbit
Pennsylvania hunters took about 66,555 rabbits statewide in 2025 (Game Take Survey).
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.
Moshannon State Forest game seasons, unit by unit
The Game Commission sets dates by WMU, not by county. Moshannon State Forest sits in WMU 2E, WMU 2G and WMU 4D, and the 54 rows below are the ones that reach it.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Ends | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 4D | 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 | |
| Elk | Archery (antlered or antlerless) | Elk Hunt Zones | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Elk | First regular firearms (new) | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Elk | Second regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Third regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 2G, 4D | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 2E | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 2E | Nov 25, 2026 | Nov 27, 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.
Moshannon State Forest: dinners, courses and trials
Bird dog trial and grouse trial: 3 published results. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
Published results
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2026 | 77th Grand National Puppy Classic · Bird dog trial | 1st: Seldom Rest Louie (Brian Ralph, owner and handler) | Source |
| Apr 8–10, 2026 | Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship 2026 · Grouse trial | Grand National Grouse And Woodcock Invitational Championship One-Hour Heats On Consecutive Days; One-Hour Finals] winner: Resin (Kevin Lahoda, owner; Marc Forman, handler) Grand National Grouse And Woodcock Invitational Championship One-Hour Heats On Consecutive Days; One-Hour Finals] runner-up: Mohawk Mill Good Advice (William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler) | Source |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Ontario Grouse Dog Championship 2026 (34th renewal) · Grouse trial | Ontario Grouse Championship [One-Hour Heats] winner: Hypointe Monarch Express (Russ Fazio, owner and handler) Ontario Grouse Championship [One-Hour Heats] runner-up: Grouse Hill Princess (Giovanni Capocci, owner; Scott Forman, handler) Open Derby 1st: Chasehill Bett Your Bunz (William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler) | Source |
The WMU 2E, WMU 2G and WMU 4D picture for Moshannon State Forest
PGC publishes deer data by unit; nothing finer exists.
| Unit | Area | Game land | Buck rule | Antlerless licenses | vs 2025-26 | Sold out | CWD | Harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 2E | 1,427 | 119 | 3 points, one side | 63,000 | +12,000 | 9/8 | Yes | 20,200 |
| WMU 2G | 4,112 | 294 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 | No | 19,900 |
| WMU 4D | 2,743 | 222 | 3 points, one side | 120,000 | +37,000 | 9/30 | Yes | 24,800 |
2024 was the high mark at 21,700; 2015 the low at 10,000. 2025-26: 7,700 antlered deer and 12,500 antlerless. Archers took 5,910, rifle and shotgun hunters 13,300, muzzleloaders 990. WMU 2E gets 63,000 antlerless tags in 2026-27 (+12,000).
Bears taken nearby
| County | Bears 2024 | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Clearfield | 67 | — |
| Centre | 64 | — |
| Elk | 44 | — |
| Cameron | 56 | — |
| Clinton | 157 | 136 |
CWD is confirmed in WMU 2E and WMU 4D; high-risk parts have disposal rules. CWD rules
Elk drawing details: Single $11.97 application (PA hunting license required), up to five options (season, Elk Hunt Zone, antlered/antlerless); deadline 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25, 2026 at the Elk Country Visitor Center. Bonus point per unsuccessful application (max 37 for 2026-27). Antlered elk licenses are once in a lifetime. Nonresidents max 10% of licenses. 155 licenses allocated: 80 bull, 75 cow. The herd was estimated at 1,563 in the 2026 survey.
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.
Areas tied to Moshannon State Forest
Sorted by size where it helps.
More public ground in the same counties
| Name | Kind | County | Acres | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 512,932 | 47 mi |
| Sproul State Forest | State forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 305,450 | 29 mi |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 265,000 | 37 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | Ranger district | Elk, Forest, McKean | 249,968 | 39 mi |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 217,000 | 18 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 59 mi |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 146,539 | 52 mi |
| Rothrock State Forest | State forest | Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin | 96,000 | 45 mi |
| State Game Lands 44 | State Game Lands | Elk | 39,335 | 25 mi |
| State Game Lands 25 | State Game Lands | Elk | 24,379 | 24 mi |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield | 21,071 | 18 mi |
| State Game Lands 54 | State Game Lands | Jefferson, Elk | 19,408 | 30 mi |
| State Game Lands 33 | State Game Lands | Centre | 17,755 | 28 mi |
| State Game Lands 158 | State Game Lands | Blair, Cambria, Clearfield | 17,463 | 37 mi |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | Cameron, Elk | 17,360 | 16 mi |
| State Game Lands 87 | State Game Lands | Clearfield | 17,296 | 26 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 47 mi |
| State Game Lands 28 | State Game Lands | Elk, Forest | 11,268 | 35 mi |
Forest acres per county
| County | Forest acres |
|---|---|
| Clearfield County | 109,525 |
| Centre County | 40,521 |
| Elk County | 33,319 |
| Cameron County | 7,323 |
| Clinton County | 462 |
| Cambria County | 19 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Pins around Moshannon State Forest
The orange pin is Moshannon State Forest; 12 other public areas lie within 25 miles. The largest of them is Elk State Forest at 217,000 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Game Lands 34 | State Game Lands | 9,558 | 2 mi | northeast | 2G |
| State Game Lands 94 | State Game Lands | 2,297 | 4 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Parker Dam State Park | State park | 800 | 9 mi | west | 2G |
| State Game Lands 338 | State Game Lands | 4,738 | 9 mi | northwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 311 | State Game Lands | 3,589 | 9 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 90 | State Game Lands | 4,157 | 10 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Simon B. Elliott State Park | State park | 230 | 12 mi | southwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 331 | State Game Lands | 6,438 | 15 mi | west | 2G |
| State Game Lands 78 | State Game Lands | 777 | 16 mi | south | 2E, 2G |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | 17,360 | 16 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 321 | State Game Lands | 3,254 | 17 mi | east | 2G |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | 217,000 | 18 mi | northeast | 2G |
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.
Closest public range to Moshannon State Forest
No range sits on Moshannon State Forest; the nearest Game Commission range is State Game Lands 77 Public Shooting Range, about 23 miles away. The other cards are clubs within 30 miles.
Rifle range 25/50/100 yd, 7 points; Handgun range 7/10 yd, 4 points; Archery range 10/20/30/40/50 yd, 7 lanes
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Base towns for Moshannon State Forest
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighboring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | Heading | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benezette | Elk | 6 mi | south | 215 | 151,373 |
| Weedville | Elk | 9 mi | southeast | — | 101,206 |
| Clearfield | Clearfield | 14 mi | north | 5,794 | 35,397 |
| Sinnamahoning | Cameron | 15 mi | southwest | — | 155,000 |
Nearby services
Who to call
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.
Moshannon State Forest: sunrise, sunset and legal light
Shooting hours for whitetails, turkeys and rabbits run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset. Migratory game birds end at sunset.
Times worked out for Moshannon 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.
Moshannon State Forest gear checklist
Click through for current models and prices.
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Common Moshannon State Forest questions from hunters
How did WMU 2E do last season?
20,200 in WMU 2E for 2025-26; PGC does not report by property.
Where are the boundaries of Moshannon State Forest?
Follow the official page button above.
How many bears came from the Moshannon State Forest counties?
In 2024, Clearfield, Centre, Elk, Cameron and Clinton counties gave up 388 bears.
What kind of property is Moshannon State Forest, exactly?
DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping, under the DCNR Bureau of Forestry.
What is the published acreage for Moshannon State Forest?
It covers 190,031 acres by the published figure.
What county holds Moshannon State Forest?
It is in Clearfield, Centre, Elk, Cameron and Clinton counties. Benezette sits 6 miles away.
What antler rule applies on Moshannon State Forest?
PGC places it in WMU 2E, WMU 2G and WMU 4D. WMU 2E: three points, one side. Its edges reach WMU 2G and WMU 4D. Three up applies in: none of them.
Are antlerless licenses for Moshannon State Forest sold out?
The WMU 2E quota is 63,000, +12,000 on 2025-26, which sold out 9/8.
When does rifle season open near Moshannon State Forest?
Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026 for archery, then Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026 for firearms. See the WMU table for the rest.
Does Moshannon State Forest allow Sunday deer hunting?
Yes. Sundays inside season dates are open for all but migratory game birds.
How many square inches of orange does Moshannon State Forest require?
Small game and firearm big game hunters wear 250 sq in; archery, turkey and waterfowl are exempt.
One more check on Moshannon State Forest
The managing agency has the last word on Moshannon State Forest. Read its page and the PGC digest the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: moshannon · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 1 · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 9 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 301; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0).