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2026-27 · State forest
Pinchot State Forest, a Hunter’s Guide
54,000 acres of state forest in WMU 3B, WMU 3C, WMU 3D and WMU 4E, with access rules, licenses, harvest numbers and a map.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC0 1.0)
Pinchot State Forest by the numbers
Think of Pinchot State Forest as a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping, spread over Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties and lying in WMU 3B, WMU 3C, WMU 3D and WMU 4E. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry runs it. At 54,000 acres it is number 15 of the 20 state forests that report a size. The DCNR boundary layer measures 48,456 acres. From Moscow, the nearest town guide, the area is around 10 miles to the southwest.
Where Pinchot State Forest sits, county by county
| County | Courthouse town | Population | Land, sq mi | Units | Special Regs | Feeding ban | Head bins 2026 | Bear count 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna County | Scranton | 216,859 | 459 | 3D, 3C, 3B | No | — | No | 31 |
| Luzerne County | Wilkes-Barre | 331,379 | 890 | 4E, 3B, 3D, 4C | No | — | Yes | 95 |
| Monroe County | Stroudsburg | 166,523 | 608 | 3D | No | — | No | 93 |
| Wayne County | Honesdale | 51,419 | 726 | 3C, 3D | No | — | Yes | 63 |
From the source record (DCNR Pinchot State Forest page: "Pinchot State Forest comprises approximately 54,000 acres, forestlands that characterize many of the mountainous areas near the confluence of the Susquehanna an"), 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.
Hunting Pinchot State Forest by species
Listed game runs to 9 groups: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, squirrels, cottontails, ducks and geese, coyotes and furbearers.
White-tailed deer
22,000 deer came out of WMU 3B in 2025-26 (PGC estimate).
Black bear
The 2025 bear count for WMU 3B was 300.
Wild turkey
WMU 3B hunters took roughly 1,903 spring turkeys in 2024.
Ruffed grouse
Statewide grouse harvest, 2025: 3,175.
Squirrels
344,414 squirrels statewide in 2025, by PGC survey.
Cottontail rabbit
Statewide rabbit harvest, 2025: 66,555.
Ducks and geese
Zone dates for ducks and geese live on the species pages. Canada goose
Furbearers (trapping)
Coyote harvest statewide, 2025: 33,682.
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.
Hunting Pinchot State Forest legally
What applies on this ground, card by card.
Where and when you may hunt
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.
Forest hunting rules
Forest land follows PGC Sunday dates. Buildings and picnic areas carry closed safety zones; everything else is open.
License checklist
The general license covers small game plus the antlered deer and turkey tags; add the extras below as needed.
Sundays and blaze orange
Orange is needed in small game seasons and every firearms deer, bear and elk segment; archery seasons, turkey, waterfowl, doves and furbearers are exempt.
Except for migratory birds, every season in 2026-27 includes its Sundays.
Features mapped inside Pinchot State Forest
Everything here is read from the agency record, nothing estimated.
| On the ground | Count or size |
|---|---|
| Natural areas | 1 |
Agency description
Hunting and trapping are two uses of the Pinchot State Forest that attract many visitors each year. Deer, turkey, grouse, squirrels, and rabbits are plentiful and there are occasional black bear sightings. Snowshoe hare populations are present in some areas of the Pinchot State Forest as well. Various species of ducks also have been noted to occur where streams, beaver dams, and other wetlands occur. Common fur bearers seen or identified by scat and tracks include: Coyote Raccoon Weasel Mink Bobcat Skunk Beaver Muskrat Opossum The complex diversity and overall positive health of forest habitats found on the Pinchot State Forest ensures that many of these species will be sustained in stable populations for the hunting and trapping public to enjoy.
Please follow all rules and regulations for hunting and trapping set forth by the Pennsylvania Game Commission . Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the forest during hunting seasons. Pinchot State Forest comprises approximately 54,000 acres, forestlands that characterize many of the mountainous areas near the confluence of the Susquehanna and Lackawanna rivers.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Harvest and allocation near Pinchot State Forest
PGC sets deer licenses and reports deer harvest by WMU, not by property, so these are unit figures.
| WMU | Square miles | SGL area | Antler restriction | Doe licenses | Change | Sellout | CWD detected | Deer taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 3B | 2,220 | 277 | 3 points, one side | 53,000 | +/- 0 | 8/26 | No | 22,000 |
| WMU 3C | 2,192 | 71 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/28 | No | 22,700 |
| WMU 3D | 2,102 | 249 | 3 points, one side | 52,000 | +/- 0 | 9/2 | No | 15,600 |
| WMU 4E | 1,736 | 60 | 3 points, one side | 61,000 | +/- 0 | 9/6 | Yes | 25,000 |
Harvest peaked at 22,000 in 2025 and bottomed at 14,200 in 2015. Antlered 7,900, antlerless 14,100 in 2025-26. Firearms seasons accounted for 14,100 deer, archery 6,650 and muzzleloader 1,250. The unit’s 2026-27 antlerless quota is 53,000 (+/- 0).
Bear harvest, counties
| County | 2024 harvest | 2025 (top 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna | 31 | — |
| Luzerne | 95 | 125 |
| Monroe | 93 | 111 |
| Wayne | 63 | 82 |
CWD has been detected in WMU 4E. High-risk deer parts must be disposed of under the statewide rule. CWD rules
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.
Pinchot State Forest seasons by Wildlife Management Unit
23 species and 51 dated segments for WMU 3B, WMU 3C, WMU 3D and WMU 4E. The last column compares each one with today’s date.
| Species | Segment | Unit | From | Through | Status 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) | 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 | WMU 3C, 3D | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery | WMU 3B, 4E | 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 | |
| Black bear | Extended firearms | This area | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 3D, 4E | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 3B, 3C | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | WMU 3B, 3C | 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.
The 25-mile ring around Pinchot State Forest
12 public areas within 25 miles, plus Pinchot State Forest in orange. Biggest neighbor: State Game Lands 127, 26,235 acres.
| Public ground | Type | Acres | Distance | Which way | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Game Lands 135 | State Game Lands | 3,540 | 3 mi | east | 3D |
| State Game Lands 91 | State Game Lands | 23,915 | 4 mi | west | 3D |
| State Game Lands 127 | State Game Lands | 26,235 | 8 mi | southeast | 3D |
| Gouldsboro State Park | State park | 2,700 | 8 mi | east | 3D |
| Francis E. Walter Dam | Corps lake | — | 9 mi | southwest | 3D |
| State Game Lands 292 | State Game Lands | 629 | 10 mi | west | 3D |
| State Game Lands 119 | State Game Lands | 8,375 | 11 mi | southwest | 3D |
| State Game Lands 312 | State Game Lands | 4,459 | 11 mi | east | 3D |
| State Game Lands 40 | State Game Lands | 6,200 | 11 mi | southwest | 3D, 4C |
| Tobyhanna State Park | State park | 5,200 | 11 mi | east | 3D |
| State Game Lands 318 | State Game Lands | 858 | 12 mi | southeast | 3D |
| State Game Lands 129 | State Game Lands | 3,705 | 13 mi | south | 3D |
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.
Pinchot State Forest and its related units
Straight-line miles from this page’s map point.
Other areas sharing its counties
| Area | Type | Where | Size (ac) | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State Forest | State forest | Pike, Monroe | 83,519 | 29 mi |
| State Game Lands 57 | State Game Lands | Wyoming, Luzerne | 46,676 | 32 mi |
| Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Pennsylvania) | Recreation area | Pike, Monroe, Northampton | 29,677 | 35 mi |
| State Game Lands 127 | State Game Lands | Monroe | 26,235 | 8 mi |
| State Game Lands 91 | State Game Lands | Luzerne, Lackawanna, Carbon | 23,915 | 4 mi |
| Ricketts Glen State Park | State park | Luzerne, Sullivan | 10,287 | 34 mi |
| State Game Lands 159 | State Game Lands | Wayne | 9,448 | 42 mi |
| State Game Lands 119 | State Game Lands | Luzerne | 8,375 | 11 mi |
| State Game Lands 187 | State Game Lands | Luzerne | 8,157 | 17 mi |
| State Game Lands 168 | State Game Lands | Northampton, Monroe, Carbon | 7,814 | 29 mi |
| State Game Lands 70 | State Game Lands | Wayne, Susquehanna | 6,335 | 52 mi |
| Lehigh Gorge State Park | State park | Carbon, Luzerne | 6,000 | 19 mi |
| State Game Lands 38 | State Game Lands | Monroe | 5,818 | 18 mi |
| Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | Monroe, Northampton | 5,813 | 29 mi |
| State Game Lands 300 | State Game Lands | Lackawanna, Wayne | 5,755 | 20 mi |
| Tobyhanna State Park | State park | Monroe, Wayne | 5,200 | 11 mi |
| State Game Lands 221 | State Game Lands | Monroe | 4,684 | 17 mi |
| State Game Lands 312 | State Game Lands | Wayne, Lackawanna, Monroe | 4,459 | 11 mi |
Where the Pinchot State Forest acres lie
| County | Acres |
|---|---|
| Lackawanna County | 24,998 |
| Luzerne County | 20,549 |
| Monroe County | 2,556 |
| Wayne County | 282 |
| Wyoming County | 74 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Legal hunting light around Pinchot State Forest
Pennsylvania small and big game may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. Doves, waterfowl and woodcock stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Pinchot 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.
Ranges within reach of Pinchot State Forest
Closest public range: State Game Lands 91 Public Shooting Range, roughly 4 miles from the middle of Pinchot State Forest. Nearby clubs are shown too.
Trap / 5-stand / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Help close to Pinchot State Forest: shops and offices
Nearest towns by straight-line distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Toward | Population | Public ground within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | Lackawanna | 10 mi | southwest | 2,020 | 38,694 |
| Gouldsboro | Wayne | 10 mi | west | — | 50,245 |
| Penn Lake Park | Luzerne | 11 mi | northeast | 379 | 60,191 |
| Scranton | Lackawanna | 13 mi | south | 75,905 | 18,281 |
Shops and processors
Region and district offices
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.
Gear that fits Pinchot State Forest
Chosen around the hunting done here; listings update on every click.
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Short answers about hunting Pinchot State Forest
Whose rules govern Pinchot State Forest?
the DCNR Bureau of Forestry manages this DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping.
Is there bear hunting near Pinchot State Forest?
PGC counted 282 bears in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties in 2024.
What county holds Pinchot State Forest?
Moscow is closest (10 miles); the ground is in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties.
What does Pinchot State Forest measure in acres?
54,000 acres, per DCNR Pinchot State Forest page: "Pinchot State Forest comprises approximately 54,000 acres, forestlands that characterize many of the mountainous areas near the confluence of the Susquehanna an".
How many doe tags does WMU 3B get?
Buy a WMU 3B license. There are 53,000 of them in 2026-27.
Is Pinchot State Forest a three-up antler unit?
WMU 3B, WMU 3C, WMU 3D and WMU 4E, by the PGC WMU layer. A legal buck in WMU 3B has three points on one side. Other units here: WMU 3C, WMU 3D and WMU 4E. Of these, three-up units are none.
Are Sundays huntable on Pinchot State Forest?
Yes for deer, bear, turkey in fall and small game; no for ducks, geese and doves.
What are the archery dates for Pinchot State Forest?
The firearms opener is Nov 28, 2026 and archery begins Oct 3, 2026. More segments sit in the table above.
Will a general license do for Pinchot State Forest?
A Pennsylvania hunting license: $20.97 resident adult, $101.97 nonresident adult.
What is the orange rule on Pinchot State Forest?
Yes: 250 square inches, head, chest and back, in the seasons that call for it.
Which other areas are close to Pinchot State Forest?
The closest public ground on our list is State Game Lands 135 (3 miles), State Game Lands 91 (4 miles) and State Game Lands 127 (8 miles).
One more check on Pinchot State Forest
Before the drive to Pinchot State Forest, confirm the WMU dates, your licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: pinchot · 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: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); James Case (CC BY 2.0).