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Crawford County, state park
Pymatuning State Park Hunting
Who runs it, which seasons apply for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ducks and geese, what PGC has mapped on it and the public ground around it in Crawford County.
Photo: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0)
Quick facts on Pymatuning State Park
Pymatuning State Park sits in the PGC Northwest region as a DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters (Crawford County, WMU 1A). Manager on record: the DCNR Bureau of State Parks. Its 10,300 acres open to hunting rank 6th of 92 state parks with a published figure. The full park outline is 16,188 acres in DCNR GIS. Conneaut Lake is the nearest town we cover, roughly 10 miles away (the area lies west of it).
County facts for Pymatuning State Park
| County | Seat | Residents | Sq mi | WMU | SRA | CWD feeding | Head bin | Bears (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | Meadville | 82,089 | 1,012 | 1B, 1A | No | — | No | 20 |
From the source record (DCNR park hunting page (acres open to hunting): "During established seasons, hunting is permitted daily on approximately 10,300 acres, with the exception of migratory game bird hunting which remains "), 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 Pymatuning State Park
Area rules, then the statewide basics.
Access and limits
Hunt the park’s designated areas in season; DCNR and Game Commission rules both apply. Woodchucks are off the list in state parks.
Migratory bird hunting stays closed on Sundays here. No firearm restrictions apply beyond statewide law.
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.
Mobility device hunting
DCNR provides accessible hunting here to Mobility Device Permit holders.
Pymatuning State Park: features, plots and stocking
Features mapped by the managing agency, then its own description.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accessible | Yes |
Description on file
Notes : Rifle hunting is prohibited along the Spillway Trail adjacent to the Pennsylvania Game Commission Propagation Area. Archery-Only Hunting is in the Jamestown Day Use and overnight areas. Note: Adjacent to the park, Pennsylvania Game Lands 214 has many hunting opportunities, including controlled hunting areas during the annual waterfowl season. Special areas are also established for duck hunting. Public hunting is permitted in the controlled shooting section. A propagation area comprising 2,500 acres of water provides a protected location for migratory waterfowl during their flights north and south.
Rifle hunting is prohibited along the Spillway Trail adjacent to the Pennsylvania Game Commission Propagation Area. Archery-only hunting is in the Jamestown Day Use and overnight areas. Hunters, park in designated areas. Parking is limited along Fries Road. Nearby: Adjacent to the park, Pennsylvania Game Lands 214 has many hunting opportunities, including controlled hunting areas during the annual waterfowl season. Special areas are also established for duck hunting. Public hunting is permitted in the controlled shooting section.
A propagation area comprising 2,500 acres of water provides a protected location for migratory waterfowl during their flights north and south.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PASDA; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Pymatuning State Park: game and bag limits
Whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game, per the agency record.
White-tailed deer
The 2025-26 estimate for WMU 1A is 25,800 deer.
Black bear
WMU 1A bear harvest, 2025: 33.
Wild turkey
Spring 2024 gobbler harvest in WMU 1A: about 2,216.
Ducks and geese
Check the duck and Canada goose pages for zone dates. Canada goose
Furbearers (trapping)
PGC estimates 33,682 coyotes taken statewide in 2025.
Small game
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.
Pymatuning State Park game seasons, unit by unit
The Game Commission sets dates by WMU, not by county. Pymatuning State Park sits in WMU 1A, and the 46 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) | 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 | |
| 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 WMU 1A picture for Pymatuning State Park
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 1A | 1,846 | 127 | Three up | 52,000 | +6,000 | 8/11 | No | 25,800 |
2020 was the high mark at 27,000; 2015 the low at 15,100. 2025-26: 10,000 antlered deer and 15,800 antlerless. Archers took 9,990, rifle and shotgun hunters 14,600, muzzleloaders 1,210. WMU 1A gets 52,000 antlerless tags in 2026-27 (+6,000).
Bears taken nearby
| County | Bears 2024 | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford | 20 | — |
Spring turkey and bear
| Unit | Spring birds 2024 | Bear harvest 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 1A | 2,216 | 33 |
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.
Pins around Pymatuning State Park
The orange pin is Pymatuning State Park; 10 other public areas lie within 25 miles. The largest of them is State Game Lands 214 at 9,661 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Game Lands 214 | State Game Lands | 9,661 | 6 mi | east | 1A |
| State Game Lands 213 | State Game Lands | 5,646 | 13 mi | east | 1A |
| Shenango River Lake | Corps lake | 3,449 | 17 mi | south | 1A |
| State Game Lands 101 | State Game Lands | 5,058 | 18 mi | north | 1B |
| State Game Lands 270 | State Game Lands | 2,191 | 20 mi | southeast | 1A |
| State Game Lands 269 | State Game Lands | 683 | 20 mi | northeast | 1B |
| State Game Lands 152 | State Game Lands | 641 | 22 mi | northeast | 1B |
| State Game Lands 294 | State Game Lands | 621 | 24 mi | southeast | 1A |
| Woodcock Creek Lake | Corps lake | 710 | 24 mi | east | 1B |
| Maurice K. Goddard State Park | State park | 1,075 | 24 mi | southeast | 1A |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR State Parks boundary GIS via PASDA (point inside largest parcel)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Closest public range to Pymatuning State Park
No range sits on Pymatuning State Park; the nearest Game Commission range is State Game Lands 109 Public Shooting Range, about 39 miles away. The other cards are clubs within 30 miles.
Rifle range 100 yd, 6 points; Handgun range 25 yd, 3 points; Shotgun patterning 20/40 yd; Archery range 10/20/30/40/50 yd, 12 lanes
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Base towns for Pymatuning State Park
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighboring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | Heading | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conneaut Lake | Crawford | 10 mi | west | 612 | 15,278 |
| Meadville | Crawford | 19 mi | west | 12,347 | 6,370 |
| Sharpsville | Mercer | 23 mi | north | 4,127 | 3,455 |
| Sandy Lake | Mercer | 28 mi | northwest | 630 | 15,462 |
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.
Pymatuning State Park: 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 Pymatuning State Park 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.
Pymatuning State Park gear checklist
Click through for current models and prices.
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Common Pymatuning State Park questions from hunters
Does Pymatuning State Park allow Sunday deer hunting?
Yes. Sundays inside season dates are open for all but migratory game birds.
How many square inches of orange does Pymatuning State Park require?
Small game and firearm big game hunters wear 250 sq in; archery, turkey and waterfowl are exempt.
Is any special permit required on Pymatuning State Park?
A general license, $20.97 for residents and $101.97 for nonresidents.
Which animals are hunted on Pymatuning State Park?
Per the agency, whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game.
What public land is near Pymatuning State Park?
Within reach are State Game Lands 214 (6 miles), State Game Lands 213 (13 miles) and Shenango River Lake (17 miles), nearest first.
How did WMU 1A do last season?
25,800 in WMU 1A for 2025-26; PGC does not report by property.
Where are the boundaries of Pymatuning State Park?
Follow the official page button above.
How many bears came from the Pymatuning State Park counties?
In 2024, Crawford County gave up 20 bears.
What kind of property is Pymatuning State Park, exactly?
DCNR state park with areas opened to hunters, under the DCNR Bureau of State Parks.
What is the published acreage for Pymatuning State Park?
It covers 10,300 acres by the published figure.
What county holds Pymatuning State Park?
It is in Crawford County. Conneaut Lake sits 10 miles away.
One more check on Pymatuning State Park
The managing agency has the last word on Pymatuning State Park. Read its page and the PGC digest the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 8; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Larry Lamb (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).