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PGC Northcentral region
State Game Lands 25 Hunting Notes
Access rules, 2026-27 WMU 2G dates for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and elk, deer harvest and the nearest towns.
Photo: Andy Arthur (CC BY 2.0)
Where SGL 25 sits and how big it is
State Game Lands 25 is a State Game Lands tract owned and managed by the Game Commission for hunting and trapping in Elk County, inside WMU 2G. It is managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Size on record: 24,379 acres, 8th among 312 State Game Lands. On the PGC map sheet: 24,382 acres (January 2023 revision). Nearest town guide: St. Marys, 5 miles off; the area sits northwest of there.
SGL 25: county context
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Land sq mi | WMUs | Special Regs Area | CWD feeding ban | CWD head bin | Bears 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County | Ridgway | 30,124 | 827 | 2G, 2F | No | — | Yes | 44 |
From the source record (PGC SGL Boundaries GIS (sum of ACRES for SGL 25)), 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.
How hunting works on SGL 25
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are the statewide rules that matter most here.
Access rules here
Every PGC season is open here under the statewide rules, trapping included. Motor vehicles stay off gated roads and trails, and posted refuges and propagation areas are closed to entry.
Game land musts
New for 2026-27, the orange rule covers everyone on State Game Lands in fall and spring, not just hunters: 250 sq in or an orange hat.
Licenses and add-ons
The adult hunting license includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey tags and covers small game.
Two statewide rules
Wear it for small game and for all firearm deer, bear and elk hunting. Bowhunters in archery seasons and turkey, duck and furbearer hunters are exempt.
Sundays are open in every 2026-27 season except migratory birds, and there are no Sundays in the 2026 spring gobbler season.
The land itself at SGL 25
Mapped features first, then what the agency writes about the place.
Which elk zones cover SGL 25
| Elk zone | About the zone | Bull licenses | Cow licenses | All licenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 448 sq mi, 38% public land; low elk population, high human/elk conflicts around Weedville. | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 302 | 231 sq mi, 38% public land; large portion of SGL 14 and Elk State Forest; healthy elk population. | 9 | 8 | 17 |
Elk hunting is by drawn license only. License numbers are per zone, across all four seasons.
From the PGC description
State Game Lands No. 25, located in Elk County, contains 24,117 acres. The terrain consists of long narrow valleys and flat mountain tops, and is entirely wooded. It was the first tract of Game Land purchased in Pennsylvania. The most prevalent wildlife species are bear, deer and turkey.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
The game on SGL 25
Per the source, hunters come here for whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and elk.
White-tailed deer
PGC estimates 19,900 deer taken in WMU 2G last season.
Black bear
In 2025, hunters checked 488 bears from WMU 2G.
Wild turkey
The spring 2024 estimate for WMU 2G is 2,966 birds.
Elk
In 2025, 108 elk were harvested statewide, 77% success.
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.
Every 2026-27 hunting season in SGL 25
Archery, rifle, flintlock and small game segments for WMU 2G. Where only part of SGL 25 is covered, the unit is named.
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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) | 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.
SGL 25: unit allocation and harvest trend
There is no harvest figure for a single game land; WMU numbers are the closest published level.
| Unit | Sq mi | SGL | Points rule | Allocation | Up/down | Sold out on | CWD | 2025-26 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 2G | 4,112 | 294 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 | No | 19,900 |
Range on the chart: 10,200 (2015) up to 19,900 (2025). In 2025-26 the split was 7,600 antlered and 12,300 antlerless. Season split: archery 4,960, firearms 13,500, muzzleloader 1,440. WMU 2H was folded into 2G in 2024; earlier bars are for 2G alone. PGC set 57,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 2G in 2026-27 (+/- 0 from last year).
Elk license drawing: 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 2026 survey estimate is 1,563 elk.
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.
How SGL 25 fits with nearby ground
Rows link to each area’s page; miles are straight-line.
Same counties, other ground
| Unit | Type | Counties | Acres | From here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 512,932 | 25 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | Ranger district | Elk, Forest, McKean | 249,968 | 20 mi |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 217,000 | 21 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 24 mi |
| State Game Lands 44 | State Game Lands | Elk | 39,335 | 15 mi |
| State Game Lands 54 | State Game Lands | Jefferson, Elk | 19,408 | 21 mi |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | Cameron, Elk | 17,360 | 12 mi |
| State Game Lands 28 | State Game Lands | Elk, Forest | 11,268 | 19 mi |
| State Game Lands 34 | State Game Lands | Clearfield, Elk | 9,558 | 24 mi |
| State Game Lands 293 | State Game Lands | Elk, Cameron | 5,470 | 7 mi |
| State Game Lands 338 | State Game Lands | Elk | 4,738 | 16 mi |
| State Game Lands 311 | State Game Lands | Elk | 3,589 | 16 mi |
| Elk State Park | State park | Elk, McKean | 3,150 | 6 mi |
| Clear Creek State Park | State park | Jefferson, Elk | 1,000 | 29 mi |
SGL 25 on the map, with its neighbors
Map of SGL 25 (orange) and the public ground within 25 miles. Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District (249,968 acres) is the largest nearby.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk State Park | State park | 3,150 | 6 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 293 | State Game Lands | 5,470 | 7 mi | east | 2G |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | 17,360 | 12 mi | southeast | 2G |
| State Game Lands 44 | State Game Lands | 39,335 | 15 mi | southwest | 2F, 2G |
| State Game Lands 30 | State Game Lands | 11,658 | 15 mi | northeast | 2G |
| State Game Lands 338 | State Game Lands | 4,738 | 16 mi | south | 2G |
| State Game Lands 311 | State Game Lands | 3,589 | 16 mi | southeast | 2G |
| Kinzua Bridge State Park | State park | 275 | 17 mi | north | 3A |
| State Game Lands 62 | State Game Lands | 9,258 | 18 mi | north | 3A |
| State Game Lands 28 | State Game Lands | 11,268 | 19 mi | west | 2F |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | Ranger district | 249,968 | 20 mi | west | 2F |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | 217,000 | 21 mi | east | 2G |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (PGC SGL Boundaries GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Practice before hunting State Game Lands 25
State Game Lands 44 Public Shooting Range in Elk County is the nearest State Game Lands range, 16 miles out. Two nearby club or private ranges follow.
Trap / skeet / sporting clays / shotgun / 5-stand / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader
Rifle / handgun / shotgun / trap / skeet
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Towns, processors and offices near SGL 25
Towns with a guide on this site, then local businesses.
| Town | County | Miles off | Area direction | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Marys | Elk | 5 mi | northwest | 12,361 | 74,369 |
| Ridgway | Elk | 9 mi | northeast | 3,930 | 113,577 |
| Mount Jewett | McKean | 16 mi | south | 830 | 81,301 |
| Kane | McKean | 16 mi | southeast | 3,489 | 155,505 |
Local help
Offices for this ground
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.
Seven days of shooting time for SGL 25
The Game Commission window is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for deer, bear, turkey and small game; migratory birds end at sunset.
Times worked out for SGL 25 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.
Before the drive to SGL 25
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Hang-on tree stand
Most Pennsylvania deer hunters sit in hardwood ridges, on benches and along laurel edges.
SGL 25, asked and answered
When can I bowhunt SGL 25?
Archery Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026; rifle Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. Flintlock and late archery are in the table.
Can I hunt SGL 25 on a Sunday this season?
Sunday hunting is legal in all seasons except migratory birds this license year.
Is fluorescent orange required on SGL 25?
250 square inches on head, chest and back in small game and firearms big game seasons. Non-hunters on SGLs need 250 sq in or an orange hat in the two seasonal windows.
How much do licenses cost for SGL 25?
The general license ($20.97 resident) plus any add-ons for your game.
What game does the agency list for SGL 25?
The area lists whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and elk.
Is SGL 25 in the elk range?
Zones 301 and 302. Elk are hunted by drawn license only.
Is there more public ground near SGL 25?
Try Elk State Park (6 miles), State Game Lands 293 (7 miles) and State Game Lands 14 (12 miles); each has its own page here.
How many deer come out of the unit around SGL 25?
PGC estimates 19,900 deer for WMU 2G in 2025-26; no figure exists for SGL 25 alone.
Does the agency publish a map of SGL 25?
The official map or page is linked at the top of this page.
What was the bear harvest around SGL 25?
Elk County: 44 bears in 2024.
What sort of ground is SGL 25?
It is a State Game Lands tract owned and managed by the Game Commission for hunting and trapping, managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
SGL 25: confirm before you go
Rules on public ground change more often than the digest. Recheck SGL 25 with the agency before you go.
Sources for this page: PGC GIS: MapServer 17 · pa.gov: SGL 025 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 301 · pa.gov: state game lands; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Andy Arthur (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).