Home › Pennsylvania › Public land › Tiadaghton State Forest
Northcentral region · WMU 2G and WMU 4D
Tiadaghton State Forest Hunting Guide
Tiadaghton State Forest, 146,539 acres in Lycoming, Clinton, Potter, Tioga and Union counties: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse, WMU 2G and WMU 4D seasons, antlerless numbers, nearby land and towns.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Sizing up Tiadaghton State Forest
Type of ground: DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping. Location: Lycoming, Clinton, Potter, Tioga and Union counties, WMU 2G and WMU 4D. Day-to-day management sits with the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. With 146,539 acres, it ranks 7th by area among 20 state forests. GIS acreage from DCNR: 147,013. Of the towns with a guide here, Jersey Shore is closest; the map point is about 10 miles northwest of it.
The 5 counties around Tiadaghton State Forest
| County | Seat of county | Population 2024 | Land area | WMUs in county | Special Regulations | Feeding ban | CWD bin | Bears taken 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lycoming County | Williamsport | 113,236 | 1,229 | 2G, 3B, 4D, 4E | No | — | Yes | 148 |
| Clinton County | Lock Haven | 37,865 | 890 | 2G, 4D | No | — | No | 157 |
| Potter County | Coudersport | 15,993 | 1,081 | 2G, 3A | No | — | No | 109 |
| Tioga County | Wellsboro | 40,698 | 1,134 | 3A, 2G, 3B | No | — | No | 163 |
| Union County | Lewisburg | 42,159 | 316 | 4D, 4E | No | — | Yes | 32 |
From the source record (DCNR Tiadaghton State Forest page: "Though most of Tiadaghton State Forest’s 146,539 acres reside in Lycoming County, some tracts extend into:"), 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.
Tiadaghton State Forest: who may hunt, and how
Each card cites its source.
Getting in
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.
Rules from DCNR
DCNR allows Sunday hunting on forest land within PGC dates. Only safety zones around buildings and picnic grounds are closed.
Licenses for this game
Start with the general hunting license, which includes the buck and turkey tags.
Statewide rules that apply
Small game hunters and firearm deer, bear and elk hunters wear orange. Archers in archery season, turkey hunters and waterfowlers are exempt.
All Sundays inside season dates are legal for 2026-27, with migratory birds the exception.
Species at Tiadaghton State Forest, with limits
Game on the list: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse.
White-tailed deer
WMU 2G hunters took an estimated 19,900 deer in 2025-26.
Black bear
488 bears were taken in WMU 2G in 2025.
Wild turkey
Spring turkeys, WMU 2G, 2024: 2,966.
Ruffed grouse
About 3,175 grouse were taken across the state in 2025.
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.
What Tiadaghton State Forest holds
Counts and acreages come from PGC and DCNR layers; the quoted text is the agency description.
| Feature | Figures |
|---|---|
| Wild area (DCNR) | Wolf Run Wild Area · 7,525 ac |
| Wild area (DCNR) | Algerine Wild Area · 4,190 ac |
| Natural areas | 5 |
The the DCNR Bureau of Forestry write-up
Hunting for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and black bear is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons. Hunters travel to the Tiadaghton State Forest from all over the state to enjoy hunting their favorite quarry in the Tiadaghton’s vast woodlands. Hunting is permitted throughout the state forest except in safety zones around buildings and picnic areas. Contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission for details and licensing information. Though most of Tiadaghton State Forest’s 146,539 acres reside in Lycoming County, some tracts extend into.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Open and upcoming seasons, Tiadaghton State Forest
From the first junior squirrel weekend to late flintlock, 48 segments apply somewhere in Tiadaghton State Forest this license year.
| Species | Hunt | Unit | Opening day | Closing day | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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.
Around Tiadaghton State Forest: more public land
Orange is Tiadaghton State Forest; the other pins are public land within 25 miles. Tioga State Forest leads the list by size, 161,890 acres.
| Nearby area | Kind | Size (ac) | Miles | Heading | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Pine State Park | State park | 1,700 | 3 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 114 | State Game Lands | 2,884 | 8 mi | east | 2G |
| State Game Lands 89 | State Game Lands | 10,571 | 9 mi | southwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 75 | State Game Lands | 27,500 | 10 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 68 | State Game Lands | 3,761 | 12 mi | northwest | 2G |
| Hyner Run State Park | State park | 90 | 14 mi | west | 2G |
| State Game Lands 126 | State Game Lands | 646 | 18 mi | southeast | 4D |
| State Game Lands 133 | State Game Lands | 2,542 | 19 mi | east | 3B |
| State Game Lands 255 | State Game Lands | 2,221 | 20 mi | southwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 298 | State Game Lands | 1,140 | 20 mi | east | 3B |
| State Game Lands 268 | State Game Lands | 3,049 | 21 mi | north | 2G |
| Tioga State Forest | State forest | 161,890 | 21 mi | north | 2G, 3A, 3B |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR Bureau of Forestry boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Antlerless licenses and harvest around Tiadaghton State Forest
These numbers describe the whole WMU, not this property alone.
| WMU | Sq mi | SGL sq mi | Antler rule | Antlerless 2026-27 | Change | 2025 sellout | CWD found | Deer 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Since 2015, the WMU 2G harvest has ranged from 10,200 (2015) to 19,900 (2025). The 2025-26 harvest broke down to 7,600 antlered, 12,300 antlerless. By season: 4,960 archery, 13,500 firearms, 1,440 muzzleloader. The old 2H unit is not in the earlier 2G bars. 57,000 antlerless licenses go to WMU 2G for 2026-27, a change of +/- 0.
WMU 4D: CWD detected. The statewide high-risk parts rule applies. CWD details
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.
Tiadaghton State Forest: nearest towns and businesses
Each town links to its own hunting guide.
| Base town | County | Away | Area is | Residents | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Shore | Lycoming | 10 mi | northwest | 4,100 | 48,426 |
| Lock Haven | Clinton | 14 mi | north | 8,531 | 62,180 |
| Williamsport | Lycoming | 18 mi | west | 27,628 | 20,673 |
| Loganton | Clinton | 20 mi | north | 467 | 96,502 |
After the shot: local businesses
Agency 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.
Linked public ground for Tiadaghton State Forest
Links go to full pages for each area.
Other areas in these counties
| Area | Type | Counties | Acres | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sproul State Forest | State forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 305,450 | 22 mi |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 265,000 | 33 mi |
| Elk State Forest | State forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 217,000 | 44 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 29 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 52 mi |
| Tioga State Forest | State forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 161,890 | 21 mi |
| Loyalsock State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford | 114,552 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 13 | State Game Lands | Sullivan, Columbia, Lycoming | 50,745 | 49 mi |
| State Game Lands 75 | State Game Lands | Lycoming | 27,500 | 10 mi |
| State Game Lands 37 | State Game Lands | Tioga | 13,136 | 39 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 23 mi |
| State Game Lands 89 | State Game Lands | Clinton | 10,571 | 9 mi |
| State Game Lands 208 | State Game Lands | Tioga | 8,833 | 32 mi |
| State Game Lands 134 | State Game Lands | Lycoming, Sullivan | 8,615 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 64 | State Game Lands | Potter | 8,100 | 35 mi |
| State Game Lands 59 | State Game Lands | Potter, McKean | 7,023 | 55 mi |
| Tioga-Hammond Lakes | Corps lake | Tioga | 6,488 | 40 mi |
| State Game Lands 204 | State Game Lands | Potter | 4,030 | 53 mi |
Tiadaghton State Forest, county by county
| County | Acreage |
|---|---|
| Lycoming County | 127,341 |
| Clinton County | 14,063 |
| Potter County | 2,415 |
| Tioga County | 1,998 |
| Union County | 1,203 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Where to sight in near Tiadaghton State Forest
About 50 miles separates Tiadaghton State Forest from State Game Lands 176 Public Shooting Range, the nearest PGC range. Club ranges nearby round out the list.
Rifle range 200 yd, 25 points; Handgun range 50 yd, 25 points; Shotgun patterning 20/40 yd; Claybird throwing area; Archery range 10/20/30/40/50 yd, 11 lanes
Rifle
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Packing for Tiadaghton State Forest
Matched to the species on this page, with live listings.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Shooting hours at Tiadaghton State Forest this week
Morning shooting time begins a half hour before sunup. Big game and small game run to a half hour after sundown; ducks, geese and doves stop at sundown.
Times worked out for Tiadaghton 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.
Answers for Tiadaghton State Forest hunters
Can I get a doe tag for Tiadaghton State Forest?
A WMU 2G antlerless license; PGC allocated 57,000 for 2026-27.
Which unit sets the seasons on Tiadaghton State Forest?
WMU 2G and WMU 4D covers it. Three points on one antler makes a legal buck in WMU 2G. Some of the ground falls in WMU 4D. Three-up units among them: none.
Are Sundays open at Tiadaghton State Forest?
Yes, in every 2026-27 season except migratory birds.
When is deer season on Tiadaghton State Forest?
Bowhunting from Oct 3, 2026, rifle Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026. Every segment is in the table above.
Which license covers hunting on Tiadaghton State Forest?
Residents need the $20.97 adult license; juniors pay $6.97.
Do I need orange on Tiadaghton State Forest?
In small game and firearms big game seasons, 250 square inches combined on head, chest and back.
Where can I go if Tiadaghton State Forest has too many hunters?
Closest on the list: Little Pine State Park (3 miles), State Game Lands 114 (8 miles) and State Game Lands 89 (9 miles), all within a short drive.
Which species can hunters pursue on Tiadaghton State Forest?
Listed game: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse.
Is there an official map of Tiadaghton State Forest?
Open the official link in the summary band.
Is the Tiadaghton State Forest area good for deer?
The unit gave 19,900 deer in 2025-26 (PGC estimate).
Which office is in charge of Tiadaghton State Forest?
the DCNR Bureau of Forestry runs it as a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping.
Closing notes on Tiadaghton State Forest
Seasons, closures and road access on Tiadaghton State Forest can change during the license year. Check the official page before you load the truck.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: tiadaghton · 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: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0).