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Big game · 2026-27
Black Bear Hunting in Pennsylvania
The regular bear season is four days long, Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 through Tuesday, Nov 24, 2026, and every WMU is open. Dates, limits, land, rules and harvest numbers for black bears, all from the Game Commission.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Hunters took 2,890 bears in 2025 on 199,108 bear licenses sold; the PGC put the 2025 bear population at about 19,347. In 2024 Tioga County led with 163 bears, ahead of Clinton (157) and Lycoming (148). The heaviest Pennsylvania bear on PGC record weighed 875 pounds, taken in Pike County in 2010.
Black Bear at a glance
- Regular firearms Nov. 21-24, 2026; muzzleloader and special firearms Oct. 22-25; archery Oct. 17-25 (longer in 2B, 3C, 3D, 5B, 5C, 5D).
- Extended firearms Nov. 28-Dec. 6 (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E, 5A) or Nov. 28-Dec. 13 (2B, 5B, 5C, 5D).
- One bear per license year; bear license ($16.97 resident) required; check within 24 hours.
Black Bear dates by WMU and zone
The table lists 8 rows from the PGC season table and digest; the last column checks each one against today.
| Segment | Where | Opening | Closing | Days | Sundays | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | 70 | 10 | |
| Archery | WMUs 3C, 3D, 5B | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 49 | 7 | |
| Archery | WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Special firearms | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Regular firearms | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | 4 | 1 | |
| Extended firearms | WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E, 5A | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Extended firearms | WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, 5D | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 16 | 3 |
Rules attached to the dates
- One bear per license year; bear license required.
- One bear per license year; bear license required. Longer 3C/3D season is new for 2026-27 in response to bear-human conflicts.
- One bear per license year; bear license required. 250 sq in orange.
- One bear per license year; bear license required. Junior and senior license holders, mentored permit holders 7 and older, Disabled Person Permit (vehicle) holders, and PA residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services or Coast Guard; also hunters 65 or turning 65 in the license year.
- One bear per license year; bear license required. Check stations open Nov. 21-22, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
Black Bear bag and possession limits
These bear limits apply statewide unless a WMU row says otherwise.
Black bear, 2026-27
One bear per license year.
Black Bear rules WMU by WMU
Pennsylvania sets bear rules by WMU, and unit lines follow roads and rivers rather than county lines. Each code links to its unit guide.
| WMU | Archery | Extended firearms | Bears 2025 | Per 10 sq mi | Bears 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 33 | 0.2 | 26 |
| 1B | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 68 | 0.3 | 67 |
| 2A | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 2 | 0.0 | 6 |
| 2B | Sep 19-Nov 27 | Nov 28-Dec 13 | 6 | 0.0 | 2 |
| 2C | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 106 | 0.3 | 102 |
| 2D | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 175 | 0.7 | 173 |
| 2E | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 57 | 0.5 | 53 |
| 2F | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 228 | 0.9 | 213 |
| 2G | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 488 | 1.2 | 476 |
| 3A | Oct 17-Oct 25 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 206 | 1.4 | 203 |
| 3B | Oct 17-Oct 25 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 300 | 1.4 | 303 |
| 3C | Oct 3-Nov 20 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 204 | 0.9 | 145 |
| 3D | Oct 3-Nov 20 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 416 | 2.0 | 287 |
| 4A | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 73 | 0.4 | 71 |
| 4B | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 66 | 0.4 | 50 |
| 4C | Oct 17-Oct 25 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 189 | 1.1 | 197 |
| 4D | Oct 17-Oct 25 | No | 152 | 0.6 | 143 |
| 4E | Oct 17-Oct 25 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 90 | 0.5 | 96 |
| 5A | Oct 17-Oct 25 | Nov 28-Dec 6 | 9 | 0.1 | 10 |
| 5B | Oct 3-Nov 20 | Nov 28-Dec 13 | 2 | 0.0 | 2 |
| 5C | Sep 19-Nov 27 | Nov 28-Dec 13 | 19 | 0.1 | 17 |
| 5D | Sep 19-Nov 27 | Nov 28-Dec 13 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 |
PGC season table and digest, antlerless allocations and harvest reports (seasons, deer harvest 2025-26, bear report, spring turkey, PGC harvest dashboard), checked October 12, 2026.
Black Bear on State Game Lands and forests
185 areas list bear, from Allegheny National Forest (512,932 acres) down.
| Public area | Kind | County | Unit | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National Forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 1B/2F/3A | 512,932 |
| Sproul State Forest | State Forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 2G | 305,450 |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State Forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 2G/3A | 265,000 |
| Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Warren, McKean, Forest | 1B/2F/3A | 262,965 |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Elk, Forest, McKean | 2F | 249,968 |
| Elk State Forest | State Forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 2G | 217,000 |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State Forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 4D | 194,602 |
| Moshannon State Forest | State Forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 2E/2G/4D | 190,031 |
| Tioga State Forest | State Forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 2G/3A/3B | 161,890 |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State Forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 2G/4D | 146,539 |
| Loyalsock State Forest | State Forest | Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford | 3B | 114,552 |
| Rothrock State Forest | State Forest | Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin | 4A/4D | 96,000 |
| Delaware State Forest | State Forest | Pike, Monroe | 3D | 83,519 |
| Buchanan State Forest | State Forest | Bedford, Fulton, Franklin | 4A/4B | 71,683 |
| Forbes State Forest | State Forest | Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland | 2C | 59,000 |
The rest of the list
Pinchot State Forest (54,000 ac) · State Game Lands 13 (50,745 ac) · State Game Lands 57 (46,676 ac) · State Game Lands 44 (39,335 ac) · Weiser State Forest (30,000 ac) · State Game Lands 75 (27,500 ac) · State Game Lands 25 (24,379 ac) · Gallitzin State Forest (24,370 ac) · State Game Lands 108 (22,739 ac) · State Game Lands 100 (21,071 ac) · Ohiopyle State Park (20,000 ac) · State Game Lands 54 (19,408 ac) · State Game Lands 36 (18,972 ac) · State Game Lands 42 (18,041 ac) · State Game Lands 33 (17,755 ac) · State Game Lands 14 (17,360 ac) · State Game Lands 87 (17,296 ac) · State Game Lands 141 (17,227 ac) · State Game Lands 51 (16,945 ac) · Clear Creek State Forest (16,716 ac) · State Game Lands 86 (14,320 ac) · Moraine State Park (14,000 ac) · State Game Lands 37 (13,136 ac) · Hickory Run State Park (13,000 ac) · Laurel Ridge State Park (13,000 ac) · State Game Lands 295 (12,338 ac) · State Game Lands 30 (11,658 ac) · State Game Lands 210 (11,131 ac) · Cook Forest State Park (11,000 ac) · State Game Lands 95 (10,626 ac) · State Game Lands 89 (10,571 ac) · Pymatuning State Park (10,300 ac) · Ricketts Glen State Park (10,287 ac) · State Game Lands 61 (9,972 ac) · State Game Lands 106 (9,857 ac) · State Game Lands 29 (9,830 ac) · State Game Lands 34 (9,558 ac) · State Game Lands 103 (8,995 ac) · Erie National Wildlife Refuge (8,959 ac) · State Game Lands 208 (8,833 ac) · State Game Lands 60 (8,773 ac) · State Game Lands 217 (8,622 ac) · State Game Lands 24 (8,585 ac) · State Game Lands 187 (8,157 ac) · State Game Lands 64 (8,100 ac) · State Game Lands 168 (7,814 ac) · Raccoon Creek State Park (7,000 ac) · Oil Creek State Park (6,800 ac) · State Game Lands 74 (6,568 ac) · State Game Lands 176 (6,501 ac) · State Game Lands 331 (6,438 ac) · State Game Lands 70 (6,335 ac) · French Creek State Park (6,000 ac) · Lehigh Gorge State Park (6,000 ac) · State Game Lands 65 (6,000 ac) · State Game Lands 38 (5,818 ac) · Prince Gallitzin State Park (5,600 ac) · Tobyhanna State Park (5,200 ac) · State Game Lands 31 (5,157 ac) · Blue Knob State Park (5,000 ac) · 110 more listed in the land directory
Counties to start with for black bears
- Tioga County163 bears in 2024
- Clinton County157 bears in 2024
- Lycoming County148 bears in 2024
- Bradford County133 bears in 2024
- Potter County109 bears in 2024
- Luzerne County95 bears in 2024
- Monroe County93 bears in 2024
- Pike County85 bears in 2024
- McKean County78 bears in 2024
- Sullivan County75 bears in 2024
- Venango County74 bears in 2024
- Warren County67 bears in 2024
- Clearfield County67 bears in 2024
- Centre County64 bears in 2024
- Schuylkill County64 bears in 2024
PGC State Game Lands GIS, DCNR forest and park hunting pages and federal managers (PGC layers), retrieved 2026-10-12. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.
How many black bears hunters take
Hunters took 2,890 bears in 2025; the best year in this series was 2019 with 4,657.
The biggest bears of recent seasons
| Year | Pounds | County | Municipality | Season or method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 717 | Butler | – | regular firearms season |
| 2024 | 774 | Monroe | – | statewide regular bear season |
| 2024 | 714 | Clarion | Perry Township | rifle season |
| 2024 | 700 | Potter | Harrison Township | archery season |
| 2023 | 691 | Pike | Porter Township | extended rifle season |
| 2023 | 645 | Schuylkill | Foster Township | archery |
| 2023 | 636 | Lackawanna | Roaring Brook Township | firearms season |
| 2022 | 755 | Monroe | Middle Smithfield Township | muzzleloader |
| 2022 | 746 | Monroe | Barrett Township | rifle |
| 2022 | 705 | Monroe | Middle Smithfield Township | muzzleloader |
| 2021 | 722 | Franklin | Letterkenny Township | shotgun |
| 2021 | 681 | Luzerne | Newport Township | bow |
| 2021 | 676 | Armstrong | West Franklin Township | – |
| 2020 | 719 | Fulton | Ayr Township | crossbow |
| 2020 | 657 | Pike | Lehman Township | muzzleloader |
| 2020 | 656 | Carbon | Penn Forest Township | shotgun |
| 2019 | 813 | Monroe | Smithfield Township | rifle |
| 2019 | 747 | Luzerne | Wright Township | rifle |
| 2019 | 743 | Pike | Greene Township | rifle |
Record: 875 pounds, Pike County, 2010. Hunter names deliberately omitted.
| PGC region (2024) | Bears |
|---|---|
| Northcentral | 918 |
| Northeast | 805 |
| Northwest | 385 |
| Southcentral | 193 |
| Southwest | 174 |
| Southeast | 167 |
Harvest data: big game harvest, 2024 release, 2025 bear report. Estimates as published by the PGC.
Black Bear rules in Pennsylvania
Before going after black bears, check these license, hour and orange rules.
Licenses and fees
Prices as the PGC lists them for black bears.
Shooting hours
Shooting hours for black bears begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset.
Orange rule
Firearms bear hunters need 250 square inches of orange visible from all sides. Archers in an archery-only season do not.
Sunday hunting
Bear hunters may hunt Sundays this year; written landowner permission on private land is recommended rather than required. Sunday hunting guide
Bear check
Tag to the ear immediately; have the bear checked by PGC within 24 hours. Check stations open only Nov. 21-22 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.) and select extended-season days; otherwise call 1-833-PGC-HUNT/1-833-PGC-WILD. Online-bought bear licenses cannot be used until the physical tag arrives.
Bait, scents and feeding
Unlawful to hunt bears over bait used within 30 days or to use scents/lures for bears; unlawful to intentionally place food that causes bears to congregate.
The bear license
Covers bear archery and muzzleloader seasons without archery/muzzleloader licenses; on sale through Dec. 13. Eligibility: Ages 7+.
Big Game Records minimums for bear
Firearm 19 and archery 17 (skull score). PGC Big Game Scoring Program, based on Boone and Crockett measuring; listed animals added to the Pennsylvania Big Game Records book (new book each October, $10 plus shipping/tax); Exclusive Member patch $9.43.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission 2026-27 digest, license types and harvest reporting, checked October 12, 2026. Pennsylvania hunting laws · License guide.
Legal arms and methods: black bears
What you can carry after black bears, and what the PGC bans.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| Deer and bear regular firearms (and special/extended) | Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns (revolvers/single-shots) and shotguns with all-lead or expanding bullets; semiautomatic centerfire shotguns with single projectiles (no plug needed); muzzleloading long guns .44+ or handguns .50+; bows (35 lb) and crossbows (125 lb) with broadheads at least 7/8 in wide and no longer than 3.25 in. | Buckshot (except special-permit controlled hunts); semiautomatic rifles. |
| Archery deer and bear | Long, recurve and compound bows (35 lb minimum) and crossbows (125 lb minimum); broadheads 7/8 in minimum width, 3.25 in max length; magnifying scopes and red dots on crossbows; lighted pins/reticles that cast no beam. | Firearms (except License to Carry holders with authorized handguns); muzzleloaders only during muzzleloader-season overlaps with both licenses and orange. |
| October muzzleloader (antlerless deer, bear) | Single-barrel muzzleloading long gun (flintlock, in-line or percussion) .44 caliber or larger, or .50+ handgun; breech-loaded encapsulated propellant with muzzle-loaded bullet; scopes permitted. | Multi-barrel guns. |
| Crossbows | Legal in all archery, firearms deer/bear and small game seasons; minimum 125 lb draw for deer, bear and elk. | Cocked crossbow with bolt in, on or against a motorized conveyance. |
Black Bear methods and restrictions
Bear baiting, scents and feeding
Unlawful to hunt bears over bait used within 30 days or to use scents/lures for bears; unlawful to intentionally place food that causes bears to congregate.
Drives
Drives permitted for deer and bear only; unlawful to drive elk or turkeys; drivers must be licensed and wear orange.
Hunting parties
Max 25 for deer, elk or bears; max 6 for small game (not waterfowl/dove hunters in blinds or stationary).
Dogs
Unlawful to use dogs to hunt elk, bears, deer or spring turkeys; dogs allowed for fall turkey, small game and furbearers (not during regular firearms deer and bear seasons for furbearers). Leashed tracking dogs may recover deer, bear or elk with no permit.
Tracking wounded game
Notify the Centralized Dispatch Center (1-833-PGC-HUNT) when tracking after hours or on closed days; cannot dispatch injured wildlife outside lawful hunting.
2026-27 digest, sporting arms and unlawful acts pages, checked October 12, 2026.
More Pennsylvania game near bear country
Common bear questions
When are Pennsylvania bear check stations open?
Check stations open only Nov. 21-22 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.) and select extended-season days; otherwise call 1-833-PGC-HUNT/1-833-PGC-WILD. Online-bought bear licenses cannot be used until the physical tag arrives.
Which county gives up the most bears?
In 2024, Tioga County with 163 bears; in the 2025 report the top county was Tioga. The county table on this page lists more.
How big do Pennsylvania black bears get?
The record on PGC releases is 875 pounds from Pike County (2010). In 2025 the largest was 717 pounds from Butler County; 6 bears of at least 600 lb, 30 of at least 500 lb, 69 of at least 400 lb.
Can I bait a bear in Pennsylvania?
Unlawful to hunt bears over bait used within 30 days or to use scents/lures for bears; unlawful to intentionally place food that causes bears to congregate.
Which weapons are legal for black bears?
Deer and bear regular firearms (and special/extended): Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns (revolvers/single-shots) and shotguns with all-lead or expanding bullets; semiautomatic centerfire shotguns with single projectiles (no plug needed); muzzleloading long guns .44+ or handguns .50+; bows (35 lb) and crossbows (125 lb) with broadheads at least 7/8 in wide and no longer than 3.25 in.
When does the bear season start?
The PGC sets black bears at archery Sep 19 to Nov 27, 2026 (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D); archery Oct 3 to Nov 20, 2026 (WMUs 3C, 3D, 5B); archery Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026 (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A); muzzleloader Oct 22 to Oct 25, 2026; special firearms Oct 22 to Oct 25, 2026. Every segment is in the season table.
What is the limit on black bears?
One bear per license year.
What license do I need for black bears?
Required or relevant: Resident Adult Hunting License ($20.97); Resident Bear License ($16.97); Nonresident Adult Hunting License ($101.97); Nonresident Bear License ($36.97).
How many public tracts list black bears?
185 public tracts, including Allegheny National Forest, Sproul State Forest and Susquehannock State Forest.
Are there hour limits on black bears?
Shooting hours for black bears begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset.
Is fluorescent orange required for black bears?
Firearms bear hunters need 250 square inches of orange visible from all sides. Archers in an archery-only season do not.
Are black bears open on Sundays this year?
Bear hunters may hunt Sundays this year; written landowner permission on private land is recommended rather than required.
Black Bear country: what to bring along
Picked for the game hunted here; prices load when you click.
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Last word on black bears
Before the bear trip, confirm your WMU, your license and the orange rule for the segment you hunt.
Other photos on this page: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain); Greg Gilbert (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0).