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2026-27 license year

Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania

2026-27 is the first license year with every Sunday open inside every season except migratory game birds. Here is what that means season by season.

All but migratorySeasons with Sundays
3Southeast park Sundays
21Pheasant Sundays
RecommendedPrivate land permission

Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain)

The 2026-27 Sunday rules

The PGC wording, from the digest, the deer section and the season releases.

  • First license year with all Sundays open within every season except migratory game birds (waterfowl, doves, woodcock etc.; crows excepted). Written landowner permission on private land Sundays is recommended, no longer required. State parks/preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties: Sundays limited to Nov. 15, 22 and 29. Pheasant season now includes all 21 Sundays.
  • All deer seasons include every Sunday within them (first year of full Sunday hunting). In state parks/preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties Sunday hunting is limited to Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29.
  • All seasons except migratory game birds include all Sundays. Written permission on private land recommended, not required. Limited to Nov. 15, 22, 29 in state parks/preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
  • Sunday hunting expanded: every season except migratory game birds now includes all Sundays within it; many seasons now end on Sunday.

digest Sunday hunting, PGC archery release, PGC pheasant release, digest. Checked October 12, 2026.

Sundays inside each season

Every dated non-migratory row, with the Sundays it now includes: 625 season-Sundays across all rows.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesSundays insideSunday hunting
SquirrelsJunior huntStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 20263Yes
SquirrelsRegular seasonStatewideSep 12, 2026Dec 24, 202615Yes
SquirrelsRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 202710Yes
Ruffed grouseRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 24, 202610Yes
CottontailJunior huntStatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 20263Yes
CottontailRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 24, 202610Yes
CottontailRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 202710Yes
PheasantJunior huntStatewideOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 20262Yes
PheasantRegular seasonStatewideOct 24, 2026Dec 24, 20269Yes
PheasantRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 202710Yes
Bobwhite quailRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 24, 202616Yes
Bobwhite quailRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Mar 31, 202714Yes
Snowshoe hareRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Dec 31, 20261Yes
WoodchuckRegular seasonStatewideJul 1, 2026Dec 24, 202625Yes
WoodchuckRegular seasonStatewideDec 26, 2026Jun 30, 202727Yes
CrowRegular, Thu to SunStatewideAug 20, 2026Mar 21, 202731Yes
Starling, sparrowNo closed seasonStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202749Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4DOct 31, 2026Nov 15, 20263Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 1B, 3D, 4C, 4EOct 31, 2026Nov 8, 20262Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3COct 31, 2026Nov 15, 20263Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3CNov 25, 2026Nov 27, 20260Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 2B, 2C, 2D, 2EOct 31, 2026Nov 20, 20263Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 2B, 2C, 2D, 2ENov 25, 2026Nov 27, 20260Yes
Wild turkeyFall seasonWMUs 5A, 5BOct 31, 2026Nov 3, 20261Yes
Wild turkeySpring gobbler youth huntStatewideApr 24, 2027Apr 25, 20271Yes
Wild turkeySpring gobbler, morningsStatewideMay 1, 2027May 15, 20272Yes
Wild turkeySpring gobbler, all dayStatewideMay 16, 2027May 31, 20273Yes
Black bearArcheryWMUs 2B, 5C, 5DSep 19, 2026Nov 27, 202610Yes
Black bearArcheryWMUs 3C, 3D, 5BOct 3, 2026Nov 20, 20267Yes
Black bearArcheryWMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5AOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20262Yes
Black bearMuzzleloaderStatewideOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 20261Yes
Black bearSpecial firearmsStatewideOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 20261Yes
Black bearRegular firearmsStatewideNov 21, 2026Nov 24, 20261Yes
Black bearExtended firearmsWMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E, 5ANov 28, 2026Dec 6, 20262Yes
Black bearExtended firearmsWMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, 5DNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 20263Yes
ElkArcheryElk Zones 301-309Sep 12, 2026Sep 27, 20263Yes
ElkFirst firearms (new)Elk Zones 301-309Oct 3, 2026Oct 11, 20262Yes
ElkSecond regular firearmsElk Zones 301-309Oct 31, 2026Nov 8, 20262Yes
ElkThird regular firearmsElk Zones 301-309Jan 9, 2027Jan 17, 20272Yes
ElkRMEF auction and KECA raffle tagsElk Zones 301-309Jul 1, 2026Nov 8, 202619Yes
White-tailed deerArcheryWMUs 2B, 5C, 5DSep 19, 2026Nov 27, 202610Yes
White-tailed deerArcheryWMUs 2B, 5C, 5DDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 20275Yes
White-tailed deerArcheryOther WMUsOct 3, 2026Nov 20, 20267Yes
White-tailed deerArcheryOther WMUsDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 20275Yes
White-tailed deerOctober muzzleloader antlerlessStatewideOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20262Yes
White-tailed deerSpecial firearms antlerlessStatewideOct 22, 2026Oct 25, 20261Yes
White-tailed deerRegular firearmsStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 20263Yes
White-tailed deerFlintlockStatewideDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 20275Yes
White-tailed deerExtended firearms antlerlessWMUs 2B, 5C, 5DDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 20275Yes
White-tailed deerExtended firearms antlerlessWMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, 5ADec 26, 2026Jan 18, 20274Yes
White-tailed deerExtended firearms antlerlessDMAP properties statewideDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 20275Yes
White-tailed deerAg Tag, antlerlessAg Tag farmsAug 1, 2026Apr 15, 202737Yes
CoyoteHuntingStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202752Yes
FoxHuntingStatewideOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202718Yes
RaccoonHuntingStatewideOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202718Yes
Opossum, skunkHuntingStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 202752Yes
BobcatHuntingWMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5AJan 9, 2027Feb 3, 20274Yes
PorcupineHuntingStatewideOct 10, 2026Nov 27, 20267Yes
PorcupineHuntingStatewideDec 14, 2026Dec 24, 20261Yes
PorcupineHuntingStatewideDec 26, 2026Jan 31, 20276Yes
Mink and muskratTrappingStatewideNov 21, 2026Jan 10, 20278Yes
FurbearersTrappingStatewideOct 24, 2026Feb 21, 202718Yes
Coyote, foxCable restraintsStatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 21, 20279Yes
BeaverTrappingStatewideDec 19, 2026Mar 31, 202715Yes
BobcatTrappingWMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5ADec 19, 2026Jan 10, 20274Yes
FisherTrappingWMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4EDec 19, 2026Jan 10, 20274Yes
River otterTrappingWMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4EFeb 13, 2027Feb 21, 20272Yes
DucksRegular seasonNorth ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 24, 20262No
DucksRegular seasonNorth ZoneNov 17, 2026Jan 9, 20277No
DucksRegular seasonSouth ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 17, 20261No
DucksRegular seasonSouth ZoneNov 18, 2026Jan 18, 20279No
DucksRegular seasonNorthwest ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 27, 20267No
DucksRegular seasonNorthwest ZoneDec 21, 2026Jan 9, 20272No
DucksRegular seasonLake Erie ZoneNov 2, 2026Jan 9, 20279No
WaterfowlJunior (youth) dayStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 19, 20260No
WaterfowlJunior and military dayLake Erie ZoneOct 24, 2026Oct 24, 20260No
WaterfowlJunior and military dayNorthwest ZoneSep 26, 2026Sep 26, 20260No
WaterfowlJunior and military dayNorth ZoneOct 31, 2026Oct 31, 20260No
WaterfowlJunior and military daySouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 7, 20260No
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayLake Erie ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270No
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayNorthwest ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270No
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayNorth ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270No
WaterfowlVeteran and military daySouth ZoneJan 23, 2027Jan 23, 20270No
Canada gooseSeptember seasonResident Population ZoneSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 20263No
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneOct 24, 2026Nov 27, 20265No
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneDec 15, 2026Jan 18, 20275No
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneJan 29, 2027Feb 20, 20273No
Canada gooseSeptember seasonAtlantic Population ZoneSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 20263No
Canada gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneNov 21, 2026Nov 27, 20261No
Canada gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneDec 4, 2026Jan 18, 20277No
BrantRegular seasonAll zonesOct 10, 2026Nov 13, 20265No
Snow gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneNov 6, 2026Mar 10, 202718No
Snow gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneNov 6, 2026Mar 10, 202718No
Mourning doveRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 27, 202612No
Mourning doveRegular seasonStatewideDec 18, 2026Jan 2, 20272No
WoodcockRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 20268No
SnipeRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 20268No
GallinulesRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 202611No
RailsRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 202611No

Sundays counted from the season dates. Waterfowl, doves, woodcock, snipe, rails and gallinules stay closed on Sundays.

seasons and bag limits. Checked October 12, 2026.

What stays closed on Sundays

Federal frameworks keep migratory game birds off Sundays. Crows are the exception: their season is Thursday to Sunday.

SpeciesSeasonZoneOpensClosesSundays lost
DucksRegular seasonNorth ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 24, 20262
DucksRegular seasonNorth ZoneNov 17, 2026Jan 9, 20277
DucksRegular seasonSouth ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 17, 20261
DucksRegular seasonSouth ZoneNov 18, 2026Jan 18, 20279
DucksRegular seasonNorthwest ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 27, 20267
DucksRegular seasonNorthwest ZoneDec 21, 2026Jan 9, 20272
DucksRegular seasonLake Erie ZoneNov 2, 2026Jan 9, 20279
WaterfowlJunior (youth) dayStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 19, 20260
WaterfowlJunior and military dayLake Erie ZoneOct 24, 2026Oct 24, 20260
WaterfowlJunior and military dayNorthwest ZoneSep 26, 2026Sep 26, 20260
WaterfowlJunior and military dayNorth ZoneOct 31, 2026Oct 31, 20260
WaterfowlJunior and military daySouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 7, 20260
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayLake Erie ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayNorthwest ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270
WaterfowlVeteran and military dayNorth ZoneJan 16, 2027Jan 16, 20270
WaterfowlVeteran and military daySouth ZoneJan 23, 2027Jan 23, 20270
Canada gooseSeptember seasonResident Population ZoneSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 20263
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneOct 24, 2026Nov 27, 20265
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneDec 15, 2026Jan 18, 20275
Canada gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneJan 29, 2027Feb 20, 20273
Canada gooseSeptember seasonAtlantic Population ZoneSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 20263
Canada gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneNov 21, 2026Nov 27, 20261
Canada gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneDec 4, 2026Jan 18, 20277
BrantRegular seasonAll zonesOct 10, 2026Nov 13, 20265
Snow gooseRegular seasonAtlantic Population ZoneNov 6, 2026Mar 10, 202718
Snow gooseRegular seasonResident Population ZoneNov 6, 2026Mar 10, 202718
Mourning doveRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 27, 202612
Mourning doveRegular seasonStatewideDec 18, 2026Jan 2, 20272
WoodcockRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 20268
SnipeRegular seasonStatewideOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 20268
GallinulesRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 202611
RailsRegular seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 20, 202611

No migratory bird hunting on Sundays; no sink boxes, motor vehicles, aircraft, moving motorboats, live decoys, recorded calls (except snow goose conservation season), baited areas (baited for 30 days after removal) or driving birds.

digest migratory birds. Checked October 12, 2026.

Southeast state parks: three Sundays only

State parks and preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties allow Sunday hunting only on Nov. 15, 22 and 29. These 11 hunting parks on our list sit in those counties.

In state parks/preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties Sunday hunting is limited to Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29.

Rule from the digest; park list is every state park on our list in those counties that allows hunting.

Other Sunday details

Dog training on Sundays

No closed season except on SGLs from the Monday before the youth pheasant season until the statewide pheasant opener; no license needed; landowner permission needed on Sundays on private land.

Orange on State Game Lands

Unlawful to be on State Game Lands Oct. 1-Jan. 31 and April 20-May 31 (Sundays included) without 250 sq in of orange or an orange hat, unless lawfully hunting/trapping/fishing where orange is not required; shooting range users exempt.

Bikes and horses on game lands

Bikes and horses only on designated trails; prohibited Oct. 1-Jan. 31 and April 20-May 31 (incl. Sundays) except while lawfully hunting, trapping or fishing.

digest, orange. Checked October 12, 2026.

Long view over ridge-and-valley country from a rocky overlook in south-central Pennsylvania
Long view over ridge-and-valley country from a rocky overlook in south-central PennsylvaniaPhoto: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0)
Mallard drakes taking flight
Mallard drakes taking flightPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0)
White-tailed deer among pines in winter snow
White-tailed deer among pines in winter snowPhoto: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0)

Sunday hunting questions

Is Sunday hunting legal in Pennsylvania now?

First license year with all Sundays open within every season except migratory game birds (waterfowl, doves, woodcock etc.; crows excepted).

Can I hunt deer on Sunday in Pennsylvania?

All deer seasons include every Sunday within them (first year of full Sunday hunting). In state parks/preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties Sunday hunting is limited to Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29.

Can I hunt ducks or doves on Sunday?

No. Migratory game birds, including waterfowl, doves, woodcock, snipe, rails and gallinules, remain closed on Sundays.

Do I need written permission to hunt private land on Sunday?

It is recommended, no longer required.

Which state parks limit Sunday hunting?

State parks and preserves in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, where Sundays are limited to Nov. 15, 22 and 29.

How many Sundays are in pheasant season?

All 21 Sundays inside the pheasant season are open.

Can crows be hunted on Sunday?

Yes. Crow season runs Thursday through Sunday each week.

Do I have to wear orange on State Game Lands on Sunday if I am not hunting?

Unlawful to be on State Game Lands Oct. 1-Jan. 31 and April 20-May 31 (Sundays included) without 250 sq in of orange or an orange hat, unless lawfully hunting/trapping/fishing where orange is not required; shooting range users exempt.

Plan the weekend

Season calendarSpecies guidesHunting laws