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Junior and mentored hunters
Pennsylvania Youth and Mentored Hunting
11 season segments open to junior or mentored hunters, licenses from $2.97, the Mentored Hunting Program rules, Hunter-Trapper Education from age 11, and controlled youth hunts at Middle Creek and Pymatuning.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Youth and junior seasons, 2026-27
Junior squirrel Sept. 12-27, junior rabbit Oct. 3-18, then pheasant, special firearms deer and bear, the youth waterfowl days and the spring gobbler youth hunt.
| Game | Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Today | Who and limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrels | Junior hunt (red, gray, black and fox combined) | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Eligible junior hunters (with or without required license) and mentored hunters under 17. 6 daily; 18 possession after second day. | |
| Waterfowl | Junior (youth) day | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | Junior and mentored youth hunters, properly accompanied. Ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese; regular-season bag limits. Hours close at sunset. | |
| Waterfowl | Junior, veteran and active-duty military day | Northwest Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 26, 2026 | Junior and mentored youth hunters, veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) and active-duty Armed Forces incl. National Guard/Reserves on active duty. Ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese; regular-season bag limits. | |
| Cottontail | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Eligible junior hunters and mentored hunters under 17. 4 daily, 12 possession. | |
| Pheasant | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Junior hunters (with or without required license) and all mentored hunters regardless of age. 2 daily, 6 possession. Pheasant permit required (free under 17). Closed in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas. | |
| Black bear | Special firearms | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 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. | |
| White-tailed deer | Special firearms (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | Junior and senior license holders, mentored permit holders, Disabled Person Permit (vehicle as blind) holders, and residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard. One antlerless deer per antlerless license. | |
| Waterfowl | Junior, veteran and active-duty military day | Lake Erie Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | Junior and mentored youth hunters, veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) and active-duty Armed Forces incl. National Guard/Reserves on active duty. Ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese; regular-season bag limits. | |
| Waterfowl | Junior, veteran and active-duty military day | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | Junior and mentored youth hunters, veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) and active-duty Armed Forces incl. National Guard/Reserves on active duty. Ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese; regular-season bag limits. | |
| Waterfowl | Junior, veteran and active-duty military day | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 | Junior and mentored youth hunters, veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) and active-duty Armed Forces incl. National Guard/Reserves on active duty. Ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese; regular-season bag limits. | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler youth hunt | Statewide | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | Junior license holders and mentored youth 16 and under. Bearded bird only; 1 spring gobbler limit. Hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon. |
Sources: PGC seasons and bag limits; digest youth seasons, p. 40, verified October 12, 2026.
Licenses for young and new hunters
A junior license covers ages 12 to 16. Below 12, a child hunts on a mentored youth permit, which already carries antlered deer and both turkey tags.
| License or permit | Ages | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Junior Hunting License | PA residents 12-16 (11 if turning 12 by June 30 and HTE complete) | $6.97 | Parent/guardian signature; no archery/muzzleloader/furtaker add-ons. |
| Nonresident Junior Hunting License | Nonresidents 12-16 | $41.97 | |
| Resident Junior Combination License | PA residents 12-16 | $9.97 | Hunting, furtaker, archery and muzzleloader privileges. |
| Nonresident Junior Combination License | Nonresidents 12-16 | $51.97 | |
| Resident Junior Furtaker License | PA residents 12-16 | $6.97 | |
| Nonresident Junior Furtaker License | Nonresidents 12-16 | $41.97 | |
| Resident Mentored Youth Permit | Under 12 | $2.97 | Includes antlered deer, fall and spring turkey tags. |
| Nonresident Mentored Youth Permit | Under 12 | $2.97 | |
| Resident Mentored Junior Hunting Permit | 12-16 | $6.97 | Max 3 years. |
| Nonresident Mentored Junior Hunting Permit | 12-16 | $41.97 | Max 3 years. |
| Resident Mentored Adult Permit | 17+, never licensed | $20.97 | Max 3 years. |
| Nonresident Mentored Adult Permit | 17+, never licensed | $101.97 | Max 3 years. |
| Junior Pheasant Permit | Junior hunters and mentored hunters under 17 | Free | |
| Resident Bear License | Ages 7+ (digest) | $16.97 | Covers bear archery and muzzleloader seasons without archery/muzzleloader licenses; on sale through Dec. 13. |
| Nonresident Bear License | Ages 7+ (digest) | $36.97 |
Sources: license fee table; license types, verified October 12, 2026.
Education and supervision by age
Twelve- and thirteen-year-olds hunt with an adult family member; fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds with any adult; sixteen-year-olds may hunt alone.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hunter-Trapper Education | Anyone who has never held a hunting license in PA or another state/nation must complete an accredited Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) course before buying a hunting license. Exempt: U.S. Armed Forces members currently serving or honorably discharged within six months of application. |
| Course options | In-person Basic HTE course free for ages 11+; interactive online course $49.95 (PA residents 11+); standard online course $34.95 (PA residents 16+); NRA online course free (PA residents 11+). Pass mark 80%. |
| First junior license | 12 (11-year-olds who completed HTE may buy if they turn 12 by June 30, but may not hunt until 12). |
| Who goes along | Ages 12-13 must be accompanied by an adult family member 18+ (or adult in place of a parent); 14-15 by any adult 18+; 16 may hunt alone. Accompanying adult must be within sight and verbal control without electronic aids. |
Sources: Hunter-Trapper Education; digest p. 11, verified October 12, 2026.
The Mentored Hunting Program
No course needed, a mentor of 21 or older, and one sporting arm shared between them.
- Mentored hunters need no HTE course.
- Mentor: licensed hunter 21+.
- Mentored hunters 12+ limited to three license years; those who were mentored three years before 12 must get a license at 12.
- Mentored hunters 16 and under must be stationary and within arm's reach of the mentor; 17+ within eyesight and voice range.
- Mentor plus youth may carry only one hunting device; mentor may accompany up to two additional hunters.
- Mentored hunters may hunt squirrels, rabbits, hares, grouse, quail, pheasants, waterfowl, crows, doves, porcupines, woodchucks, coyotes, deer, bears (7+ with bear license) and turkeys.
- Fees: $2.97 under 12; $6.97 resident 12-16; $41.97 nonresident 12-16; $20.97 resident 17+; $101.97 nonresident 17+.
Sources: mentored hunting, digest p. 11, verified October 12, 2026.
Rules that work in a young hunter’s favor
Antler rules for juniors
Junior license holders, mentored youth (16 and under), disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind, and resident active-duty U.S. Armed Services personnel may take antlered deer with two or more points on one antler or a spike 3 inches or longer. Senior license holders must follow antler restrictions.
Special firearms season
Deer and bear Oct. 22-25. Eligible: Licensed seniors (65 or turning 65 in the license year), junior license holders, mentored permit holders, qualified active-duty military, and persons with a Disabled Person Permit to use a vehicle as a blind.
Junior pheasant hunt
Oct. 10-18 for junior hunters and all mentored hunters; about 17,000 pheasants stocked. Pheasant permits are free under 17.
Youth waterfowl days
Sept. 19 statewide youth day; youth/veteran/military days Sept. 26 (NW), Oct. 24 (Lake Erie), Oct. 31 (North), Nov. 7 (South).
Spring gobbler youth hunt
Apr. 24-25, 2027, for junior license holders and mentored youth 16 and under; hunting ends at noon.
Bear at age 7
Mentored hunters 7 and older may hunt bears with a bear license, including the special firearms bear season.
Sources: antler restrictions; youth seasons; pheasant release, verified October 12, 2026.
Controlled hunts and programs for new hunters
Middle Creek youth goose hunt
A youth hunt on Nov. 7 is part of the pre-season goose blind drawing at Middle Creek WMA (SGL 46). Applications closed Aug. 26.
Pymatuning youth hunts
A youth-only goose hunt on Oct. 24, plus youth turkey hunts, at Pymatuning WMA (SGL 214) in Crawford County.
Learn to Hunt and Field Days
PGC Learn to Hunt Program and Pennsylvania Field Days offer introductory hunting, trapping and archery programs.
Instructors
Resident Hunting Heritage License ($2.97) for active Hunter-Trapper Education instructors 17+ (validation code from PGC).
Youth and mentored hunting questions
Is there a minimum hunting age in Pennsylvania?
Children under 12 hunt on a mentored youth permit, and PGC now issues harvest tags to mentored hunters under 7. A junior license starts at 12, or at 11 for a child who passed Hunter-Trapper Education and turns 12 by June 30.
Does a mentored hunter need a hunter education course?
No. The mentor must be a licensed hunter 21 or older, and mentored hunters 12 and older can use the program for only three license years.
How close does a mentor have to be?
Mentored hunters 16 and under stay stationary and within arm’s reach. Those 17 and older stay within sight and voice range.
Can a mentor and child each carry a gun?
No. The mentor and youth share one sporting arm, and a mentor may take up to two more hunters along.
When is the junior squirrel hunt?
Sept. 12-27, 2026, statewide. Six squirrels a day.
Do junior hunters have antler restrictions?
Junior license holders and mentored youth 16 and under may take a buck with two or more points on one antler or a spike at least 3 inches long.
Can a 10-year-old hunt bear?
Yes. Mentored hunters 7 and older may hunt bears with a bear license, which costs $16.97 for residents.
What does a junior license cost?
$6.97 for residents, $41.97 for nonresidents. The junior combination license, with archery, muzzleloader and furtaker privileges, is $9.97 resident.
When is the youth spring gobbler hunt?
Apr. 24-25, 2027, from a half hour before sunrise to noon. One bearded bird is the spring limit.
Before you head to the ridge
Everything on this page was read from Game Commission and DCNR documents on October 12, 2026. Where this summary and the official text differ, the official text governs.
Other photos on this page: Ty Nigh (CC BY 2.0); Acorns Resort (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0); c w (CC BY 2.0).