Sunday, Nov. 12
Sunday, Nov. 19
Sunday, Nov. 26
Foxes and coyotes may be hunted on all Sundays within their open seasons.
No LimitNo closed season, with certain exceptions during big-game seasons
No LimitOct. 21-Feb. 17
No LimitJuly 1-June 29 with certain exceptions during big-game seasons
1 per license yearJan. 6-31
WMUS 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D & 4E
Permit required
3 daily, 10 seasonOct. 7-Nov. 24Dec. 11-Dec. 23Dec. 26-Jan. 27
Porcupines may not be hunted at night.
A furtaker license is needed to trap all furbearers, including coyotes.
No Limit
GENERAL
Oct. 21-Feb. 18
CABLE RESTRAINTS
Dec. 26-Feb. 18
No LimitOct. 21-Feb. 18
No LimitNov. 18-Jan. 7
Beavers
Dec. 16-March 31, 2024
WMUS 1A & 1B(Combined) 20 daily, 60 per season
WMUS 2A, 2B & 3C(Combined) 20 daily, 40 per season
WMUS 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 5C & 5D(Combined) 20 daily, 20 per season
WMUS 2G, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A & 5B(Combined), 5 daily, 5 per season
Bobcats
1 per license year with permitDec. 16-Jan. 7
Fishers
1 per license year with permitDec. 16-31
WMUS 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D & 4E
River Otters
1 per license year with permitFeb. 10-17
WMUS 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D & 4E
A furtaker license is not required to hunt coyotes, unless you are out of big-game tags then you’d need a furtaker license, but is required to trap them. Porcupines may be hunted with a hunting or furtaker license. A furtaker license is required to take any other furbearer by hunting or trapping. In addition to a furtaker license, permits are required for bobcat, fisher and otter.
To dispatch trapped animals during deer season, trappers are limited to semiautomatic or manually operated 22-caliber rimfire or smaller rifles, manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rimfire handguns, or manually operated or semiautomatic air- or gasoperated rifles, manually operated handguns, that are 177- to 22-caliber. Persons under 12 may use a 22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle, but only when accompanied by an adult.
It is unlawful to take furbearers, including bobcats, with shotguns using shot larger than size No. 4 buckshot, or implements that are not lawful firearms, bows or crossbows. Semiautomatic and manually operated rifles, manually operated handguns of any caliber, manual or semiautomatic shotguns and, bows and crossbows can be used. Muzzleloading rifles or handguns that propel single-projectile ammunition can be used. Air- or gas-operated firearms of at least 22-caliber and propel a single-projectile pellet or bullet can be used. Persons hunting coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, striped skunks, opossums and weasels may use gun-mounted lights that do not project a laser-light beam, as well as handheld and sporting-arm mounted night-vision and infrared (thermal) optics.
There is no closed season for the hunting of coyotes. Coyotes may be hunted on Sundays throughout the year. There are additional requirements for hunting coyotes during big-game seasons.
Foxes and raccoons may be hunted any hour, day or night, except during the regular firearms deer season, when they may be hunted only after the legal hours for deer. Foxes may be hunted on Sundays throughout the season.
It is unlawful to 1) stake or set traps prior to 7 a.m. on the first day; 2) set traps within 5 feet of a hole or den, except for underwater sets; 3) use pole traps, jaw-toothed traps, deadfalls, poison, explosives, chemicals, or traps with a jaw-spread exceeding 6½ inches as measured to the outside of the jaw; 4) set body-gripping traps outside a watercourse, waterway, marsh, pond or dam; 5) set a trap not marked with one durable identification tag attached to either the trap or chain showing the first and last name and address of the trapper, or a number issued by the Game Commission; 6) set a trap with bait visible from the air; 7) smoke or dig out a den or house or cut den trees; 8) disturb traps or remove any wildlife from the traps of another without specific permission; and 9) on the closing day, fail to remove traps by sunset.
Traps must be visited by the owner once every 36 hours, and each animal removed or released.
It is unlawful to 1) possess green pelts (not dried, cured or tanned), except during open season and for 10 days thereafter; 2) possess live, wild furbearers, except foxes, for which a permit must be issued by the Game Commission; and 3) buy, sell or possess furbearers or parts unlawfully taken, transported, imported, exported or improperly tagged.
It is unlawful to ship furs or harvested furbearers outside the state unless an official “Shipping Tag” is properly attached. Tags are available from Game Commission offices and licensed fur dealers. Furs and furbearers taken outside of Pennsylvania must be tagged according to laws of the state or country where harvested.
It is unlawful to take furbearers through the use of fish hooks, snagging hooks or any other hooks of similar design, or implements that are not lawful traps.
Dogs are permitted to hunt furbearers.
A device that has all triggering and restraining mechanisms enclosed by a housing that, once set, allows access to the triggering and restraining mechanisms through a single opening not to exceed 2 inches in diameter or diagonally and is anchored by a swivel-mounted anchoring mechanism. Encapsulating traps may be used to harvest furbearers during legal seasons.
Cage and box traps can be used to take furbearers, however it is unlawful to 1) use a cage or box trap in water; and 2) use a cage or box trap capable of capturing more than one animal at a time.
A baited enclosure constructed of natural or artificial material that is designed to house and corral a furbearer into a body-gripping trap. Furtakers are permitted to trap furbearers using body-gripping traps set in artificial cubbies when all of the following conditions are met: 1) The artificial cubby is placed within an established watercourse, waterway, marsh, pond or dam. 2) The entrance to the artificial cubby does not exceed 50 square inches. 3) Traps are no larger than 6½ x 6½ inches. 4) The triggering mechanism of the trap is recessed within the artificial cubby at least 7 inches from the entrance. 5) The artificial cubby is anchored in a manner that it cannot be moved or rolled. Note: Requirements 2 through 5 shall not apply to body-gripping traps that are 5½ inches or less and set in artificial cubbies to target mink or muskrat.