All Special Regulations Area counties are now contained within the Wildlife Management Unit system. Seasons and antler restriction requirements are based mostly on these units and general deer seasons. However, certain laws and regulations in regards to arms and ammunition still apply to specific counties in Special Regulations Areas.
Private Property Deer Baiting
A baiting permit no longer is needed when using bait to hunt deer on private property in the Southeast Special Regulations Area. However, other requirements remain. Bait must be shelled corn or protein-pellet supplements; bait accumulation must not exceed 5 gallons at any time; bait only can be used from two weeks before the opening of the first deer season to the close of the last deer season; automatic mechanical feeders must be used; and feeders must distribute bait during hunting hours, no more than three times a day. Landowners and hunters need to ensure bait sites comply with regulations.
Manually operated or semiautomatic shotguns plugged to a 3-shell capacity; manually operated or semiautomatic 22 caliber or less rimfire rifles; manually operated 22 caliber or less rimfire handguns; and bows and crossbows. Buckshot is not permitted. A manually operated or semiautomatic air rifle or manually operated air handgun that propels a single-projectile pellet or bullet for small game in calibers from .177 to .22. For woodchucks and furbearers, air guns must be 22 caliber. BB ammunition cannot be used. In Special Regulations Areas bottleneck centerfire cartridges are prohibited. Coyote and woodchuck hunters can use centerfire straight-walled cartridges in rifles and manually operated handguns. In Philadelphia County, Ridley Creek State Park, and Tyler State Park only bows and arrows, crossbows, air rifles and shotguns are permitted. Centerfire, single-projectile ammunition is prohibited in these areas.
Manually operated or semiautomatic 22 caliber or less rimfire rifles and manually operated 22 caliber or less rimfire handguns. A manually operated or semiautomatic air rifle or manually operated air handgun in calibers from .177 to .22 that propel a single-projectile pellet or bullet. BB ammunition cannot be used.
Fluorescent Orange
Oct. 14-21
Oct. 19-21
Junior, senior license holders, Mentored license holders, disabled person permit holders, and PA residents serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces
Nov. 25-Dec. 9
WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D: Dec. 26-Jan. 27; Other WMUs Dec. 26-Jan. 15
WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D: Dec. 26-Jan. 27
WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D