A general hunting license or mentored permit is required.
To hunt waterfowl, persons 16 and older are required to have a federal duck stamp, and it must be signed across the face and carried by the hunter. The Electronic Duck Stamp, or E-Stamp, is valid in Pennsylvania, and stamps can be purchased through HuntFishPA.
In addition, all hunters must have a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License to hunt ducks, geese, doves, woodcock, brant, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe. Mentored hunters can purchase migratory game bird licenses and use them to hunt any migratory game bird species authorized for mentored hunting. This license may be obtained from any license issuing agent, or through https://HuntFish.PA.gov.
To hunt light geese in the conservation season, hunters must purchase a conservation season permit and submit a mandatory report on their hunting activity and harvest. For more information, visit www.pgc.pa.gov, or call 1-833-PGC-HUNT.
1) Manual and semiautomatic shotguns no larger than 10-gauge with a capacity limited to no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined; 2) Long, recurve and compound bows and arrows; and crossbows. Only non-toxic fine shot up to and including size T (.20 inches) is lawful for waterfowl. It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl with lead shot.
Waterfowl and dove hunters can hunt in a party of more than six persons as long as they are hunting from a blind or stationary position.
Electronic decoys can be used to hunt waterfowl, doves and crows.
FLUORESCENT ORANGE
Not required for waterfowl and dove hunters.
Hunting hours for the entire dove season are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Hunting hours during the September Canada goose season, and the light-goose conservation season, are from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. However, hunting hours for all waterfowl end at sunset on Youth Waterfowl Days. Hours for all other migratory bird seasons are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Licensed junior and mentored youth hunters, military veterans and active military personnel can hunt ducks, mergansers, brant, coots, gallinules and Canada geese during selected days. Hunters 16 or older need a federal duck stamp to participate. All hunters need a Pennsylvania migratory game bird license. Regular season bag limits and other restrictions apply. Check www.pgc.pa.gov for more details.
SEE HUNTING HOURS PAGE FOR FULL-SIZE MAP
Youth only – Sept. 23
Youth, veterans and active military – Nov 4
Veterans and active military only – Jan. 13
Youth, veterans and active military – Dec. 16
Youth, veterans and active military – Oct. 28
Veterans and active military only – Jan. 20
Youth, veterans and active military – Nov. 11
Veterans and active military only – Jan. 27
Hunters can report bird bands online at www.reportband.gov. In addition to band numbers, information requested includes when, where and what species of waterfowl were killed. The age and sex of the bird and where it was banded will be provided to the hunter by email. Online reporting provides better data quality and lowers costs.
Life Jackets Required By Law
Nov. 1 To April 30
All boaters, including waterfowl hunters, must wear life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length, or on any canoe or kayak during the cold-weather period from Nov. 1 through April 30.
Recreational boating fatalities that occur in Pennsylvania from November through April are primarily caused by the effects of cold-water immersion.
When water temperatures are less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, cold-water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities.
Victims who wear a life jacket when exposed to cold water have potentially life-saving advantages, such as insulation from the cold, buoyancy for victims who are unable to tread water and reduced risk of aspiration of water.
In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities related to cold-water immersion, the Fish & Boat Commission has amended regulations to require life jackets to be worn on small and unstable boats during the period most noted for cold-water temperatures.
For other times of the year and on other types and sizes of boats, all boaters are required to have properly fitted personal flotation devices readily accessible. For more information on boating laws and safety, visit www.fishandboat.com.