Hunting & Trapping Digest 2025-2026Canada Geese

Canada Goose hunting is open statewide, but season lengths and bag limits vary by zone.Seasons for Canada geese include white-fronted geese.

Waterfowl hunting is closed on Sundays.

EXCEPTIONSDetailed maps of described areas available at www.pa.gov/pgcSeptember Season1) In the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of I-79, west of I-79 to SR 358, north of SR 358 to the Ohio state line. The season is Sept. 1-13. The daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 3; except on SGL 214 where the season is closed to September goose hunting.2) In the area of Lancaster and Lebanon counties north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, east of SR 501 to SR 419, south of SR 419 to Lebanon-Berks county line, west of Lebanon-Berks county line and the Lancaster-Berks county line to SR 1053 (also known as Peartown Road and Greenville Road), west of SR 1053 to Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, the daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 3; except on SGL 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) where the season is closed.Note: The above exception area restrictions do not apply to youth participation on the September youth waterfowl day in the public hunting areas of SGL 214 and SGL 46. The Controlled Hunting Areas within the Wildlife Management Areas of SGL 214 and SGL 46 remain closed to September goose hunting. Hunting hours for all migratory birds, including Canada geese, close at sunset on youth waterfowl days.Regular SeasonAreas in the public hunting sections of SGL 46 (Middle Creek WMA) in Lebanon and Lancaster counties that are outside of the controlled goose hunting areas have a daily limit of 1, and a possession limit of 3 during the regular Canada goose season. Areas inside of the controlled goose hunting areas of SGL 46 (Middle Creek WMA) have a season limit of one.

Goose Zone Boundaries

Atlantic Population Zone

The area east of SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line.

Resident Population Zone

All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population Zone.

Southern James Bay Population Zone

This zone has been dissolved and its area incorporated into the resident population zone due to a shift in migration patterns. However, different bag limits, and in some cases different seasons, continue to apply in parts of Crawford and Mercer counties.

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