Hunting

COYOTE

No Limit
No closed season, with certain exceptions during big-game seasons

RACCOON

No Limit
Oct. 25-Feb. 21
With certain exceptions

fox

No Limit
Oct. 25-Feb. 21
With certain exceptions

OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK & WEASEL

No Limit
July 1-June 30
With certain exceptions

BOBCAT

1 per license year with permit
Jan. 10-Feb. 4

WMUS 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D & 4E

PORCUPINE

3 daily, 10 per season

Oct. 11-Nov. 28
Dec. 15-Dec. 24
Dec. 26-Jan. 31
Porcupines may not be hunted at night.

TRAPPING

A furtaker license is needed to trap all furbearers, including coyotes.

FOX & COYOTE

No Limit

GENERAL

Oct. 25-Feb. 22

CABLE RESTRAINTS

Dec. 26-Feb. 22

RACCOON, OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK & WEASEL

No Limit
Oct. 25-Feb. 22

MINK & MUSKRAT

No Limit
Nov. 22-Jan. 11

BEAVER

Dec. 20-March 31

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

BOBCAT

1 per license year with permit Dec. 20-Jan. 11

WMUS 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D & 4E

FISHER

1 per license year with permit
Dec. 20-Jan. 11

WMUS 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D & 4E

RIVER OTTER

1 per license year with permit
Feb. 14-21

WMUS 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D & 4E

Licenses and Permits

A furtaker license is required to trap furbearers, and is required to hunt most of them. Coyotes can be hunted with a hunting license, but within a big-game season, a hunter must have valid harvest tags for big game that’s in season. If you’re out of big-game tags, you’ll need a furtaker license to hunt coyotes. Porcupines may be hunted with a hunting or furtaker license. In addition to a furtaker license, permits are required for bobcat, fisher and otter.

Firearms While Trapping

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.

Firearms for Hunting Furbearers

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 singleprojectile ammunition can be used. Air- or gas-operated firearms that are 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 gunmounted lights that do not project a laser-light beam, as well as handheld and sporting-arm mounted night-vision and infrared (thermal) optics.

See Special Regulations Areas section for restrictions that apply there.

Coyotes

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.

Outside of Any Big Game Season

• Coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license and without wearing orange.

During Any Big Game Season

• Coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game (biggame orange requirements must be followed) or with a furtaker license.

Bait and Devices

• Natural or manmade nonliving bait and any electronic or mechanical device may be used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.

Bait Visible From the Air

• It is unlawful to bait a trap with meat, animal products or their facsimiles if the bait is visible from the air. Those hunting coyotes, however, may hunt over bait visible from the air.

Deer Season and Sundays

Foxes, raccoons, opossums, striped skunks and weasels may be hunted any hour, day or night, except during the regular firearms deer season, when hunting must occur after legal hours for deer. Foxes may be hunted on all Sundays throughout fox season. Raccoons, opossums, striped skunks and weasels only can be hunted the Sundays open to additional Sunday hunting each fall. Coyotes may be hunted on Sundays. In big-game seasons, coyotes may be hunted while lawfully hunting big game (big-game orange requirements must be followed) or with a furtaker license.

Setting Traps

It is unlawful to 1) stake or set traps prior to 7 a.m. on the first day of a season; 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. Note: Beaver and otter regulations differ. More information on handling and avoiding incidental otter captures.

Tending Traps

Traps must be visited by the owner once every 36 hours, and each animal removed or released.

Unlawful Devices

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

Dogs are permitted to hunt furbearers. Hunting furbearers with dogs during regular deer and bear firearms seasons is now prohibited. The change does not impact the lawful nighttime hunting of furbearers during open seasons.

Possession

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.

Exporting/Importing Furs

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.

Foot-Encapsulating Trap

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

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.

Artificial Cubby

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.

Cubby entrance cannot exceed 50 inches. Traps cannot exceed 6½ by 6½ inches. Trap trigger mechanism must be recessed at least 7 inches from the cubby entrance.

Measuring Jaw Spread

When measuring the jaw spread of a foot-hold or bodygripping trap, the term “jaw-spread” is the width or the distance between the striking bars of the trap when it is set. This measurement includes the outside measurement of the jaw striking bar.

Spread not to exceed 6½ inches as measured to the outside of the jaw. Beaver and Otter regulations differ.