Lawful Arms & Ammunition
Manually operated (pump, lever, bolt actions, single-shot) centerfire rifles, and handguns (revolvers or single-shots) with all-lead bullet or ball, or bullet designed to expand on impact;
Manually operated or semiautomatic centerfire shotguns (shotguns do not have to be plugged) that propel single-projectile ammunition. Buckshot is not legal, except during certain controlled hunts where the Game Commission issues a special permit.
Muzzleloading long guns of any type, .44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun .50 caliber or larger, and;
Long, recurve, compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds) or crossbows (minimum 125-pound draw weight), with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length.
Long, recurve and compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds), or crossbows, with a legal broadhead (see broadhead stipulations that follow).
Long, recurve and compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds), and crossbows, and legal broadheads (an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch and may not exceed 3.25 inches in length). Magnifying scopes and sights such as red dot on crossbows can be used.
Persons hunting deer in the archery seasons may not possess a firearm, except those individuals who have a License to Carry Firearms, and then only those firearms authorized by the permit (most sporting arms are not authorized).
Muzzleloading firearms also can be carried by bowhunters during any muzzleloading season, providing the hunter has an archery license and a muzzleloader license and meets the fluorescent orange requirements of the muzzleloader season.
Possession of any firearm while archery hunting is prohibited unless the individual possesses a License to Carry Firearms, and then only those firearms authorized by the permit.
Archery hunters are permitted to carry a muzzleloading firearm only during overlaps of archery deer or bear season with a muzzleloader deer or bear season.
Arrow - A projectile shot from a bow with an overall length exceeding the brace height of the bow with fletching designed only for guidance at the aft end and a broadhead mounted on the fore-end. No electronic tracking device shall be part of or attached to the arrow. No device, material or system capable of causing damage or injury to the animal in excess of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead shall be part of or attached to any arrow. A projectile for a crossbow is known as a bolt.
Bow - A device for launching an arrow, which derives its propulsive energy solely from the bending and recovery of two limbs. The energy used to propel the arrow may not be derived from another source. These limitations shall not exclude the mechanical leverage advantage provided by eccentric wheels or cams so long as the energy stored in the bent limbs of the bow is the sole result of a single, continuous and direct pulling effort by the shooter. The bowstring must be drawn and released as a direct and conscious action by the shooter. Release shall be accomplished by either relaxing the tension of the fingers or triggering the release action of a manually operated release aid.
Broadhead - Must have a fixed or mechanical tip having sharpened cutting edges consisting of metal or naturally occurring stone. The broadhead must have an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch, and the length may not exceed 3.25 inches.
Crossbow - Must have a draw weight not less than 125 pounds.
October Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Season & Bear Season - Any single-barrel muzzleloading long gun with flintlock, in-line or percussion ignition .44 caliber or larger, or .50 caliber or larger handgun. Scope sights permitted.
Flintlock Deer Season - Flintlock-ignition, single-barrel long guns manufactured prior to 1800, or a similar reproduction of an original muzzleloading single-barrel long gun .44 caliber or larger, or .50 caliber or larger handgun, using a single projectile. It is unlawful to use telescopic sights. Flintlock hunters are permitted to take an antlered deer or an antlerless deer anywhere in the state with their unused antlered deer tag.
Manually operated and semiautomatic shotguns limited to no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined;
Muzzleloading shotguns;
Shotshell pellets no larger than No. 4 lead, No. 2 steel or No. 4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
Possessing or using single-projectile ammunition, rifles, handguns, muzzleloading rifles and slug guns is unlawful.
Long, recurve, compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds) or crossbows with legal broadheads (defined earlier).
Manually operated and semiautomatic shotguns limited to no more than three rounds in the chamber and magazine combined;
Muzzleloading shotguns of all types and gauges; and
Shotgun fine shot pellets only, no larger than No. 4 lead, No. 2 steel or No. 4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Rifle/shotgun combinations may be used if ammunition is confined to shotgun shells.
Possessing or using single-projectile ammunition, rifles, handguns, dogs, electronic callers or live decoys is unlawful.
It is unlawful to conduct drives for turkeys. Hunting by calling only.
Hunting hours during the April 24-25 youth hunt, and from May 1 to May 15 of the statewide season begin one-half hour before sunrise and end at noon. Hunters are asked to be out of the woods by 1 p.m. during those periods. From May 16 to May 31, hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset.
Manually operated centerfire rifles and handguns at least .26 caliber using all-lead projectiles or bullets of at least 120 grains designed to expand on impact;
Manually operated or semiautomatic centerfire shotguns (shotguns do not have to be plugged) that propel single-projectile ammunition. Shotguns must be at least 12-gauge;
Muzzleloading firearms (including handguns) at least .50 caliber propelling a single projectile weighing at least 210 grains;
Bow with a minimum draw weight of 45 pounds;
Crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds;
Any arrow or crossbow bolt with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 1 inch, and the length may not exceed 3.25 inches.
Restrictions
It is unlawful to 1) kill a bear in a den; 2) use a radio to locate a bear to which a radio transmitter has been attached 3) use scents or lures.
It is unlawful to use dogs to hunt elk, bears, deer or spring turkeys.
Drives are permitted for deer and bear hunting only. It is unlawful to drive elk or turkeys.
Drive participants must be in possession of a valid hunting license and comply with all fluorescent orange requirements.
Unlicensed individuals can accompany a licensed hunter but cannot actively participate in any hunting activity and are strongly encouraged to wear fluorescent orange.
It is unlawful to hunt deer, elk or bears in a party of more than 25 persons.
It is unlawful while hunting or preparing to hunt to 1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a tree stand or using a portable tree stand or device to climb a tree; 2) use or occupy a tree stand that, when constructed, damages a tree. This does not apply to landowners constructing stands on their own property, or persons who have received written permission from a landowner to build or use a tree stand; 3) tree stands and portable hunting blinds on state game lands can be placed out not more than two weeks before the first and must be removed no later than two weeks after the final deer season in that area.
Placing a tree stand or hunting blind does not reserve the area for its owner; other hunters can hunt there.
Tree stands and portable hunting blinds left on state game lands and other Hunter Access properties under the Game Commission’s management need to be conspicuously marked with a durable and legible identification tag that includes the owner’s first and last name and legal home address, or bears the CID number that appears on the owner’s hunting license or a number issued by the Game Commission to the stand or blind owner. Sportsman’s Equipment ID numbers are assigned to license buyers and found in their customer profiles at HuntFish.PA.gov.
Blinds can be used for big game (see turkey section for specifics for blinds while turkey hunting), however, a minimum of 100 square inches of fluorescent orange material (orange alert band will suffice) must be displayed within 15 feet of the blind and visible in a 360-degree arc during the regular firearms deer, bear and elk seasons. This is in addition to wearing orange while in the blind.
During the open seasons for deer and bears, it is unlawful to shoot at any target other than legal game.
Target shooting is lawful only when done: 1) on property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner; 2) within 200 yards of a camp or headquarters where the shooter is either quartered or an invited guest; 3) at an established shooting range. The target must be protected by a natural or artificial barrier so that the bullet or arrow cannot travel more than 15 yards beyond it.
Unfit for Consumption
Any person who legally harvests any big-game animal and discovers the flesh is unfit for human consumption at the time of harvest shall, within 12 hours following the discovery, deliver the entire carcass, less entrails, but including the head and hide, to any Game Commission game warden who, being satisfied that the game was unfit for human consumption at the time of harvest, shall issue written authorization to the person to harvest a second animal or bird of the same species during the unexpired portion of the season for that species.
Transporting Big Game
Deer, bear, elk and turkey under transport, including those taken outside of Pennsylvania, must have an appropriate tag completed and attached. Unmarked parts of a big-game carcass taken in Pennsylvania may be transported. Upon request of any Game Commission law-enforcement officer, the name and address of the person who killed the animal must be furnished, along with other information necessary to properly establish legal possession.
Reporting Big-game Harvests
Each hunter who harvests a deer or turkey must report it to the Game Commission within 10 days (five days for persons required to make a homemade tag) by sending in a postage-paid report card from this digest, or reporting online or over the phone. Be sure to read report cards thoroughly before filling out. Use one report card per animal harvested. For DMAP and Ag Tag antlerless deer, where reporting is required regardless of harvest success, be sure to check the “no harvest” box if no game is harvested. Hunters also can report their big-game harvests online at HuntFish.PA.gov by following instructions given there. Hunters and trappers also can report their deer, turkey, bobcat, fisher and otter harvests over the telephone by calling 1-800-838-4431. Hunters will need to have their license and information from the tag used, including the tag number.
Within 24 hours, each person who harvests a bear or elk must have it checked by the Game Commission. Bear check stations are open the first two days of the regular firearms bear season, and on select days of the extended season. Check station schedules are in the Bear section. When bear check stations aren’t open, hunters should call 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD for instructions on having their bears checked. Those drawn for an elk license will be notified by letter the location and operating hours of the Elk Check Station.
Tagging Big Game
Hunters who harvest a bear, deer, elk or turkey must follow instructions printed on tags supplied with licenses.
Harvest tags must be filled out with a ballpoint pen.
Tagging requirements for persons authorized to hunt without a license are identical, except that a homemade tag must be used listing the hunter’s name, address, game harvested and date, time, WMU, county and township where it was taken, and the number of antler points if applicable.
It is unlawful to possess an expired, fulfilled, revoked, suspended or invalid big-game harvest tag or hunting license while engaged in hunting or trapping activities.
BEARS must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The harvest tag must be attached to the ear and remain attached until the animal is processed for consumption or prepared for mounting.
DEER must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. A prior regulation had required a hunter to tag any harvested deer before attempting to take another. That regulation has been rescinded. The harvest tag must be attached to the ear and remain attached until the animal is processed for consumption or prepared for mounting. When submitting a sample for CWD testing, the completed harvest tag should remain with the head being submitted for testing.
ELK must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The harvest tag must be attached to the ear and remain attached until the animal is processed for consumption or prepared for mounting.
TURKEYS must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. Turkey tags must be attached to the bird’s leg.
Feral Swine
Feral swine have no place in Pennsylvania. They damage wildlife habitats, will kill birds and young mammals, and transmit a host of dangerous diseases. Because feral swine have no natural predators, they can live anywhere, reproduce rapidly, and are difficult to control in the best circumstances.
In some areas of the state, protection may be removed from feral swine by an executive order of the director; however, to increase the efficiency of eradication efforts, protection may be applied to townships or counties where eradication trapping operations actively are being conducted. If you think you may have encountered feral swine, refer to pa.gov/pgc, for specific details on townships or counties that may have restrictions on incidental shooting of feral swine.
Feral swine may be hunted during lawful daylight hunting hours, with a hunting or furtaker license. However, feral swine may be taken from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big-game season only by persons who have a valid tag and are lawfully engaged in hunting big game. Those hunting feral swine with a firearm are required at all times to wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on the head, chest and back combined.
Firearm and archery equipment is restricted to lawful arms and ammunition identified in the Game & Wildlife Code Sec. 2308. Those killing feral swine, must contact the nearest Game Commission region office within 24 hours, so samples can be collected for disease testing.
Make safety a part of every hunt
Plan your drives: Be organized. Everyone must know their role. Decide how many drivers are needed and where standers will be located.
Communicate: Stay in constant communication with other drivers so that you know the location of those around you. The use of handheld radios or cellphones is allowed for general communication, but not to alert other hunters to the presence or movement of game or wildlife.
Know your zone: Be aware of your zone of fire. Identify the areas in front of you where you can safely attempt a shot, knowing that those areas are changing as you move across the landscape.
When in doubt, don’t shoot: If forced to make a split-second decision about whether it’s safe to shoot, err on the side of caution and don’t shoot.
Each year, deer, bear and elk that are among the largest ever to be harvested in Pennsylvania are added to the Pennsylvania Big Game Records book. Those hunters and trophy owners who have a listing in the records book also may purchase an Exclusive Member Big Game Records patch.
Patches are $9.43, plus shipping and sales tax. Sales support the state’s Big Game Scoring Program. A new records book becomes available each October, and costs $10, plus shipping, and sales tax. To order, call 1-888-888-3459 or visit HuntFish.PA.gov.
For more information, call the Game Commission Harrisburg Headquarters.