Arms & Ammunition
Archery Deer Seasons
Long, recurve, compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds), and crossbows with broadheads of cutting-edge design. An arrow and crossbow bolt must be equipped with a broadhead.
Magnifying scopes and red-dot sights can be used on crossbows.
A broadhead is a fixed or mechanical tip affixed to the fore end of an arrow or bolt 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.
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, including muzzleloader bear season with a bear license, providing the hunter has an archery license and a muzzleloader license and meets the fluorescent orange requirements of the muzzleloader season.
Regular Firearms Deer Seasons
Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all-lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact.
Semiautomatic centerfire shotguns that propel single-projectile ammunition.
Muzzleloading long guns of any type, .44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun .50 caliber or larger; and
Long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows with broadheads of cutting-edge design.
See Special Regulations Areas section for restrictions that apply there. Ag Tag requirements appear here.
October Muzzleloader Deer Season (Antlerless)
Any single-barrel muzzleloading long gun with flintlock, in-line or percussion ignition .44 caliber or larger, .50 caliber or larger handgun, or an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech, with the bullet loaded from the muzzle. Scope sights permitted. Archery gear can be carried by muzzleloader hunters providing they have an archery license and necessary fluorescent orange.
Special & Extended Firearms Deer Seasons (Antlerless)
Arms and ammunition permitted during the regular firearms deer season can be used in these seasons.
Flintlock Deer Season
Flintlock ignition, single-barrel long gun, .44 caliber or larger, or .50 caliber or larger handgun, using single-projectile ammunition. It is unlawful to use telescopic sights. Peep sights are permitted.
Fluorescent Orange
Regular, Special & Extended Firearms Deer Seasons
During the regular, special and extended firearms deer seasons, all participants must, at all times, wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined, visible from 360 degrees (example: orange cap and coat/vest). Camouflage fluorescent orange may satisfy this regulation if the total orange content is at least 250 square inches.
Fluorescent orange is not required while hunting for deer during archery seasons. Orange is required, however, by hunters using archery equipment during firearms deer seasons (regular, special and extended). When orange is required, the full amount of orange is to be worn at all times. The use of fluorescent orange is highly recommended for all seasons, whether required or not.
Muzzleloader & Flintlock Deer Seasons
Participants in the flintlock deer season are not required to wear or display fluorescent orange. However, during the October antlerless muzzleloader deer season, hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange. See the Special Regulations Areas section for more details.
Regulations guiding the management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have changed and are highlighted in the purple section of this digest. More information on CWD can be found online by using this QR code or visiting arcg.is/1G4TLr. Questions also can be phoned in to the CWD hotline at 1-833-INFO-CWD or emailed to infocwd@pa.gov.