Pennsylvania Finalizes 2026–27 Hunting Seasons — Expanded Sunday Opportunities, Key Changes for Deer, Bear and Elk

 

HARRISBURG, Pa. — During its April 11 meeting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners gave final approval to the 2026–27 hunting and trapping seasons, marking one of the most significant updates since the state lifted its long-standing Sunday hunting ban.

Sunday Hunting Expansion — With One Big Exception

For the first time, nearly all hunting seasons in Pennsylvania will now include Sundays within their regular season frameworks, effectively adding more opportunity days for hunters across the board. Seasons that previously ended on Saturdays will now typically run through Sundays as well.

However, there is a notable exception:

• No Sunday hunting for migratory game birds (waterfowl, doves, woodcock) in 2026–27.

Commissioners cited both hunter survey feedback and federal regulatory constraints as reasons for holding off on Sunday inclusion for migratory species—for now.

For big game hunters, this change is especially impactful. Earlier discussions indicated potential expansion of Sunday opportunities within deer rifle season, aimed at boosting participation—particularly among younger hunters who are limited by school and work schedules.

Spring Turkey Still Off-Limits on Sundays (For Now)

Despite broader Sunday expansion, spring gobbler hunters won’t see Sunday opportunities until 2027.

To balance future increases in opportunity, commissioners also:

• Set the spring gobbler bag limit at one bird

This move is designed to keep harvest rates sustainable once Sunday hunting is fully implemented for turkeys.

Deer: More Tags, Simpler Seasons

Pennsylvania hunters will see a major increase in antlerless deer opportunities:

• 1.469 million antlerless licenses allocated statewide (up from 1.312 million last year)

Additionally:

• Adjustments to extended firearms, flintlock, and late archery seasons aim to simplify structures and better align with weapon effectiveness.

The state will also continue its guarantee that resident hunters can secure one antlerless tag in their WMU during the initial sales window.

Bear: Longer Archery Seasons in Key Units

To address rising human-bear conflicts, the Commission approved:

• Extended archery bear seasons in WMUs 3C and 3D

These seasons will now overlap fully with the early archery deer season, increasing harvest opportunity in problem areas.

Elk: New Season Structure to Reduce Crowding

Elk hunters will see notable changes:

• A new early October firearms season
• The late firearms season moved deeper into January

These adjustments are designed to:

• Spread out hunting pressure
• Improve hunter experience as tag allocations potentially increase

A simplified elk application system was also adopted, consolidating bonus points and making the draw process easier to navigate.

Small Game & Furbearers: Expanded Opportunities

Key updates include:

• Small game seasons (squirrel, grouse, rabbit, pheasant, quail) will remain open during firearms deer season
• Bobcat hunting expanded to WMU 5A
• River otter trapping opened in WMUs 2G, 3A, and 4C

Trap regulations were also updated, including larger allowable body-gripping traps for beaver and otter.

New Programs & Regulation Changes

The Commission also adopted several broader regulatory and access-related changes:

• Expansion of the Certified Hunter Program, connecting hunters with landowners for deer management
• New rules for baiting in agricultural programs, including allowed materials and tagging requirements
• Sunday hunting now allowed on commercial regulated hunting grounds
• Updated game lands rules, including expanded orange requirements and Sunday restrictions for non-hunters during peak seasons

What It Means for Hunters

The 2026–27 season framework signals a clear direction: more opportunity, more flexibility, and targeted wildlife management.

The expansion of Sunday hunting alone represents a major shift in Pennsylvania’s hunting culture—one aimed at improving access, recruitment, and retention of new hunters.

At the same time, the Commission is balancing that opportunity with conservation-minded adjustments, particularly for turkeys and high-pressure species.

Hunters should expect:

• More days in the field
• Easier-to-understand season structures
• Expanded access through new programs and regulations

The next major decisions—especially around full Sunday inclusion for turkeys and migratory birds—are expected to be revisited ahead of the 2027–28 seasons.