The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that 2026–27 hunting and furtaker licenses will go on sale Monday, June 22. The new license year officially begins July 1, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2027.
Hunters can purchase licenses online through https://huntfish.pa.gov, at licensing agents across the Commonwealth, and through other approved sales outlets. Purchasing early is especially important for deer hunters planning to secure antlerless licenses in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) that traditionally sell out quickly.
More Doe Licenses Available for 2026–27
The Pennsylvania Game Commission approved approximately 1.47 million antlerless deer licenses for the upcoming season, an increase of more than 150,000 licenses compared to last year.
The increased allocation reflects deer management objectives across the state and provides hunters with additional opportunities to harvest antlerless deer in many WMUs.
Important Antlerless Deer License Sale Dates
Pennsylvania continues using its online, first-come, first-served antlerless license system through HuntFishPA.
June 15, 2026 – Landowner Licenses Available
Qualifying landowners may begin purchasing antlerless deer licenses through participating county treasurer offices.
June 22, 2026 (8:00 a.m.) – First Round for Residents
Pennsylvania residents may begin purchasing antlerless deer licenses.
July 13, 2026 (8:00 a.m.) – First Round Opens to Nonresidents
Nonresident hunters may begin purchasing remaining antlerless deer licenses.
July 27, 2026 (8:00 a.m.) – Second Round
Residents and nonresidents may purchase a second antlerless deer license where allocations remain available.
August 10, 2026 (8:00 a.m.) – Third Round
Hunters may purchase a third antlerless deer license. Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits also become available.
August 24, 2026 (8:00 a.m.) – Fourth Round
Hunters may purchase additional antlerless licenses. Most hunters may hold up to six antlerless licenses statewide, while hunters in WMUs 5C and 5D may be eligible to purchase additional licenses if allocations remain available.
Other Important Licenses and Permits
The new license year is also the time for hunters to purchase additional privileges needed for fall hunting seasons, including:
- Bear licenses
- Archery permits
- Muzzleloader permits
- Migratory game bird licenses
- Federal Duck Stamps
- Pennsylvania waterfowl permits
- Furtaker licenses
- Elk application privileges when available
Hunters planning to pursue multiple species this fall should verify all required licenses and permits well before opening day.
New Account Verification Reminder
The Game Commission is reminding hunters that Social Security numbers can no longer be used to access licensing accounts. Hunters should be prepared to use either their driver’s license or state-issued identification number, or their Customer Identification Number (CID), when purchasing licenses or managing their accounts.
Sunday Hunting Opportunities Expanded for Most Species
One of the biggest changes Pennsylvania hunters will see in the 2026–27 license year is the continued expansion of Sunday hunting opportunities. Following recent legislative and regulatory changes, hunters can now pursue most game species on Sundays throughout their established seasons.
That means hunters will generally be able to hunt deer, bear, turkey, elk, small game, furbearers, and many other species on Sundays when their seasons are open. The change has been welcomed by many hunters who previously had limited time afield due to work, school, or family commitments during the week.
The primary exception remains migratory game birds. Federal regulations still prohibit Sunday hunting for migratory birds in Pennsylvania, meaning species such as ducks, geese, brant, coots, rails, gallinules, woodcock, snipe, doves, and other migratory birds cannot be hunted on Sundays.
For many Pennsylvania hunters, the expanded Sunday opportunities effectively add several additional hunting days to the season and may be one of the most significant hunting access improvements in decades.
Get Ready for Fall
With licenses going on sale June 22 and the new license year beginning July 1, now is the time for Pennsylvania hunters to start planning for deer, bear, turkey, waterfowl, small game, and furbearer seasons.
Hunters interested in antlerless deer licenses should pay close attention to the sale schedule, particularly in popular WMUs where allocations can disappear quickly.
Hunterizer has already updated Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 hunting seasons and regulations in the Hunterizer app. Pennsylvania hunters can use Hunterizer to see what species are open on any date, view season details and zone-specific regulations, check licensing requirements, and instantly answer the question: “What can I hunt today?“
