Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 hunting calendar gets busy in September, starting with mourning dove and Canada goose on Sept. 1 and followed by squirrel hunting and special youth waterfowl opportunities later in the month.
September marks the return to the field for many Pennsylvania hunters. The first major opening day arrives Tuesday, Sept. 1, when statewide seasons begin for both mourning dove and Canada goose. Other opportunities follow throughout the month, making September an important transition into Pennsylvania’s fall hunting season.
Dove Season Opens September 1
Pennsylvania’s mourning dove season opens Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 27, with another segment scheduled for Dec. 18 through Jan. 2. Hunters may take 15 doves daily and possess 45.
Public-land hunters have plenty of options. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has prepared more than 80 managed dove fields on State Game Lands to improve dove habitat and provide hunting opportunities. These fields can be particularly productive around the opener, although hunters should expect plenty of competition at popular locations.
Dove hunters need a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License in addition to the appropriate general hunting license. Hunters should also remember that Sunday hunting remains prohibited for migratory game birds, including doves, ducks, geese and woodcock, throughout the 2026–27 license year.
Early Canada Goose Season Runs Through September 25
The Canada goose season opens Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 25 in both Pennsylvania’s Resident Population and Atlantic Population zones. The early-season daily limit is generally eight Canada geese, with a possession limit of 24.
There is an important exception in western Crawford County and northwestern Mercer County, where the early season runs only Sept. 1–12 and hunters are limited to one Canada goose per day and three in possession. Goose hunters should check the exact zone and special-area boundaries before heading out.
September also brings opportunities for several less commonly hunted migratory species. Virginia and sora rails and gallinules can be hunted Sept. 1 through Nov. 20, subject to their respective bag and possession limits.
Migratory bird hunters should pay close attention to licensing requirements. Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older generally also need a Federal Duck Stamp, in addition to Pennsylvania requirements.
Squirrel Hunting Begins September 12
Small-game hunters don’t have to wait until October either. Pennsylvania’s regular squirrel season opens Saturday, Sept. 12 and runs through Dec. 24, before reopening Dec. 26 through Feb. 28, 2027. The limit is six squirrels daily and 18 in possession.
Pennsylvania also offers a special junior squirrel season from Sept. 12–27, providing young hunters an early opportunity to get into the woods before many of the state’s busiest fall seasons begin.
Squirrel season can be particularly useful for new hunters. It offers plenty of opportunities on Pennsylvania’s extensive public lands, generally requires less planning than many big-game hunts, and can be a good way for young or inexperienced hunters to develop basic field, firearm and woodsmanship skills.
Youth Waterfowl Day Is September 19
Another important date is Saturday, Sept. 19, when Pennsylvania holds its statewide Youth Waterfowl Day.
Properly accompanied licensed junior hunters and mentored youth hunters can pursue ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, Canada geese and brant statewide. Applicable bag limits and waterfowl licensing requirements remain in effect.
A second special opportunity follows Sept. 26 in the Northwest Zone, when eligible junior and mentored youth hunters, qualifying veterans and active-duty military personnel can hunt ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, brant and Canada geese.
These special days give younger hunters a chance to experience waterfowl hunting before the regular duck seasons bring more hunters to Pennsylvania’s marshes, lakes and other wetlands.
Hunting With a Dog? Make Sure It’s Licensed
September also means hunting dogs will be returning to dove and goose fields across Pennsylvania. Retrievers can be especially valuable for recovering birds that fall into thick vegetation or water.
Pennsylvania requires dogs to be licensed. Beyond meeting the legal requirement, keeping a hunting dog’s license current can help identify the animal and reunite it with its owner if the dog becomes lost or separated during a hunt.
Hunters can find dog licensing information through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Pennsylvania Hunters Can Use Hunterizer to Track Their Seasons
Pennsylvania hunters no longer have the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s official mobile app as an option for checking hunting information in the field. The PGC discontinued its mobile app, directing hunters instead to information and services available through its website.
Hunterizer is available for Pennsylvania hunters on both iPhone and Android. The app is designed specifically to make complicated hunting regulations easier to use in the field. Hunters can quickly check what species are open to hunt today, along with season dates, hunting zones, legal weapons, bag limits, maps and other important regulations.
That can be especially useful during September. Dove, Canada goose, squirrel, rails and other seasons don’t all follow the same dates or rules, and migratory birds can involve additional zones, special areas and licensing requirements.
Instead of trying to remember which season is open or searching through the regulations while preparing for a hunt, Pennsylvania hunters can open Hunterizer and quickly see the hunting opportunities available for their location and date.
With Pennsylvania’s fall hunting calendar starting to fill up, Sept. 1 is only the beginning.
