Pennsylvania Approves 2026-27 Hunting Seasons

Expanded Sunday hunting, new elk season, and increased antlerless deer licenses highlight changes

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a hunting rifle repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the diverse equipment and gear used by Pennsylvania hunters.Pennsylvania's updated hunting regulations aim to balance opportunities for sportsmen with sustainable wildlife management practices.New Cumberland Today

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has approved the 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons, including several significant changes such as expanded Sunday hunting opportunities, a new early October firearms elk season, and an increase in antlerless deer license allocations statewide.

Why it matters

These season updates reflect the Game Commission's efforts to balance hunting opportunities, manage wildlife populations, and address evolving challenges like human-bear conflicts. The changes aim to provide more flexibility for hunters while ensuring sustainable harvest levels across various game species.

The details

Key changes include: a one-spring gobbler bag limit for wild turkeys, minor adjustments to deer season date structures, a longer archery bear season in certain WMUs, a new early October firearms elk season, and the opening of additional WMUs to bobcat hunting/trapping and river otter trapping. The statewide antlerless deer license allocation has also been increased by over 150,000 tags.

  • The 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons will run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
  • The new early October firearms elk season will take place from October 3-11, 2026.

The players

Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners

The state agency responsible for managing Pennsylvania's wildlife resources and setting hunting and trapping regulations.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

These hunting season updates demonstrate the Pennsylvania Game Commission's commitment to balancing the needs of hunters, wildlife populations, and local communities through data-driven decision making and stakeholder engagement.