Pennsylvania deer seasons

Pennsylvania Deer Season Dates 2026–27

Pennsylvania sets deer seasons by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), so the dates you hunt depend on which unit you are in. The table shows the statewide dates plus the WMU groups the Pennsylvania Game Commission lists separately.

When does deer season start in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the 2026–27 deer season starts with Archery, statewide on Oct 3, 2026. Some limited hunts open earlier: Archery — WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D on Sept 19, 2026 (see the notes for who and where). The regular firearms opener is Nov 28, 2026. Every season, with its zone notes and agency source, is in the table below.

Pennsylvania season table

Season	Dates	Notes	Source
Archery — WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D	Sept 19 – Nov 27, 2026	Earlier start in these units.	Agency
Archery, statewide	Oct 3 – Nov 20, 2026	All WMUs except 2B, 5C and 5D.	Agency
Antlerless muzzleloader	Oct 17–25, 2026	October antlerless-only.	Agency
Antlerless special firearms	Oct 22–25, 2026	Junior, senior, disabled and active-military hunters.	Agency
Regular firearms	Nov 28 – Dec 13, 2026	Regular firearms opener is Saturday, Nov 28.	Agency
Antlerless extended firearms — WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D, 5A	Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027	The PGC page prints the end year as 2026; the Jan 18 end date is in 2027.	Agency
Late archery	Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027	Statewide.	Agency
Flintlock	Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027	Antlered or antlerless.	Agency
Antlerless extended firearms — WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D & DMAP	Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027	Antlerless only.	Agency

Dates checked Oct 10, 2026 against: Pennsylvania Game Commission — Seasons and bag limits; Pennsylvania Game Commission — Hunting & trapping digest. Confirm with the agency for zone/county rules, bag limits and license requirements before you hunt.

Open right now

As of Oct 13, 2026, these are open (some only in certain zones or for certain hunters — see the notes):

Archery — WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D (through Nov 27, 2026)
Archery, statewide (through Nov 20, 2026)

Next to open: Antlerless muzzleloader on Oct 17, 2026.

Pennsylvania by WMU

Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Management Units decide your calendar. Two groupings matter most this year:

WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D (around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia): archery opens Sept 19 instead of Oct 3 and runs to Nov 27, and an antlerless extended firearms season — also open on DMAP properties — runs Dec 26 to Jan 24, 2027.
WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A in south-central Pennsylvania: antlerless extended firearms Dec 26 to Jan 18. The PGC page prints that end date with “2026”; it is Jan 18, 2027.
Rifle opener on Saturday. The regular firearms season starts Saturday, Nov 28, after Thanksgiving, and runs through Dec 13.
October antlerless chances. Antlerless muzzleloader Oct 17–25; antlerless special firearms Oct 22–25 for junior, senior, disabled and active-military hunters.
Flintlock season, Dec 26–Jan 24, is either-sex.
Crossbows are legal throughout archery season.

Legal hunting hours in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania deer hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, published by the Game Commission as a dated hunting-hours table with a map of minute adjustments (Pennsylvania Game Commission — Hunting & trapping digest). Erie and Philadelphia are a long way apart, so look up the table for your WMU.

For today’s sit, check the Pennsylvania deer movement today page or enter your ZIP below.

Check your ZIP

Get the free 0–100 deer movement score by ZIP for where you hunt.

FAQ

When does Pennsylvania rifle deer season open in 2026?

Pennsylvania's regular firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 and runs through Dec 13.

Why does archery start earlier in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D?

The Pennsylvania Game Commission sets an earlier archery season in those units: Sept 19–Nov 27, 2026, then Dec 26, 2026–Jan 24, 2027.

When does the WMU 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A extended antlerless season end?

It runs Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027. The Game Commission's page prints the year as 2026, which is a typo for 2027.