Pennsylvania Game Commission

Pennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania's State Wildlife Agency. For more than 125 years, the Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth's wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians.

With the help of more than 700 full-time employees and thousands of part-timers and volunteers, the agency provides a host of benefits to wildlife, state residents and visitors.

05/04/2026

Tag that one friend who relied too much on using “the force” instead of practicing their mouth call — now they sound a little too much like Chewbacca and less like a gobbler.

Drop your successful opening day harvest photos in the comments! 🦃

05/03/2026

Migrating birds in the spring? Groundbreaking.

Many are flocking to PA forests, some for hunting, and others in hopes of catching a glimpse of colorful migrating songbirds returning to their breeding grounds.

These birds have traveled far and wide, and the truth is, no one can do what they do.

Your fast-walking friend may yell, “Alright everyone, gird your loins” as you approach a fallow field, just don’t move at a glacial pace, or you could miss it.

So, grab your binos and field guide and have that Merlin app ready. It’s time to bird.

That’s all. 👠 🐦

05/02/2026

WOO-HOO — it’s turkey season! 🤘

Bottomland on, call in hand, grit in your veins, and patience on lock. It’s game on for PA longbeards.

Hunting Hours:
🦃 May 2-16: One-half hour before sunrise until noon
🦃 May 18-30: One-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset

There are NO Sunday hunting dates during this current spring gobbler season.

The daily limit is one bird. The season limit is two birds ONLY for individuals who possess a valid special turkey license. Remember to tag and report your successful harvests online, by phone, or by mail.

Thank you for being a Pennsylvania turkey hunter. Get after those strutters!

Good luck. Have fun. Hunt safely.

05/01/2026

We’ve just got three things to say...

Tomorrow is the day. Alarms are set. Let’s do this.

The 2026 Shooting Range Improvement Program (SRIP) application deadline is in sight — time to take your best shot! 🎯 App...
04/30/2026

The 2026 Shooting Range Improvement Program (SRIP) application deadline is in sight — time to take your best shot! 🎯

Applications are DUE next Friday, May 8.

The SRIP provides grants to sportsmen’s clubs to fund projects that will positively impact Pennsylvania hunters and recreational shooters.

Projects eligible for SRIP grants include development and renovation of facilities, construction of backstops and safety berms, lead remediation, and more.

Projects that best reflect the goals of the program will be selected by July 1.

We recognize the importance of safe and accessible ranges for Pennsylvania outdoorsmen and for conservation. Apply today! https://bit.ly/4arrDfY

04/29/2026

No need to get SNOOD-y. Spring gobbler season kicks off in T-3 days! 🦃

Less paperwork. More opportunity. A real shot at Pennsylvania elk. Pennsylvania hunters — we’ve got the breakdown you’ve...
04/28/2026

Less paperwork. More opportunity. A real shot at Pennsylvania elk.

Pennsylvania hunters — we’ve got the breakdown you’ve been waiting for. No more multiple applications. Just a simpler step towards your hunt of a lifetime.

Here’s the deal:
Your bonus points are now combined into one pool.
You’ll submit ONE application per year.
Choose up to five combinations of season, hunt zone, and s*x.
An all-new season has been added in October for better opportunity and to eliminate hunter crowding.

Don’t draw for 2026-27? Your points keep building. Draw a tag? Your points reset, and if it’s a bull, that’s your one-and-done trophy chance.

PLUS, you have…
New elk hunt zones*
15 more bull tags available.
Easier planning, better strategy for hunters.

Elk license applications for the 2026-27 season open this Friday, May 1 with a deadline of July 12 at 11:59 p.m. The conclusion of the drawing where the selected applicants are announced will take place Saturday, July 25, 2026, during the Elk Expo at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette.

For additional details, like the new hunt zones, how to apply and more, visit https://bit.ly/HuntElkPA.

*Please keep in mind the new elk hunt zones are preliminarily approved. Final vote will occur at the Board of Game Commissioners meeting on July 10.

There’s nothing better than making memories in the woods, especially when they end with a BIG smile and a “I’m so proud ...
04/27/2026

There’s nothing better than making memories in the woods, especially when they end with a BIG smile and a “I’m so proud of you!”

Young hunters across PA took to the fields and forests Saturday in hopes of bagging a gobbler. Whether it was their first or maybe their last as a youth hunter, congratulations to all who successfully harvested a bird!

Even if your hunter didn’t get a chance at that grip and grin this weekend, don’t worry — there’s plenty more season ahead of them with the statewide season starting on Saturday!

Congratulations to Grant Meyer who successfully bagged his very first gobbler on Saturday with his dad Gage, in Elk County.

Now let’s see your successes in the field this weekend and join us in congratulating Pennsylvania’s youth hunters!

04/24/2026

We’re giving you cause to REMOVE your Bradford (Callery) pear trees this Arbor Day! 🌳

The Bradford pear tree may look “pretty” with its white blossoms for a week, but its foul smell, mess, and aggressively INVASIVE spread aren't worth it. Fire up the chainsaw — it's time to chop it!

To celebrate Arbor Day, consider replacing your Bradford pear tree with a MUCH prettier PA native option. An eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, or even a serviceberry will enrich your landscape with beauty, color, and benefit an abundance of wildlife! 🌸

Pennsylvania’s spring gobbler youth hunt is this Saturday, April 25! 🦃 Hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise ...
04/23/2026

Pennsylvania’s spring gobbler youth hunt is this Saturday, April 25! 🦃

Hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end at noon. Each mentored youth hunter may only take one bird throughout the duration of the season.

Only junior license holders and properly permitted mentored youth may participate this Saturday. Birds taken by mentored hunters under 7 years old must be tagged with a harvest tag transferred from the youth’s mentor. NO Sunday hunting during this current spring gobbler season.

It’s time to share your passion with the next generation of Pennsylvania hunters.

Good luck kids, have fun, and hunt safely!

Should nature be left alone… or carefully managed? It’s easy to think nature thrives best without us — but the reality i...
04/22/2026

Should nature be left alone… or carefully managed?

It’s easy to think nature thrives best without us — but the reality is much more complex.

Ecosystems are constantly changing, and without careful management, imbalances can harm the very species we want to protect.

Here in Pennsylvania, our agency works to do both — preserving wild spaces while also conserving wildlife populations to keep ecosystems healthy and sustainable.

So, what’s the difference?

Preservation means protecting nature or saving a resource without consumptive use, while conservation means actively managing and ensuring wise use of wildlife and habitats backed by science-based principles.

Ultimately, both practices are necessary to sustain resources for future generations. Because protecting the future of wildlife isn’t just about stepping back… it’s about stepping up, too.

On this Earth Day, we encourage you to do a little bit of both. As a Pennsylvania hunter, you are one of our strongest conservationists, but we need everyone's help to protect some of our most critical species. From black bears to bobolinks and even little brown bats — they all need YOU in their corners.

It’s the final COUNTDOWN! 🦃 In less than two weeks, many Pennsylvania hunters will head afield in pursuit of longbeards....
04/20/2026

It’s the final COUNTDOWN! 🦃

In less than two weeks, many Pennsylvania hunters will head afield in pursuit of longbeards. Remember to have fun and hunt safely!

Spring Gobbler Safety Reminders:

🔸 Always positively identify your target.
🔸 Never stalk a turkey or turkey sounds — this is unlawful in Pennsylvania.
🔸 Protect your back: sit against a tree, stump, or dense brush that covers your back, neck, and head.
🔸 If another hunter approaches, clearly yell “STOP.” Never wave your arms or imitate turkey sounds to get attention.
🔸 After harvesting a bird, we encourage you to wear orange while carrying it out to avoid being mistaken for game.

Following these tips helps ensure a safe, enjoyable hunt — and many more to come.

Good luck, stay safe, and thank you for being a Pennsylvania turkey hunter!

Address

2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA
17110

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+17177874250

Website

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