Pennsylvania Game Commission

10/05/2021

Waterfowl hunters; we need your help! The Pennsylvania Game Commission is assisting with a study to evaluate contaminant loads [example: PCBs, dioxin and heavy metals] in waterfowl. Information from the study will help inform future health advisories, no hunting regulations will be impacted.

Hunters willing to donate mallards, black ducks, wood ducks, green-winged teal and Canada geese to sample for these contaminants can find more information, as well as the registration form, by clicking here: https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/webform/contaminants-in-waterfowl.

Thank you in advance for your interest and participating in this study!

Waterfowl hunters; we need your help! The Pennsylvania Game Commission is assisting with a study to evaluate contaminant loads [example: PCBs, dioxin and heavy metals] in waterfowl. Information from the study will help inform future health advisories, no hunting regulations will be impacted.

Hunters willing to donate mallards, black ducks, wood ducks, green-winged teal and Canada geese to sample for these contaminants can find more information, as well as the registration form, by clicking here: https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/webform/contaminants-in-waterfowl.

Thank you in advance for your interest and participating in this study!

10/05/2021

The 2021 Trail Cam Photo Contest Finalists are in! Now we need your help to determine who submitted the best photo!

Place your vote by “liking” your favorite photo in the “2021 Trail Cam Photo Contest Album” by THIS Friday, October 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and for those who participate in the voting.

The contest winner will be announced on Monday, October 11, 2021 on the Game Commission’s page.

10/04/2021

Where are the PA small game hunters at?

With seven different small game hunting seasons open in Pennsylvania during the fall and winter, there are plenty of opportunities for hunters to get afield. Pennsylvania’s small game species include squirrel (gray, fox and red), pheasant, rabbit, grouse, bobwhite quail, snowshoe hare, woodchuck, and crow.

This year, Sunday hunting opportunities have expanded and the three designated Sundays (Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Nov. 28) are now open to other species that are in season (except turkeys and migratory game birds).

More information about small game hunting in Pennsylvania can be found on page 39 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

New to hunting? Check out the Game Commission’s new Learn to Hunt program which help people of all ages get started hunting ➡ https://bit.ly/3AyxScV.

Where are the PA small game hunters at?

With seven different small game hunting seasons open in Pennsylvania during the fall and winter, there are plenty of opportunities for hunters to get afield. Pennsylvania’s small game species include squirrel (gray, fox and red), pheasant, rabbit, grouse, bobwhite quail, snowshoe hare, woodchuck, and crow.

This year, Sunday hunting opportunities have expanded and the three designated Sundays (Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Nov. 28) are now open to other species that are in season (except turkeys and migratory game birds).

More information about small game hunting in Pennsylvania can be found on page 39 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

New to hunting? Check out the Game Commission’s new Learn to Hunt program which help people of all ages get started hunting ➡ https://bit.ly/3AyxScV.

10/03/2021

Game Commission

Want to learn how to hunt but don’t know where to start?

The Game Commission’s new Learn to Hunt program helps people of all ages get started hunting. The program provides both in-person and online opportunities for beginner hunters to learn game species behavior and habitat preferences, using a firearm, preparing wild game and more!

The next series of Learn to Hunt programs will focus on the basics of pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania. One in-person 2-hour workshop will take place at the Game Commission headquarters in Harrisburg on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM. During this workshop a team of experienced hunters will help build your knowledge of hunting and prepare you for the upcoming pheasant season opening statewide on October 23, 2021.

Those interested can also learn more about pheasant hunting virtually through one of two educational webinars on Thursday, October 7, 2021 @ 7:00 PM or Tuesday, October 26, 2021 @ 7:00 PM.

Registration is required for both online and in-person programs. Please note, in-person programs are limited to 50 participants.

Learn more or register here ➡ https://bit.ly/3AyxScV.

HARRISBURG, PA - Just in time for squirrel season, Pennsylvania hunters now may carry digital versions of their licenses, in place of paper licenses.U...

10/02/2021

*CLARIFICATION POST* We sincerely apologize for any confusion the graphic on our archery season opener post this morning may have created. The statewide archery season starts today, October 2nd and runs through November 19th. The only Sunday you are permitted to hunt during archery season is Sunday, November 14th. Best of luck this archery season!

*CLARIFICATION POST* We sincerely apologize for any confusion the graphic on our archery season opener post this morning may have created. The statewide archery season starts today, October 2nd and runs through November 19th. The only Sunday you are permitted to hunt during archery season is Sunday, November 14th. Best of luck this archery season!

09/30/2021

Are you ready?

Pennsylvania’s archery deer season opens statewide this SATURDAY, October 2, 2021. Use this list to ensure you don’t forget anything this Saturday.

What snack do you prefer to take with you while hunting? Share your favorite hunting snack below.

Are you ready?

Pennsylvania’s archery deer season opens statewide this SATURDAY, October 2, 2021. Use this list to ensure you don’t forget anything this Saturday.

What snack do you prefer to take with you while hunting? Share your favorite hunting snack below.

09/30/2021

The State Game Lands 91 Shooting Range located in Jenkins Township., Luzerne County will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. The range is expected to re-open on Wednesday, October 6. Please contact the Northeast Region Office with any questions regarding this closure.

The State Game Lands 91 Shooting Range located in Jenkins Township., Luzerne County will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. The range is expected to re-open on Wednesday, October 6. Please contact the Northeast Region Office with any questions regarding this closure.

09/29/2021

Heads up hunters! The bright green color isn’t the only new thing about Pennsylvania’s harvest tags.

As always, hunters who successfully harvest a deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher or otter must properly fill out and tag their harvest before the carcass is moved. This year, however, hunters will not be writing the harvest date on their tag but notching it.

The new green harvest tags have boxes denoting the month and day on the back of the tag and hunters are asked to cut out or notch out the correct date.

More information on how to properly tag big game can be found on page 22 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

Heads up hunters! The bright green color isn’t the only new thing about Pennsylvania’s harvest tags.

As always, hunters who successfully harvest a deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher or otter must properly fill out and tag their harvest before the carcass is moved. This year, however, hunters will not be writing the harvest date on their tag but notching it.

The new green harvest tags have boxes denoting the month and day on the back of the tag and hunters are asked to cut out or notch out the correct date.

More information on how to properly tag big game can be found on page 22 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

09/29/2021

Don’t miss your chance to enter the 2021 Trail Cam Photo Contest! The last day to submit photos is Friday, October 1, 2021.

To enter, simply send a photo from your trail cam, by Friday, October 1, 2021 to [email protected], with the subject line: “Trail Cam.” Photos can feature any Pennsylvania wild bird or mammal. Participants could win a free trail camera and an assortment of Game Commission merchandise.

For contest details, click here ➡ https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/GetInvolved/Pages/Contests.aspx.

Don’t miss your chance to enter the 2021 Trail Cam Photo Contest! The last day to submit photos is Friday, October 1, 2021.

To enter, simply send a photo from your trail cam, by Friday, October 1, 2021 to [email protected], with the subject line: “Trail Cam.” Photos can feature any Pennsylvania wild bird or mammal. Participants could win a free trail camera and an assortment of Game Commission merchandise.

For contest details, click here ➡ https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/GetInvolved/Pages/Contests.aspx.

09/28/2021

The Pennsylvania Game Commission would like to ask hunters who harvest deer in a Disease Management Area to once again submit their deer heads for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. The information provided helps the Game Commission better monitor and manage CWD in the state.

In addition, hunters can help reduce the risk of spreading CWD by properly disposing of high-risk deer parts. If you harvest a deer in a DMA, please dispose of them in household trash destined for a lined landfill. Or use a dumpster for disposal of high-risk parts available in the Established Area. While leaving high-risk parts at the harvest site is legal, it is preferable to remove them from the landscape to limit contamination and exposure to deer and other wildlife. Taking proper actions now may help protect deer and deer hunting into the future.

Please note, since last hunting season 2020-21 DMA 2 has expanded into parts of Dauphin and Northumberland counties and DMA 5 was established in parts of Warren county. Learn more here ➡ bit.ly/INFOCWD.

Locations of DMAP units, head collection bins, and high-risk parts dumpsters can be found here ➡ https://bit.ly/2SPv0Yt.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission would like to ask hunters who harvest deer in a Disease Management Area to once again submit their deer heads for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. The information provided helps the Game Commission better monitor and manage CWD in the state.

In addition, hunters can help reduce the risk of spreading CWD by properly disposing of high-risk deer parts. If you harvest a deer in a DMA, please dispose of them in household trash destined for a lined landfill. Or use a dumpster for disposal of high-risk parts available in the Established Area. While leaving high-risk parts at the harvest site is legal, it is preferable to remove them from the landscape to limit contamination and exposure to deer and other wildlife. Taking proper actions now may help protect deer and deer hunting into the future.

Please note, since last hunting season 2020-21 DMA 2 has expanded into parts of Dauphin and Northumberland counties and DMA 5 was established in parts of Warren county. Learn more here ➡ bit.ly/INFOCWD.

Locations of DMAP units, head collection bins, and high-risk parts dumpsters can be found here ➡ https://bit.ly/2SPv0Yt.

09/27/2021

Don't forget the Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans will be talking about Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 hunting seasons and much more on PCN’s live Call-In Program on TONIGHT, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. If you have a question about hunting or wildlife in the Keystone State, this is a chance for you to ask and learn more. Call PCN’s toll-free number at 877-PA6-5001 (1-877-726-5001) to ask your question during the program. We look forward to hearing from you!

PCN's live Call-in Program ➡ www.pcntv.com.

Don't forget the Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans will be talking about Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 hunting seasons and much more on PCN’s live Call-In Program on TONIGHT, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. If you have a question about hunting or wildlife in the Keystone State, this is a chance for you to ask and learn more. Call PCN’s toll-free number at 877-PA6-5001 (1-877-726-5001) to ask your question during the program. We look forward to hearing from you!

PCN's live Call-in Program ➡ www.pcntv.com.

09/27/2021

CONGRATULATIONS to Pennsylvania’s successful elk hunters for the 2021-22 elk archery season and to Gary Laudeman, the KECA elk license winner for 2021, who harvested his bull during the elk archery season.

Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 elk archery season ran from Sept. 11-25. A total of 29 elk licenses (14 antlered, 15 antlerless) were allotted for the season and 24 hunters successfully harvested an elk.

The total tag allotment for the 2021-22 season was 164, which was split over three separate seasons, archery, general and late. Pennsylvania’s general elk season will open on Nov. 1, 2021.

Click here for more details about Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 elk harvest including estimated harvest totals, locations, weights and more: https://bit.ly/3zzpVVd. *Please note, the data on this page is considered preliminary and official numbers will be released after the season is closed.

09/26/2021

Just a friendly reminder that Pennsylvania’s “purple paint law” went into effect last year, which gives landowners the option of using purple paint, rather than signs, to post their properties and alert others that their lands are private, and trespassing is not permitted.

Landowners using purple paint to mark their properties must use vertical lines that are at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide and must be painted 3-5 ft from the base of the tree. Painted markings on various trees must be within 100 feet of each other.

Remember to always ask for permission before entering private property. If given permission, please be respectful and follow the landowner’s restrictions for hunting on their property.

Read more about the purple paint law on page 19 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡️ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

Just a friendly reminder that Pennsylvania’s “purple paint law” went into effect last year, which gives landowners the option of using purple paint, rather than signs, to post their properties and alert others that their lands are private, and trespassing is not permitted.

Landowners using purple paint to mark their properties must use vertical lines that are at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide and must be painted 3-5 ft from the base of the tree. Painted markings on various trees must be within 100 feet of each other.

Remember to always ask for permission before entering private property. If given permission, please be respectful and follow the landowner’s restrictions for hunting on their property.

Read more about the purple paint law on page 19 of your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡️ https://bit.ly/2WZOdJm.

09/25/2021

Happy National Hunting & Fishing Day-2021

Today is National Hunting and Fishing Day!

There are many opportunities to enjoy these activities throughout the year. Here is a message from Executive Directors Bryan Burhans, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Tim Schaeffer, of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Thank you for being a Pennsylvania hunter!

https://youtu.be/TS6Vfi59NMo

#PGC #PAFish&Boat #PennsylvaniaGameCommission

09/24/2021

Congratulations to Gerald W. Putt, Boiling Springs, who won the 2022 Pennsylvania Waterfowl Stamp Contest, held in the Northwest Region, for his rendition of a canvasback duck!

Second place was awarded to Patrick Sharbaugh, Spring Mills, for his rendition of white fronted geese; third place was awarded to Scott M. Calpino, Benville, for his rendition of ruddy ducks; fourth place was awarded to Gerald W. Putt and Scott M. Calpino for additional entries.

Thank you to all who competed this year, proceeds from the sales of these voluntary stamps and limited-edition fine art prints are used to enhance Pennsylvania’s waterfowl management program through habitat development, wetlands acquisition and maintenance of existing wetlands through the state. Since the first duck stamp was sold in 1983, nearly 5,000 acres of prime wetlands have been purchased with waterfowl stamp and print revenues in Pennsylvania.

Prints and stamps can be purchased here ➡️ huntfish.pa.gov.

09/24/2021

Pennsylvania’s Statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunt opens TOMORROW, September 25, 2021! Good luck to all our youth hunters!

On September 25, 2021 licensed junior hunters ages 12-16 can hunt ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots and gallinules statewide. Please note, regular season bag limits and other regulations apply.

Learn more about waterfowl hunting in your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/3s5ToBc.

Pennsylvania’s Statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunt opens TOMORROW, September 25, 2021! Good luck to all our youth hunters!

On September 25, 2021 licensed junior hunters ages 12-16 can hunt ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots and gallinules statewide. Please note, regular season bag limits and other regulations apply.

Learn more about waterfowl hunting in your 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Digest ➡ https://bit.ly/3s5ToBc.