Pennsylvania's 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Seasons: A Comprehensive License Guide

License Sales Kick Off: General hunting and trapping licenses, alongside the first round of antlerless deer licenses for residents, will be available starting Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8 a.m. EDT.

Season Start: The official 2026-27 license year commences on July 1, 2026.

Cost Overview: A general hunting license for resident adults is priced at $20.97, while non-resident adult licenses cost $101.97. Antlerless deer licenses are $6.97 for residents and $26.97 for non-residents.

Expanded Sunday Hunting: A significant change for the 2026-27 season is the expansion of Sunday hunting to include all seasons, with the sole exception of migratory game birds.

Record Antlerless Tags: A record 1.469 million antlerless deer licenses have been approved, distributed across Pennsylvania's 22 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).

Why This Matters: These license purchases are vital, directly funding crucial wildlife conservation and management initiatives by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The expanded Sunday hunting also provides greater flexibility, encouraging participation and offering more time afield, which supports the state's outdoor economy and natural resource management.

Online: Visit the official Pennsylvania Game Commission website at https://www.huntfish.pa.gov/?ref=yanuki.com{target="_blank"}.

In-Person: Over 500 licensed agents across the state, including major retailers like Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as local hardware and sporting goods stores, will sell licenses.

Round 1 (June 22 - July 13): This initial round is exclusively for Pennsylvania residents. The Game Commission guarantees that every resident who purchases a license during this period will receive a tag for their preferred WMU, provided tags are still available in that unit.

Round 2 (July 13 - July 27): Non-residents of Pennsylvania become eligible to purchase their first antlerless licenses during this window.

Round 3 (July 27 - August 10): All hunters, regardless of residency, can apply for a second antlerless tag. If a hunter has not yet purchased any tags, they can buy up to two in this round.

Round 4 (August 10 - August 24): The third round of sales allows hunters who already have two tags to purchase one more. Hunters with one or no tags can acquire enough to reach a limit of three.

Final Round (August 24 until sold out): In this round, most hunters can acquire additional tags to reach a personal limit of six. For those hunting in WMUs 5C and 5D, where the personal limit is 15, an additional nine tags can be purchased for these specific units beyond the statewide six-tag limit.

Replacement Tags: Once deer seasons commence, hunters can replace any filled tags, provided licenses are still available in any WMU. While a hunter can hold a maximum of six or 15 active tags (depending on WMU), the total number of tags purchased throughout the year is technically unlimited as long as they remain available.

High Allocation WMUs: Four WMUs have over 100,000 tags, with WMU 4D leading with 120,000 tags. WMU 5C has seen an increase to 101,000 tags this year.

Lower Allocation & High Demand: WMU 3A has the fewest tags at 21,000. WMU 2G is frequently one of the first to sell out due to a high concentration of hunting camps and popular public hunting lands, despite having 57,000 tags.

Later Sell-Outs: WMU 5B typically sees tags remain into the third round, while WMU 5C often doesn't sell out until the fourth round is well underway.

Prioritize Early Purchase: If you're targeting antlerless deer, especially in high-demand Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), secure your tags during the initial resident-only round beginning June 22 to guarantee your preferred unit.

Leverage Sunday Hunting: Take full advantage of the newly expanded Sunday hunting opportunities. This provides increased flexibility for planning your hunts and maximizing your time in the field.

Support Wildlife Conservation: Remember that your purchase of hunting and trapping licenses directly contributes to essential wildlife management programs and habitat conservation efforts by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Your participation helps sustain Pennsylvania's rich natural resources.

Stay Informed: Always consult the official Pennsylvania Game Commission website and regulations for the most up-to-date information on season dates, bag limits, and WMU-specific details before beginning your hunting or trapping activities.

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