A few months ago, The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the Sunday hunting dates for 2022. Hunters will be allowed to gear up on three Sundays this year, November 13, 20, and 27. Foxes, coyotes, and crows have been added to the list of animals that can be hunted on these special Sundays. Turkeys and migratory birds are not allowed to be hunted on Sundays. 

What and When Can I Hunt?

The animals that can be hunted on the specified Sundays are as follows:

• November 13: Deer (archery only), bear (archery in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, and 5D only), squirrel, pheasant, rabbit, grouse, bobwhite quail, woodchuck, crow, raccoon, fox, coyote, opossum, striped skunk, weasel, and porcupine.
• November 20: Bear, deer (archery in WMUs 2B, 5C, and 5D only) squirrel, pheasant, rabbit, grouse, bobwhite quail, woodchuck, crow, raccoon, fox, coyote, opossum, striped skunk, weasel, and porcupine.
• November 27: Deer, bear (only in WMUs with Extended Season), raccoon, fox, and coyote.

All Squirrels and Foxes can also be hunted on Sept. 10-Nov. 12; Nov. 14-19; Nov. 21-25; Dec. 12-23; and Dec. 26-Feb. 27, 2023. 

All Ruffed Grouse can be hunted on Oct. 15-Nov. 12; Nov. 14-19; Nov. 21-25 and Dec. 12-23.

Rabbits can be hunted on Oct. 15-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-25; Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 27, 2023. 

Ring-necked Pheasant can be hunted on Oct. 22-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-25, Dec. 12-23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 27, 2023.

Bobwhite Quail can be hunted on Oct. 22-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20, Nov. 21-25, Dec. 12-23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 27, 2023.

Any Hares can be hunted on Dec. 26-Dec 31, 2023 in all WMUs 

Groundhogs can be hunted from July 1-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-25, and Dec. 12-June 29, 2023. 

Crows can be hunted on July 1-April 9, 2023, (Hunting permitted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)

Fall Wild Turkeys can only be hunted on your unit’s day. Listed below are all the unit’s assigned days. 

WMU 2B  – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 23-25;

WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D, and 4E – Oct. 29-Nov. 5; 

WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 4C – Oct. 29-Nov. 12; 

WMUs 2C, 2D, and 2E – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 23-25;

WMU 5B  – Nov. 1-3; 

WMUs 5A, 5C, and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING. 

Bearded Spring Gobbler can only be hunted on April 29 – May 13, 2023; may be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon

May 15 – May 30, 2023; May be hunted ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Black Bears can only be hunted on Nov. 19; Sunday, Nov. 20; and Nov. 21-22; Oct. 15-22; Oct. 20-22; (WMUs 2B, 5C, and 5D): Sept. 17-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20 and Nov. 21-25. 

Elk can only be hunted by weapon type. Listed below are when you can hunt using your weapon. 

Special Conservation Tag and Special License Tag (Antlered and Antlerless): Aug.31-Nov. 5

ARCHERY: Sept. 10-24

GENERAL: Oct. 31-Nov. 5

LATE SEASON: Dec. 31-Jan 7, 2023

Please check your WMU’s rules on deer hunting and when you can hunt them. 

Coyotes have no closed season

Foxes can only be hunted on Oct. 22-Feb. 18, 2023;

Raccoons can only be hunted on Oct. 22-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-26; Sunday, Nov. 27; and Nov. 28-Feb. 18, 2023.

Opossums, Striped Skunks, and Weasels can only be hunted on July. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday, Nov. 27; Nov. 28-June. 29 2023.

Bobcats can only be hunted by WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E on Jan. 7-Feb. 1, 2023.

Porcupines can only be hunted from Oct. 8-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19; Sunday, Nov. 20; and Nov. 21-Jan. 28, 2023. 

Trapping season varies based on the animal so check your local area before trapping any animal.

For the purpose of this article, “WMU” stands for Wildlife Management Units. 

How Much Can I Hunt?

Daily Limits:

1 – Hares, Spring Gobbler

2 – Ruffed Grouse, Red-Necked Pheasant

3 – Porcupines

4 – Rabbits

6 – Squirrels, 

8 – Bobwhite Quail

No Limit – Groundhog, Crows, Starlings, English Sparrows

N/A – Wild Turkey

Possession Limits:

3 – Hares

6 – Ruffed Grouse, Red-Necked Pheasant, 

12 – Rabbits

18 – Squirrels,

24 – Bobwhite Quail,

No Limit – Groundhog, Crows, Starlings, English Sparrows

N/A – Wild Turkey

Season Limits:

1 – Spring Gobbler, Black Bear, Elk, Deer, Bobcat

10 – Porcupines

No Limit – Foxes, Raccoons, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Weasels, 

What Laws Do I Need To Follow This Year?

1. Hunting on Sunday is authorized on separately delineated Sunday date(s) only. See 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303.
2. Only persons who possess a special wild turkey license as provided for in section 2709 of the act (relating to license costs and fees) may take a second spring gobbler during the hunting license year; all other persons, including mentored youth hunters, may take only one spring gobbler. A maximum of 2 spring gobblers per license year may be taken by any combination of licenses or exceptions for mentoring youth.
3. Only one antlered deer (buck) may be taken during the hunting license year.
4. Includes resident and nonresident license holders who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for the license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706 of the act (relating to resident license and fee exemptions).
5. Only one bear may be taken during the hunting license year with the required bear license.
6. Only one elk may be taken during the hunting license year with the required elk license.
7. Homeowners have the option to use purple paint as trespassing warnings. BE ALERT!

The full penal code can be found here: Title 34 and Title 50

General hunting rules can be found here

We wish all of our hunters the best of luck and to remember to wear layers. Insulated wear is your best bet, so investing in layers will pay off. Gloves, hats, boots, thick socks, undershirts, pants, jackets, and coats should be in your shopping cart. If you’re hunting in early fall, you may not need a heavy coat and gloves instead, a long-sleeved shirt and jacket. Also, please wear orange as your top layer. Deer, antelope, elk, sheep, goats, and pigs only have bluish light cells and green-yellow light cells. They can only see in these colors. Purple, red, pink, and orange don’t make an appearance. This is why orange has become the safety color for hunters in the field.