Pennsylvania deer hunting

Season & rut right now

Rut phase today: Outside the rut · peak breeding around 11/13. Full rut forecast →

Bag limit: see agency. One antlered deer per license year (antler-point restrictions apply by region); antlerless deer require WMU-specific antlerless licenses. In the special-regulations WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D (Pittsburgh/Philadelphia metros) archery opens earlier (Sep 19) and antlerless firearms extend into January. Confirm your WMU with the PGC. Hours: 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset. Regular firearms is Nov 28 – Dec 13 and now includes Sundays. Antlerless licenses are allocated by WMU. Special-regs WMUs 2B/5C/5D differ (earlier archery, extended antlerless firearms). Baiting is unlawful; feeding deer is prohibited in CWD areas.

CWD Disease Surveillance Area: Pennsylvania has extensive CWD, managed through Disease Management Areas (DMAs 2–8) covering much of central, southern and northwestern PA. Within a DMA it is unlawful to feed wild deer or use urine-based attractants, and high-risk carcass parts (head, backbone, spleen) may not leave the DMA except to an approved processor. The counties flagged here are those in a DMA as of the PGC’s last published boundary set — DMAs expand as new detections occur, so ALWAYS confirm the current DMA map and rules with the PA Game Commission before you hunt or move a carcass.

Regulations: PA Game Commission — 2026-27 Seasons & Bag Limits · verified 2026-07-27.