The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the statewide archery deer season opens on Oct. 3, 2026, and runs through Nov. 20, 2026. Hunters may take one antlered deer per license year and one antlerless deer with each required license or permit. After the regular firearms season, archery hunting resumes Dec. 26, 2026, and continues until Jan. 24, 2027.
Expanded Sunday Hunting
For the first time since the 2026‑27 legislative changes, all Sundays that fall within a season’s start and end dates are open for hunting, except for migratory game‑bird seasons. Many seasons that previously ended on Saturdays now conclude on Sundays, giving hunters more weekend opportunities. Sunday hunting is allowed on all state game lands and state forests, though some state parks and preserves have limited access.
Safety Reminders for Tree‑Stand Users
The Commission urges archery hunters using tree stands to prioritize safety. Recommended practices include wearing a full‑body safety harness or belt before climbing, inspecting stands for missing or broken parts before each use, selecting healthy trees that can support weight, hunting with a partner, and carrying a whistle or other signaling device for emergencies.
Be Safe, Be Seen
Non‑hunters on state game lands must wear fluorescent orange covering at least 250 square inches on the head, chest and back, or a fluorescent orange hat, from Oct. 1, 2026, through Jan. 30, 2027. This visibility requirement helps prevent accidental encounters during the busy hunting period.
Harvest Reporting
Hunters are asked to report their harvests online at huntfish.pa.gov, by phone at 1‑800‑838‑4431, or by mail using the harvest report card included in the 2026‑27 Hunting & Trapping Digest. Accurate reporting assists wildlife biologists in making informed decisions about future harvest limits and tag allocations.
New Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Regulations
To curb the spread of CWD, the Commission has introduced several preventative measures for the 2026‑27 season. High‑risk deer parts must be disposed of in the trash stream, eliminating the chance they will introduce the disease to new areas. The use of cervid‑urine attractants, previously prohibited, is now legal after a 2025 state law change. Additionally, the Executive Director has discretionary authority to impose targeted feeding restrictions at the county and township levels.
Free CWD testing remains available in areas with known detections via head‑collection bins, and hunters can view test results online. The agency is also developing a statewide sample‑kit program to expand free testing.
Four new CWD‑positive detections have been reported: three in captive facilities in Butler, Warren, and Lycoming counties, and one in a road‑killed deer from Pringle Borough, Luzerne County.
Mapping Center Upgrade
The Game Commission’s Mapping Center has been revamped with a mobile‑friendly interface, faster map access, live data from agency sources, and improved search and navigation features. The tool supplements the Hunting & Trapping Digest and helps hunters plan trips safely and responsibly.
For more information on season dates, safety requirements, CWD regulations, and the new Mapping Center, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at www.pa.gov/pgc.
Original reporting: WESB (Bradford) — read the source article.
