The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has declared that the 2026 fall turkey season will kick off on Halloween, October 31, across 20 of the Commonwealth’s 22 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). The only units where fall turkey hunting remains closed are WMUs 5C and 5D.
Season dates by WMU
For the remaining WMUs, the season lengths are as follows:
- WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D: October 31 – November 15
- WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E: October 31 – November 8
- WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, and 3C: October 31 – November 15 and November 25 – 27
- WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E: October 31 – November 20 and November 25 – 27
- WMU 5A and 5B: October 31 – November 3
In addition, the three‑day Thanksgiving turkey season will run Wednesday through Friday in the applicable WMUs.
Equipment and safety rules
Hunters must use shotguns loaded with fine shot or archery gear; single‑projectile firearms are prohibited. While fluorescent orange is no longer mandatory, the PGC strongly recommends wearing orange for visibility, especially while moving through the woods.
Tagging and reporting requirements
Every hunting license includes one fall turkey tag and one spring tag. Mentored hunters under age seven now receive their own fall tag, eliminating the need for a tag transfer. After a harvest, the turkey must be tagged immediately and the tag kept on the leg until the bird is processed or mounted.
Hunters are required to report each harvest within ten days via the PGC website (www.pgc.pa.gov), the toll‑free line 1‑800‑838‑4431, or a prepaid postcard. Reporters must have their license and harvest tag handy and note the confirmation number provided.
Population trends and recruitment
According to Wild Turkey Biologist Reina Tyl, the 2026 turkey recruitment index rose to 2.83 poults per hen, up from 2.67 in 2025, though still slightly below the five‑year average of 2.94. The statewide turkey summer sighting survey recorded 10,888 sightings, a modest increase from 10,674 the previous year. Only WMU 4D fell below a recruitment ratio of 2.0, posting 1.78 poults per hen, indicating solid reproductive success across most of the Commonwealth.
“Last year, we added Sunday hunting opportunities for many WMUs,” Tyl said. “This year, seasons that previously closed on Saturday now extend to Sunday, giving hunters more flexibility and the chance to encounter larger brood‑flocks.”
Health precautions
Wild turkeys are susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), though their habitat and behavior lower the risk compared with waterfowl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the current strain poses a low risk to the general public. Hunters should follow standard bio‑security measures and report any sick or dead domestic birds to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (717‑772‑2852) and any wild birds to the Game Commission (1‑833‑PGC‑WILD).
Research and monitoring
Since 2020, the PGC has leg‑banded more than 450 turkeys and fitted over 500 with backpack‑style transmitters for research. While many of those birds are no longer actively monitored, some may still be harvested.
Participation in the annual turkey summer sighting survey remains open to the public, providing valuable data that informs the commission’s population models and season recommendations.
Original reporting: WESB (Bradford) — read the source article.
