The 2022 – 2023 hunting season licenses are now available for purchase, and it’s a good time to review the latest Hunting and Trapping Digest and become familiar with new regulations and the upcoming seasons and bag limits. If you are a procrastinator, which we all seem to be at times, you may miss a couple of important dates. The antlerless deer license application is due in to the appropriate County Treasurer by Monday, July 11, 2022. Elk license applications can be purchased at the same time as your hunting license purchase or can be purchased later – up until July 31, 2022.
Also, take note of the “Personal Antlerless Deer License Limit” that is currently in effect. All hunting license holders (a mentored permit is not a hunting license) may now apply for and obtain up to six antlerless deer licenses before the start of hunting seasons for any WMU in which licenses remain available.
Hunters statewide are limited to holding six antlerless deer licenses at a time. A hunter with six antlerless licenses may apply for additional licenses, if available, as they harvest deer and report them. Hunters who report harvests online through HuntFishPA.gov or call the Customer Support line (800-838-4431) instantly become eligible to purchase another license if any are available. Those reporting by mail will not be eligible.
With today’s ever-rising gas prices and mounting inflation, many hunters opt to forego trips to western states for the upcoming hunting season. We are fortunate to have quite a few great hunting opportunities within our state.
It makes a lot of sense then to focus our attention on what is available in Pennsylvania, especially since this fall may prove to be too costly to travel out west or across our US borders into Canada or Mexico.
Until you have the opportunity to purchase your license and can review all of the information in the current Hunting and Trapping Digest, here are a few updates for the upcoming season for your planning purposes.
The early squirrel season begins on September 10 and continues through November 25, with a daily limit of 6 and a possession limit of 18. The ruffed grouse season runs from October 15 to November 25, with a late-season from December 12-23. The daily limit is two, and the possession limit is 6. Cottontail rabbit season goes from October 15 to November 25 and December 26 to February 27, 2023, with a daily limit of 4 and a possession limit of 12. The three ring-necked pheasant seasons are from October 22 to November 25, December 12-23, and December 26 until February 27, 2023.
There is a daily limit of 2, with a possession limit of 6.
For big game hunters, the fall wild turkey season in 2G is slated to run from October 29 to November 12, with male or female birds allowable, with a limit of 1 bird. As a reminder, rifles and handguns are restricted statewide, with the exception of muzzleloading. Black bear hunters can pursue them with firearms from November 19-22, while muzzleloader hunter’s season is October 15-22, and archery season is October 15-November 5. Additionally, the Special Firearms season for Junior and Senior license holders will be from October 20-22. Only one bear may be taken during the license year. The archery deer season (Antlered and Antlerless) season in WMU 2G will be held from October 1 to November 18 and again from December 26-January 16, 2023.
The muzzleloading season for deer runs from October 15-22, and the special Junior and Senior season is held from October 20-22. The regular firearms deer season is held statewide from November 26 to December 10.
If you plan to refrain from traveling this fall to out-of-state destinations, this year within our borders will provide excellent opportunities for success in the field regarding hunting. The second ingredient you need to consider beyond these various seasons and opportunities is a place to hunt.
Access to private land is not that difficult. You merely need to use some common sense and exhibit good old-fashioned respect and responsibility. Do not wait until the day or week before a season opens to approach landowners to seek permission to hunt. Instead, go now or at least in the next few weeks. Taking along a young hunter who you hope to mentor may just win over the heart of a landowner! After receiving permission, dropping by with a homemade cherry or apple pie may just seal the deal for a long-term relationship! But, at least stop by before the season opens to verify where you can park your vehicle and to let the landowner know what days you would like to hunt there. Do not drag along a friend or relative without first getting permission.
