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Pennsylvania WMU Finder

Answer six questions and get Pennsylvania Wildlife Management Units ranked by habitat fit, 2026–27 season dates, public land and PGC harvest estimates.

How the Pennsylvania finder works

The Pennsylvania Game Commission sets deer, bear and turkey seasons by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and estimates harvest the same way. This tool scores all 22 WMUs for the species you pick using PGC harvest estimates (deer 2020–2024, bear and turkey 2019–2023), USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land such as State Game Lands, state forests and the Allegheny National Forest. Elk are ranked by elk hunt zone.

Season fit uses the PGC's final 2026–27 seasons: statewide and early archery, the regular firearms season (Nov. 28–Dec. 13), flintlock, extended antlerless firearms, the WMU-specific bear and fall turkey seasons, spring gobbler and the four elk seasons. Upland birds and waterfowl are ranked by county.

Species covered

  • White-tailed deer
  • Elk
  • Black bear
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Ring-necked pheasant
  • Forest grouse
  • Quail

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • Mourning dove
  • American woodcock

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

Pennsylvania hunting FAQ

When does Pennsylvania's 2026 rifle deer season open?

The regular firearms season opens Saturday, Nov. 28, and runs through Dec. 13, 2026, including Sundays. Archery opens Oct. 3 (Sept. 19 in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D).

Which Pennsylvania WMUs have the most bears?

WMUs 2G, 3D, 3B and 2F in the northern tier and the Poconos report the highest bear harvests. Pick black bear in the tool to rank them with habitat and access.

How do I get a Pennsylvania elk license?

Elk licenses are drawn; for 2026–27 the PGC allocated 155 licenses across four seasons. Each license is valid in one elk hunt zone, and the tool ranks the zones on PGC harvest, habitat and access.

Pennsylvania harvest leaders

The wildlife management units with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

White-tailed deer (2020–2024 average)

  1. WMU 2D: 34,900 per year
  2. WMU 2C: 27,740 per year
  3. WMU 5B: 26,100 per year
  4. WMU 1B: 24,600 per year
  5. WMU 1A: 23,260 per year

Elk (2019–2023 average)

  1. Elk zone 12: 23 per year
  2. Elk zone 2: 18 per year
  3. Elk zone 10: 12 per year
  4. Elk zone 14: 11 per year
  5. Elk zone 4: 9 per year

Black bear (2019–2023 average)

  1. WMU 2G: 569 per year
  2. WMU 3D: 425 per year
  3. WMU 3B: 348 per year
  4. WMU 2F: 276 per year
  5. WMU 4D: 264 per year

Wild turkey (2019–2023 average)

  1. WMU 2D: 4,391 per year
  2. WMU 2C: 3,500 per year
  3. WMU 2A: 2,859 per year
  4. WMU 3C: 2,730 per year
  5. WMU 2G: 2,524 per year

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Lancaster County: 12,048 per year
  2. Crawford County: 10,740 per year
  3. Erie County: 6,277 per year
  4. Berks County: 4,953 per year
  5. Somerset County: 3,654 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Lancaster County: 13,348 per year
  2. Chester County: 11,702 per year
  3. Bucks County: 11,042 per year
  4. Northampton County: 10,833 per year
  5. Berks County: 9,734 per year