Pennsylvania’s natural beauty tops the list of many hunting enthusiasts. It’s hard to beat the experience of hunting turkey in the lush forests and steep mountainous terrain the Pennsylvania Wilds offers. The Keystone State’s flourishing hunting culture and two million acres of public lands welcome thousands of licensed hunters each year. Although Pennsylvania turkey hunting can be difficult, it’s also rewarding. Many hunters enjoy watching the sun rise over the mountainside while hearing gobbles echoing down the valley.
Whether you’re a novice or an avid turkey hunter, we’re here to help you bag a Pennsylvania gobbler. Here’s a deep dive into Pennsylvania turkey hunting.
Pennsylvania Turkey Hunting Season
Pennsylvania’s spring turkey season kicks off near the end of April with a one-day youth hunt open to junior license holders and mentored hunters under 16 years old. Then, in May, the statewide spring gobbler season opens and runs until May 31. From April 30th to May 14th you can hunt turkey a half hour before sunrise until noon. From May 16th – May 31st you can hunt from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. During the spring turkey season, hunters are permitted to use manually operated or semiautomatic shotguns limited to a three-shell capacity in the chamber and magazine combined. Muzzleloaders, shotguns, crossbows, long recurve, and compound bows are also allowed. You can use a rifle if it is muzzleloading and it propels single projectile ammunition except in wildlife management units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D The max size shot that is legal for turkey hunting in Pennsylvania is a # 4 lead, # 2 steel, or # 4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot. There’s a daily limit of one and a season limit of two.
Fall turkey hunting is permitted for hens and gobblers at different times based on location. In many parts of the state, the season opens October 29th. In WMUS, 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D, and 4E, the season ends November 5th. In WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C, it ends November 12th. In WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E, it ends November 12th and returns November 23rd to the 25th. WMU 2B in Allegheny County has the longest fall turkey season, running October 29th to November 18 th and November 23rd to the 25th. In WMU 5B, you can hunt November 1st to the 3rd. In WMUs 5A, 5C, and 5D in southeastern Pennsylvania, it’s closed this year.
Pennsylvania Turkey Hunting Registration and Regulations
All turkey hunters in Pennsylvania must possess a permit if they want to bag a bird. Hunters can purchase a license in person at one of these license-issuing agents or online.
Pennsylvania turkey hunters will have new weapon restrictions starting this fall. A regulation approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners prohibits using muzzleloaders, slug guns, and handguns (all single-projectile firearms) during the fall turkey season. Shotguns and archery gear are now the only legal means of harvest.
Best Places in Pennsylvania for Turkey Hunting
North-central Pennsylvania counties are one of the best places to find a plump turkey. As one of the truly wild places left in the United States, it’s a promising prospect for hunters of all kinds.
Hunters also flock to the Allegheny National Forest, which is located in the northwest. The forest on the Allegheny Plateau consists of 514,029 acres and is Pennsylvania’s only National Forest. WMU 4D in central PA also puts up solid harvest numbers.
The Best Gear Designed for the Hardcore Hunter
Now that you better understand turkey hunting in Pennsylvania, you’ll need some quality gear for the perfect hunt. CamoFire is a hunting gear store that offers a new lineup of daily deals, typically 40-70% off normal retail. We promise you won’t find a better price anywhere online. So if you’re looking for the best supplies, clothing, and accessories brands, you’ve come to the right place.
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