Outdoors Calendar
(To request to have an item added to the Outdoors Calendar or to send a digital image of your harvested bear, deer or turkey photo for possible publication please email hssports@heraldstandard.com.)
FINAL 2025-26 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined): Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (6 daily, 18 possession).
BOBWHITE QUAIL Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (No limit).
RUFFED GROUSE Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (2 daily, 6 possession).
COTTONTAIL RABBIT Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (2 daily, 6 possession).
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARES Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (1 daily, 3 season).
MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Dec. 1-March 31, 2026 (No limits).
No hunting on Sundays with the exception Nov. 30.
No open season on other wild birds or mammals.
2025-26 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
DUCKS:
North Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Nov. 18-Jan. 10.
South Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Nov. 19-Jan. 19.
Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Dec. 22-Jan. 10.
Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Nov. 3-Jan. 10.
Total Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 18 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 4 sea ducks; including no more than 3 eiders and no more than 1 female eider, 3 long-tailed ducks, and 3 scoters. Daily limit for scaup varies; see below. Possession limits are three times the daily limits.
Scaup Bag Limits:
North Zone: 2 scaup daily, Dec. 19-Jan.10
South Zone: 1 scaup daily, Nov. 19-Dec. 26; 2 scaup daily, Dec. 27-Jan. 19
Northwest Zone: 1 scaup daily, 2 scaup daily, Dec. 22-Jan. 10
Lake Erie Zone: 2 scaup daily, Dec. 19-Jan. 10
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession
Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.
CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE):
Resident Population Goose Zone (RP)
All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population zone. Dec. 15-Jan. 17, and Jan. 30-Feb. 21 (5-goose daily bag limit in latter 3 segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
Atlantic Population Zone (AP)
The area east of SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. Dec. 20-Jan. 19 (1-goose daily bag limit in latter two segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese):
Atlantic Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 24, 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Jan. 26 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Resident Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 21-Feb. 21; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Feb. 23 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.
Veteran and Active Duty Military Days:
In Lake Erie Zone, Jan. 17; in Northwest Zone, Jan. 17; in North Zone, Jan. 17; and in South Zone, Jan. 24. Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code); and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training) for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada geese as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season.
DOVES: Dec. 20-Jan. 3. 15 daily, 45 in possession.
WOODCOCK: Dec. 15-24. 3 daily, 9 in possession.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Oct. 18-Nov. 28, and Dec. 15-24. 8 daily, 24 in possession.
CLAPPER AND KING RAILS: No open season.
All hunters are required to have a Migratory Game Bird License to hunt migratory birds including waterfowl, doves, woodcock, brant, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe. In addition to a Migratory Game Bird License, waterfowl hunters 16 or older need a federal duck stamp, and if the actual stamp is carried, it must be signed across the face. The electronic duck stamp, or E-Stamp, version of the federal duck stamp has now been authorized for use through the entirety of a waterfowl hunting season. Stamps can be purchased online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov or at any issuing agent. Physical stamps will be mailed to E-stamp purchasers in March. A Snow Goose Permit is required to participate in the Conservation Order for light geese.