Pennsylvania

Revamping Tradition: Proposed Alterations to Pennsylvania’s 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Seasons

- by Maryann Pugh
hunting© visualspace from Getty Images Signature / Canva

From Squirrels to Bears: What’s on the Agenda?

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners recently gave preliminary approval to proposed revisions for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons. These changes aim to address specific wildlife management issues and create additional opportunities for hunters and trappers. Here’s a detailed lowdown of the key proposals:

Squirrel Hunting:

  • Exclusive seasonal window for authorized junior hunters from Sept. 14-28.
  • The main hunting period extends from Sept. 14 to Feb. 28, 2025, with intermittent breaks.
  • Daily and possession limits set at 6 and 18 squirrels, respectively.

Ruffed Grouse Hunting:

  • The hunting season runs intermittently from Oct. 19 to Dec. 24.
  • Hunters can catch 2 grouse daily, with a possession limit of 6.

Rabbit Hunting:

  • Junior hunters enjoy their special season from Oct. 5-19.
  • Regular hunting season spans intermittently from Oct. 19 to Feb. 28, 2025.
  • The daily limit stands at 4 rabbits, with a possession limit of 12.

Pheasant Hunting:

  • Special season for junior and all mentored hunters: Oct. 12-19.
  • Main season intermittently spans Oct. 26 to Feb. 28, 2025.
  • Hunters may bag 2 pheasants daily, with possession capped at 6.

Wild Turkey Hunting:

  • Seasons vary by Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
  • A mix of increases and reductions proposed for various WMUs.

Black Bear Hunting:

  • Proposed changes involve tweaking the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons.
  • October muzzleloader season proposed to be shortened to three days.

Deer Hunting:

  • No proposed changes for elk or white-tailed deer seasons.
  • Extension mulled for the antlerless deer hunting period in certain WMUs.

Furbearer Hunting and Trapping:

  • Opening of WMU 2D for bobcat hunting and trapping contemplated.
  • Potential expansion of fisher trapping season by a week in all WMUs.

What These Changes Could Mean

The proposed revisions to the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons pack a punch in terms of wildlife management, conservation efforts, and hunting opportunities. These shifts aim to address concerns like stabilizing the bear population by moderating the harvest rates on female bears, broadening pheasant hunting avenues for youth and mentored hunters, and modifying fall season lengths for wild turkey across varied WMUs.

Before these changes are etched in stone in April, the public is being invited to weigh in with their comments. As these alterations have the potential to deeply impact the hunting and trapping landscape in Pennsylvania, every voice matters. So, whether you’re a seasoned hunter, an armchair environmentalist, or simply a Pennsylvanian vested in the state’s wildlife legacy, now is the time to make your opinion count.

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