At their recent meeting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board gave preliminary approval to the following hunting season changes. And for hunters who like to schedule their vacations around certain hunting seasons, the board gave approval for those dates as well. They are as follows:

*For black bear, the October muzzleloader season is proposed to be shortened to three days to reduce harvest rates on female bears and thereby promote stabilization of the bear population.

*Pheasant hunting within the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area (WPRA) is currently limited to youth participation drawn in a lottery. The agency has proposed to eliminate the age restriction and permit requirements and provide the Executive Director the authority to annually designate WPRAs to be opened to hunting and establish appropriate season date(s) and bag limits.

*A proposal to include mentored hunters of all ages to be eligible to hunt in the early October pheasant season segment, known best as the Junior Hunt.

*For wild turkey, fall season length changes are proposed for numerous Wildlife Management Units (WMU). Season length would be increased in 11 WMUs and WMU 5A, which was previously closed to fall hunting, would be opened for a 3-day season. Season length would be reduced in two WMUs 3D and 4C.

PROPOSED BIG GAME SEASON OPENING DATES

*Spring Gobbler (bearded birds only): May 3-31

* Black Bear Archery: 2B, 5C and 5D; Sept. 21-Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17; Nov. 18-23; Sunday, Nov. 24 and Nov. 25-29.

*Black Bear Archery: WMU 5B, Oct. 5-Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17 and Nov. 18-23

*Black Bear Archery: WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A; Oct. 19-Nov. 9.

*Black Bear Muzzleloader statewide: Oct. 24-26

*Black Bear, Special Firearms statewide: Oct. 24-26.

*Black Bear statewide: Nov. 23; Sunday, Nov. 24; and Nov. 25-26

*Black Bear WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 4C, 4E and 5A: Nov. 30; Sunday, Dec. 1 and Dec. 1, 2 and 7.

*Black Bear WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D: Nov. 30; Sunday, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2-14.

*Elk Archery: Sept. 14-28 via a lottery.

*Elk Antlered or Antlerless: Nov. 4-9 via lottery.

*Elk Late: Dec. 28-Jan. 4, 2025.

*Deer Archery Antlered and Antlerless in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 21-Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17; Nov. 18-23; Sunday, Nov. 24; Nov. 25-29; and Dec. 26-Jan. 25, 2025.

*Deer Archery Antlered and Antlerless statewide: Oct. 5-Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17; Nov. 18-22; and Dec. 26-Jan. 20, 2025.

*Deer, Antlerless Muzzleloader statewide: Oct. 19-26.

*Deer, Antlerless Special Firearms statewide: Oct. 24-26.

*Deer, Regular Firearms Antlered and Antlerless statewide: Nov. 30; Sunday Dec. 1 and Dec. 2-14.

*Deer, Antlered or Antlerless Flintlock statewide: Dec. 26-Jan. 20, 2025.

*Deer, Antlered or Antlerless Flintlock WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 26-Jan. 25, 2025.

*Deer, Antlerless Extended Regular Firearms in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 26-Jan. 25.

As for the latest bear harvest numbers for the past seasons, Travis Lau, PGCs Media Relations Manager, said he is working with the bear biologist to finalize harvest numbers. We’ll publish those totals when they become available.