Pennsylvania bear season 2026: dates and free maps
Season dates
Archery, WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Saturday, September 19 to Friday, November 27, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Archery, WMUs 3C, 3D and 5B: Saturday, October 3 to Friday, November 20, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Archery, all other WMUs: Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Muzzleloader and special firearms, statewide: Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
Special firearms is for junior, senior, mentored, disability-permit and qualifying active-duty or 65-and-older hunters.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Regular firearms, statewide: Saturday, November 21 to Tuesday, November 24, 2026
One bear per license year across all seasons.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Extended firearms, WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D: Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 13, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Extended firearms, WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A: Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Legal shooting hours for big game in Pennsylvania, generally: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Bear country is big timber and steep ground, usually with no signal. Download the maps for your spot ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can stay on public ground, find your stand or bait site and get back out after dark.
Free public land maps in Pennsylvania
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pennsylvania Game Commission. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.