PA now allows Sunday hunting. Here are 5 other changes to game rules in the state
The recent expansion of Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania isn’t the only change coming to Centre County game lands this hunting season.
Signed into law this summer, House Bill 1431 allows Sunday hunting in the commonwealth previously limited to just three days by Pennsylvania’s blue laws.
As part of legislation and updates to regulations from the commonwealth’s Board of Game Commissioners, new rules for bear, hare and deer hunting have also taken effect, among others.
Here’s a breakdown of what hunters need to know before heading out this season. Regular black bear season runs from Nov. 22 to 25 and regular deer from Nov. 29 to Dec. 13, with season dates available on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Higher trespassing penalties
The same legislation that legalized Sunday hunting, HB 1431, also seeks to crack down on trespassing.
The law states hunters who trespass may face up to a one-year suspension of their hunting privileges, and those who refuse to leave a property after being told to do so could face a three-year suspension. Those who trespass more than once in seven years could face a five-year suspension.
Hunters should be on the lookout for “no trespassing” signs or purple paint markers on trees denoting private property.
After-Christmas extended firearm deer season changes
The after-Christmas extended firearms deer season will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 24 and be open on all properties participating in the Deer Management Assistance Program. There are 10 such properties in Centre County, and hundreds of permits are available as of Tuesday.
There will also be an extended firearms deer season early next year, from Jan. 2 to Jan. 19 in Wildlife Management Unit 4C, which covers portions of Schuylkill and surrounding counties. This expansion is due to the detection of chronic wasting disease among the local deer population.
Shortened archery bear season
Archery bear season was shortened from three weeks to one week, and ran from Oct. 18 to Oct. 25. The three-week season is for Wildlife Management Unit 2B, which covers Somerset County and portions of its neighboring counties, as well as Units 5B, 5C and 5D, which cover most of southeastern Pennsylvania.
Lower snowshoe hare limit
The recent legislative changes also lowered the snowshoe hare season limit from six to three.
The Board of Game Commissioners says the change was made to prevent “overharvest in isolated segments of the hare population.” The season will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Natural deer urine now allowed
The use of natural deer urine as an attractant was legalized alongside Sunday hunting.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
