Pa duck season

Buying Federal Duck Stamps is among the simplest ways that anyone can participate in wildlife and habitat conservation. Duck Stamps are a required annual purchase for waterfowl hunters 16 and older, and a current duck stamp grants the bearer free entrance into any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee. But whether you are a hunter, birder or other outdoors enthusiast or you simply want to help preserve our natural resources for future generations to enjoy, you can contribute to conservation by buying Duck Stamps.

First Day of Sale

2021-2022 Federal Duck Stamps and Junior Duck Stamps Go on Sale
Starting on Friday June 25, 2021 you can purchase your new 2021-2020 Junior and Federal Duck Stamps.

Looking for something special? Along with the actual 2021-2020 stamps, there are several collectors’ items available through the  Postal Store and  Amplex Corporation. Both of these outlets also have stamps and products for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 stamp years available.

Please check back for information on future events where we will celebrate artists Richard Clifton and Margaret McMullen, Eddie LeRoy and Madison Grimm, our conservation partners, and the legacy and traditions of the Federal Duck Stamp Program.

See 2021-20222 stamp and stamp product images

E-Stamp
Buy online or at a retail outlet through any participating state.

Amplex Corporation
 www.duckstamp.com
800/852-4897
duckstam[email protected]
Current and recent Federal Duck Stamps, Junior Duck Stamps and stamp products

Postal Store
 www.usps.com
800/STAMP-24 (800/782-6724)
Current and recent Federal Duck Stamps, Junior Duck Stamps and stamp products

Select Post Offices
 Find a post office near you
Current year Federal Duck Stamps only ~ Call ahead to ensure they sell Duck Stamps

Your National Wildlife Refuge
 www.fws.gov/refuges to find a refuge near you.
Current year Federal & Junior Duck Stamps only ~ Call ahead to ensure they sell the stamps

American Birding Association
Birders, make your voice count! The American Birding Association  sells the stamps to birders and anyone who supports habitat protection.
Current year Federal Duck Stamps only

Many major sporting goods stores and large chain stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses and sporting equipment also sell Federal Duck Stamps
Current year Federal Duck Stamps only at most locations ~ Call ahead to ensure they sell Duck Stamps

Federal & Junior Duck Stamps and Stamp Products

FEDERAL DUCK STAMPPressure Sensitive Adhesive-Single Stamp

Price: $25
200,000 produced

FEDERAL DUCK STAMPPressure-Sensitive Adhesive-Sheetlet of 1

Price: $25
2,155,000 produced

FEDERAL JUNIOR DUCK STAMPWater-Activated Glue format only

Price: $5
20,000 produced
Available only from Amplex, USPS online and some national wildlife refuges

Before You Go...

• If you purchased a Federal Duck Stamp for hunting, you will also need to obtain

   appropriate state licenses and stamps directly from the state(s) in which you plan to hunt

• We also sell a variety of commemorative Duck Stamp products, available through Amplex. These make excellent gifts for anyone who loves wildlife, the outdoors, art or stamps.
• If you would like to sell Federal Duck Stamps and Junior Duck Stamps at your retail outlet or other facility, sign up for our convenient consignment program.
• If you would like to license the Federal Duck Stamp or Junior Duck Stamp image for reproduction on retail or promotional products, find out about our licensing program.

Thank you for Putting Your Stamp on Conservation!

For more information about Federal and Junior Duck Stamps, contact Suzanne Fellows at [email protected]

HUNTING DATES TO REMEMBER 2021-22

Click here for a PDF version of these dates

Hunting Permits Available Now - Click Here for Permit

Permits available at the park office at John Rudy County Park and at the Nixon Nature Center. Or you can click on the hyperlink above, fill out the permit and waiver and email it to [email protected] for approval. Reminder, each hunter applying for a permit must fill out and sign their own waiver (except for minors where a parent or guardian must sign). 

August 23, 2021

Goose Hunting Permit Lottery

Hand out Goose Blind Permits at Bass Pavilion in William H. Kain County Park. Hunters must be at Bass Pavilion by 5:30 P.M. Permits will be handed out by a lottery system starting at 5:45 P.M. No applications will be accepted after 5:45 P.M.

September 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, & 22, 2021

Goose Hunting Dates

Goose hunting dates. A limited number of hunters (5 sites) will be allowed to hunt geese in William H. Kain County Park in the area between Hess Farm Rd, Iron Stone Hill Rd, Lake Rd and Log Rd. This area will be closed to all other park visitors until 11:00 A.M. on the dates listed above. A Park Ranger and/or Assistant Director will be on site during this hunt.

November 18, 2021

Antlerless Deer Permit Available for Kain & Rocky Ridge Parks

Antlerless Deer Permits handed out on a first come first serve basis (or lottery if needed).   Permits will be handed out at Nixon Park from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Hunters must have an antlerless deer license; Shotgun/slug or flintlock muzzleloaders only.
KAIN PARK:  50 permits for Dec. 6 & 7 and 50 permits for Dec. 8 
ROCKY RIDGE: 33 permits for Dec. 6 & 7 and 33 permits for Dec. 8

December 6, 7, & 8, 2021

Park CLOSED for hunting

Kain and Rocky Ridge County Parks will be closed to general public for a special antlerless deer hunt. Special permit is needed. ***See above “November 18: Antlerless Deer Permits” for more information.

Questions: Contact Teddy Fisher at 717-840-7227 or [email protected] 

Are you searching for waterfowl and migratory bird season information? See the summary below.

Ducks Seasons and Bag Limits

North Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-Nov. 29, and Dec. 23-Jan. 10.
South Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 18-25, and Nov. 15-Jan. 15.
Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-Dec. 13, and Dec. 27-Jan. 1.
Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 27-Jan. 3.
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 2 hen mallards, 2 scaup, 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 canvasback, 2 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck and 4 scoters. Possession limits are triple the daily limits.
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession (not more than 2 hooded mergansers daily, 6 hooded in possession).
Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.
Duck Zone Boundaries:
Lake Erie Zone – Lake Erie, Presque Isle and the area within 150 yards of the Lake Erie shoreline.
Northwest Zone – The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone and including all of Erie and Crawford counties and all of Mercer and Venango counties north of I-80.
North Zone – The area east of the Northwest Zone and north of I-80 to Route 220, north from I-80 to I-180, north and east of I-180 from Route 220 to I-80, north of I-80 from I-180 to the Delaware River.
South Zone – All of state not in the Lake Erie, Northwest and North Zones.

Canada Goose Seasons and Bag Limits
This includes white-fronted geese. All of Pennsylvania will have a regular Canada goose season, however, season lengths and bag limits will vary by zone as follows:

RESIDENT POPULATION GOOSE ZONE (RP)
All of Pennsylvania except for the Southern James Bay Population and the Atlantic Population zones. The season is Oct. 25-Nov. 29, Dec. 18-Jan. 15, and Feb. 2-28, with a 5-goose daily bag limit; 15-goose possession limit.
SOUTHERN JAMES BAY POPULATION ZONE (SJBP)
The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle and the area within 150 yards of Lake Erie Shoreline). The season is Oct. 11-Nov. 29 and Dec. 15-Jan. 23, with a 3-goose daily limit; 9-goose possession limit.
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. The season is Nov. 15-29 and Dec. 15-Jan. 26, with a 3-goose daily limit; 9-goose possession limit. Exception: The controlled hunting areas at the Middle Creek WMA and all of SGL 46 in Lebanon-Lancaster counties has a daily bag limit of one, and possession limit of three during the regular Canada goose season.

September Canada Goose: Sept. 1-25; 3 daily, 9 in possession (SJBP zone); 8 daily, 24 in possession (rest of state); exceptions:

1.) In the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 618, SR 618 south to US Route 6, US Route 6 east to US Route 322/SR 18, US Route 322/SR 18 west to intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south to the Crawford/Mercer County line. The daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 3; except on SGL 214 where the season is closed to September goose hunting.
2.) Canada geese may be taken on Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and an area to extend 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road). The daily bag limit is 3, possession limit of 9.
3.) In the area of Lancaster and Lebanon counties north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, east of SR 501 to SR 419, south of SR 419 to Lebanon-Berks county line, west of Lebanon-Berks county line and the Lancaster-Berks county line to SR 1053 (also known as Peartown Road and Greenville Road), west of SR 1053 to Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, the daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 3; except on SGL 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) where the season is closed.
Note: Exceptions 1 and 3 do not apply to youth participation on youth waterfowl days, when regular season regulations apply. Hunting hours for all migratory birds, including Canada geese, close at sunset on youth waterfowl days.

Youth Waterfowl Days: Statewide: Sept. 20; also in North and Northwest zones, Sept. 27; in Lake Erie Zone, Oct. 18; and in South Zone, Nov. 8. Refer to PGC website for more details.

Brant (All Zones): Oct. 18-Nov. 21, 2 daily, 6 in possession.

Light Geese (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese) Seasons and Bag Limits
Atlantic Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 26, 25 daily, no possession limit. Conservation Hunt: Jan. 27 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Southern James Bay Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 23; 25 daily, no possession limit. Conservation Hunt: Jan. 24 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Resident Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 28-Feb. 28; 25 daily, no possession limit. Conservation Hunt: March 2 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.

Harlequin Ducks, and Tundra and Trumpeter Swans: No open season.

Webless Migratory Bird Seasons and Daily Bag Limits

* Dove season hunting hours are noon to sunset for Sept. 1-25 and 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for Sept. 26 – Nov. 15 as well as for the second and third segments.
** Bag limits singly or combined.
Possession limit is triple the daily bag limit.
Refer to PGC website for further details and regulations.

For information on falconry migratory game bird hunting seasons refer to the PGC website at http://www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Licenses Required, in addition to a Pennsylvania hunting license, to hunt ducks and geese:
Persons 16 and older – Federal Duck Stamp, signed in ink across its face, and Migratory Game Bird License (HIP).
Persons 12 through 15 – Migratory Game Bird License (HIP).
A valid Migratory Game Bird License (HIP) is also required to hunt other migratory game birds, including doves, woodcock, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe. If you purchased a HIP license last year, be sure to provide your last year’s migratory game bird harvest results when asked. By answering these questions you will be entered into a pool of hunters from which samples for federal harvest surveys are drawn. Your responses to the questions improve efficiency and the quality of the information used to monitor the harvest of migratory birds for management purposes.

Voluntary PA Duck Stamp – Helps finance wetland acquisition and development and waterfowl education.

Band Reporting: online at www.reportband.gov, or call TOLL-FREE, 1-800-327-2263.

More details can be found here. Always consult the Hunting & Trapping Digest as well.

The autumn hunting season in 2020 could look much different than previous years. The world around us is changing, but one thing appears to remain constant throughout this uncertain time: the great outdoors.

The 2020 fall hunting season is on the horizon, so consider and take every health precaution you can if you plan on hunting in Pennsylvania this year.

Before the season kicks off, it’s always important to know what Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) you are hunting in.

Get a more comprehensive look at the WMU Map:

For central Pennsylvania hunters:

WMU 5A: This unit covers most of Adams County and the southern halves of Cumberland and Franklin counties.

WMU 5B: This unit covers nearly all of York and Lancaster counties and the southern parts of Dauphin and Lebanon counties. It also leaks into the western side of Berks County.

Here are the important hunting dates to remember in the fall of 2020:

More:Apply for antlerless deer licenses beginning July 13

Deer

Archery (statewide): Oct. 3-Nov. 14,

Sunday, Nov. 15

Nov. 16-20

Archery (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 14

Sunday, Nov 15

Nov. 16-27

Muzzleloader (antlerless only): Oct. 17-24

Special Firearms (antlerless only): Oct. 22-24

To qualify for this special season, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Junior or Senior License holder.
• Mentored Youth Permit holder.
• Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Certain disabled persons’ permit holders 

Turkey:

Hunters can take a bearded or unbearded bird in the fall season. The fall season is closed in WMUs 5C and 5D.

WMU 1B: Oct. 31-Nov. 7

WMUs 1A, 2A, 4A, 4D and 4E: Oct. 31-Nov. 14

WMUs 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C: Oct 31-Nov. 14 and Nov. 25-27

WMUs 2B and 2C: Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27

WMU 5B: Nov. 3-5

WMU 5A: Nov. 5-7

More:Hunting in Pa.: 2019 was a year of changes. Here are the top 5

Bear:

Firearms (statewide): Nov. 21

Sunday, Nov. 22

Nov. 23-24

Archery (includes crossbow):

Statewide: Oct. 17-Nov 7

WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Nov. 27

WMU 5B: Oct. 3- Nov 14

Muzzleloader (statewide): Oct. 17-24

Special Firearms (statewide): Oct. 22-24

To qualify for this special season, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Junior or Senior License holder.
• Mentored Youth Permit holder.
• Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Certain disabled persons permit holders

Elk

Archery: Sept. 12-26

General Season: Nov. 2-7

Squirrel

Junior hunt: Sept. 12-26

Statewide: Sept. 12-Nov. 27

Pheasant

Junior hunt: Oct. 10-17

Statewide: Oct. 24- Nov. 27

Rabbit

Junior hunt: Oct. 3-17

Statewide: Oct. 17-Nov. 27

Grouse

Statewide: Oct. 17-Nov. 27

Bobtail Quail

Statewide: Oct. 17-Nov. 27

Groundhog

No closed season, except during deer firearms seasons.

Sundays prohibited.

Crow

Statewide: July 3-April 11

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with the Bureau of Wildlife Protection’s Chad Eyler and Brian Sheetz about our state’s wildlife protection programs, including OGT.

To confidentially report information, call the OGT hotline toll-free – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out a form online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. With more than 1,500 tips a year, Pennsylvania’s program is ranked third in the nation behind Texas and Florida.

From its first days, Pennsylvania was founded on William Penn’s belief that wildlife belongs to everyone. Today, our state Constitution says that all the natural resources within this Commonwealth belong to the people.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission serves as the state’s wildlife agency and is dedicated to managing and protecting wildlife and their habitats, while promoting hunting and trapping, for current and future generations.

Call of the Outdoors, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s podcast is available now! Episodes are available on www.calloftheoutdoorspgc.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Store, iHeartRadio, Spotify and Stitcher.