Pennsylvania · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Pennsylvania Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Turkey (male or female) | WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4D | Oct 31 – Nov 15 |
| Fall Turkey (male or female) | WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C, 4E | Oct 31 – Nov 8 |
| Fall Turkey · Segment 1 | WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3C | Oct 31 – Nov 15 |
| Fall Turkey · Segment 2 | WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B, 3C | Nov 25 – Nov 27 |
| Fall Turkey · Segment 1 | WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E | Oct 31 – Nov 20 |
| Fall Turkey · Segment 2 | WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E | Nov 25 – Nov 27 |
| Fall Turkey (male or female) | WMUs 5A, 5B | Oct 31 – Nov 3 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Junior & mentored hunters (16 and under) | Statewide | Apr 24 – Apr 25 |
| Spring Gobbler · to noon | Statewide | May 1 – May 15 |
| Spring Gobbler · all day | Statewide | May 16 – May 31 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall | 1 bird per license year. WMUs 5C and 5D closed to fall turkey hunting. |
|---|---|
| Spring gobbler | Season limit 1 (bearded bird only) |
| Spring junior hunt | Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt; hunting hours end at noon. |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 31, 2026) 06:11 — 17:36
Rule: Fall: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring gobbler: to NOON only during May 1-15, 2027; to one-half hour after sunset May 16-31, 2027 (per PGC). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Pennsylvania sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Pennsylvania hunting license and turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
Pennsylvania hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Pennsylvania — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Pennsylvania's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
07 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in Pennsylvania?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 31, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Pennsylvania?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is May 31, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Pennsylvania?
Junior & mentored hunters (16 and under) opens April 24, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in Pennsylvania?
Fall Turkey (male or female) opens October 31, 2026 (WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4D).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Pennsylvania?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall — 1 bird per license year. WMUs 5C and 5D closed to fall turkey hunting. Spring gobbler — Season limit 1 (bearded bird only). Spring junior hunt — Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt; hunting hours end at noon. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey in Pennsylvania?
On opening day (October 31, 2026) legal light runs 06:11 to 17:36. The rule is: Fall: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring gobbler: to NOON only during May 1-15, 2027; to one-half hour after sunset May 16-31, 2027 (per PGC). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Pennsylvania sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in Pennsylvania without a license?
Pennsylvania's exemption only covers someone whose primary livelihood is farming that specific land — owner, tenant, family member, or farmhand — who may then hunt and take furbearers on it without a license. Owning rural land you don't farm for a living doesn't qualify; discounted Landowner Hunting Licenses exist separately for owners of 50 or more acres.
Verified · Pennsylvania Game Commission · Last verified 2026-08-27
Publisher's note. Re-verified 2026-08-27 against the PGC's own 'Seasons and Bag Limits' page, fetched directly (no block). The PGC page carries TWO license years stacked on one URL: a '2025-26 Seasons and Bag Limits' block followed by a '2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits' block. Everything in this file comes from the 2026-27 block; reading from the top of the page returns last year's numbers. The page states the license year runs July 1 to June 30. This is the file where that trap bites hardest. The 2025-26 block lists 'Spring Gobbler (Bearded bird only) - May 2 - May 16, 2026 ... May 18 - May 30, 2026 ... Daily limit 1, season limit 2' with a junior hunt on April 25, 2026. The 2026-27 block lists 'SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only) - May 1 - May 15, 2027; May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 12 noon / May 16 - May 31, 2027; May be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset', 'Season limit 1', junior hunt 'April 24-25, 2027'. This file carries the 2026-27 values, including the cut from two birds to one and the two-day junior hunt. Fall turkey confirmed WMU by WMU: 1A/2G/3A/4A/4B/4D Oct. 31-Nov. 15; 1B/3D/4C/4E Oct. 31-Nov. 8; 2A/2F/3B/3C Oct. 31-Nov. 15 and Nov. 25-27; 2B/2C/2D/2E Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27; 5A/5B Oct. 31-Nov. 3; '5C and 5D - CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING'; 'Season Limit - 1 bird per license year'; plus the weapons restriction 'no single-projectile firearms may be used in the fall turkey seasons. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only.'