DUCKS, SEA DUCKS, COOTS AND MERGANSERS

North Zone: Oct. 6-20, and Nov. 13-Jan. 5.

South Zone: Oct. 13-20, and Nov. 15-Jan. 15.

Northwest Zone: Oct. 6-Dec. 14. 

Lake Erie Zone: Oct. 22-Dec. 29.

Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 12 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including 2 hen mallards, 4 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 double the daily limits.

Merganser Bag Limits: 5 daily, 10 in possession (not more than 2 hooded mergansers daily, 4 hooded in possession).

Coot Bag Limits: 15 daily, 30 in possession.

CANADA GOOSE (including White-fronted Goose)

September Canada Goose Season: A statewide season from September 1-25 (8 daily, 16 in possession) except:

(1.) In the SJBP Zone the daily limit is 3, possession limit 6.

(2.) 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 2; except on SGL 214 where the season is closed to September goose hunting.

(3.) 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 6.
(4.) 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 2; except on SGL 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) where the season is closed.

Note: Numbers 2 and 4 do not apply to youth participating in Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 Youth Waterfowl Days; regular season regulations apply.

Hunting hours for all migratory birds, including Canada geese, close at sunset on the 2 youth waterfowl days.

Pennsylvania’s other Canada goose season lengths and bag limits vary by zone.
 
Resident Population Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania, excluding the Southern James Bay Population Zone and the Atlantic Population Zone. The season is Oct. 27-Nov. 24, Dec. 11-Jan. 15, and Feb. 1-28, with a five goose daily bag limit.

Southern James Bay Population Zone: That 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. 6-Nov. 24, Dec. 10-Jan. 18, with a three goose daily limit.

Atlantic Population Zone: That area east of SR 97 from the Maryland state line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US 30, south of US 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. 13-24 and Dec. 13-Jan. 26, with a three goose daily limit.

BRANT (All Zones): Oct. 6-Dec. 3, 2 daily, 4 in possession.

LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese)

Advisory: Snow Goose Conservation Season lengths vary from Zone to Zone and in addition to a hunting license, migratory game bird license and a federal duck stamp, you must have a Snow Goose Conservation Hunt Permit to participate.
 
Atlantic Population Zone: Oct. 27-Jan. 26 and during the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt, Jan. 28 – April 26; 25 daily, no possession limit.
    
Southern James Bay Population Zone: Oct. 27-Jan. 18 and during the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt: Jan. 19-April 26; 25 daily, no possession limit.

Resident Population Zone: Oct. 27-Feb. 28 and during the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt: March 1 – April 26; 25 daily, no possession limit.

HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.

Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area: Shooting days at Pymatuning are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, one-half hour before sunrise to 12:30 p.m. Ducks: Oct. 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24 (junior-only day), 26, 27, 29, and 31; Nov. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, and 30; and Dec. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Geese: Oct. 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 31; Nov. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 24 (junior-only day); Dec. 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, and 31; and Jan. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, and 18.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: shooting days at Middle Creek are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1:30 p.m. Geese only: Nov. 13; and Jan. 17, 19, 22, 24, and 26. Geese and ducks: Nov. 15, 17 (junior-only day), 20, 22, and 24; Dec. 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 27, and 29; and Jan. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15.

JUNIOR WATERFOWL HUNTING DAYS (Statewide): Saturday, Sept. 15 and 22. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15, when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, moorhens and coots, and Canada goose as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season.  Hunting hours close at sunset.