Arms and Ammunition

Fall Season: (1) Manually-operated rifles and handguns; (2) Manually operated and auto-loading shotguns limited to a three-shell capacity in the chamber and magazine combined; (3) muzzleloading shotguns, rifles and handguns; and (4) long, recurve or compound bows using arrows tipped with broadheads of cutting-edge design. Single projectile ammunition or shot no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin, or tungsten-iron, and No. 2 steel. The fall season in Turkey Management Areas 1-A, 1-B and 1-B is limited to shotguns and long, recurve or compound bows using arrows tipped with broadheads of cutting-edge design.

Spring Gobbler Season: (1) Manually-operated and auto-loading shotguns limited to a three-shell capacity in the chamber and magazine combined; (2) muzzleloading shotguns of all types and gauges; (3) long, recurve or compound bows using arrows tipped with broadheads of cutting edge design. Shot no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin and tungsten iron, or No. 2 steel. Rifle combinations may be used if ammunition is limited to shotgun shells. Carrying or using single-projectile ammunition, rifles or handguns is unlawful.

Unlawful Sporting Arms

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles and handguns; air or gas-operated rifles and handguns.

Unlawful Sighting Devices

It is unlawful to use a sight, scope, or any device on a firearm, bow, or crossbow that projects a light beam of any kind from the sight onto the target.

Decoys and Callers

In both spring and fall turkey seasons, it is unlawful to possess or use live turkeys as decoys or to use electronic callers to hunt wild turkeys. Hunters are permitted to use commercially-available turkey decoys.

Blinds

Turkey hunters may use any artificial or manufactured turkey blinds consisting of all manmade materials of sufficient density to block the detection of movement within the blind from an observer located outside of the blind.

Drives and Dogs

It is unlawful to conduct drives for turkeys or to use dogs to hunt them.

Spring Gobbler Season Overview

Only turkeys with visible beards are legal. Hunting by calling only -- no stalking -- one-half hour before sunrise until noon. Hunters should be out of the woods by 1 p.m.

Fluorescent Orange Requirements

Fall Season: Turkey hunters must wear at 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back, visible 360 degrees, when moving. When at a stationary calling location, the orange may be removed providing the hunter places at least 100 square inches of fluorescent orange, visible in all directs, within 15 feet of the calling location. In turkey management areas limited to hunting with shotguns and bows using arrows tipped with broadheads of cutting-edge design (Areas 1-A, 1-B and (-B), hunters when moving must wear at least 100 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, or in such a manner so it is visible from all directions. While fluorescent orange is not required in these areas at stationary calling locations, it's strongly recommended.

Spring Gobbler Season: When moving, turkey hunters must wear at least 100 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, or in such a manner so that it is visible from all directions. While fluorescent orange is not required at stationary calling locations, it's strongly recommended.

Tagging, Reporting Requirements

Successful turkey hunters must follow all instructions printed on tags supplied with licenses. Separate tags are provided for fall and spring seasons. The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The tag must be securely attached to the leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting. Turkey hunters must report harvests to the Game Commission in Harrisburg within 10 days, using a postage-paid report card supplied with each hunting license. In addition to other information, hunters are asked to identify the Turkey Management Area where the bird was taken. If you do not have a harvest report card, use the form provided in the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest provided with your hunting license.

Safety Zones

It is unlawful to hunt for, shoot at, take, chase or disturb a turkey within 150 yards of any occupied residence, camp, industrial or commercial building, farm building, school or playground without permission of the occupants. Hunting on hospital and institutional grounds, and in cemeteries, is also prohibited.

Road Hunting

It is unlawful to (1) hunt from a vehicle; (2) shoot at a turkey on a public road or right-of-way open to public travel; (3) shoot across a road unless the line of fire is high enough to preclude any danger to road users; and (4) alight from a vehicle and shoot at a turkey until the shooter is at least 25 yards from the traveled portion of the roadway.

Loaded Firearms and Vehicles

A firearm is considered loaded when there is live ammunition in either the chamber or attached magazine. It is unlawful to (1) have a loaded firearm in, on or against any motor vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle is moving or stationary; and (2) have a loaded firearm in a watercraft under power, or shoot from a powered watercraft until the motor has been shut off and the craft has come to a stop.

Taking Advantage of Food or Bait

It is unlawful to hunt in or around any area where artificial or natural bait, food, hay, grain, fruit, nuts, salt, chemicals or minerals, including their residues, are used or have been used within the past 30 days as an enticement to lure a turkey or other wildlife, regardless of the type or quantity.

Drugs and Alcohol

It is unlawful to hunt wild turkeys while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.

Littering

It is unlawful while hunting to leave any garbage, bottles, cartons, glass, paper or debris, except in a container or receptacle maintained for that purpose.

Recovering a Dead or Injured Turkey

It is unlawful for a hunter to refuse or neglect to make a reasonable effort to retrieve any game or wildlife he or she may have killed or injured.

Tree Stands/ Shooting Lanes

Turkey hunters may use tree stands so long as the tree stand doesn't have skirting behind which the hunter can hide. It is unlawful while hunting or preparing to hunt to (1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a tree stand, or using a portable tree stand or device to climb a tree; (2) damage or cut down tree branches, saplings or forest understory to clear shooting lanes; (3) use or occupy a tree stand which, when constructed, damaged a tree. This does not apply to landowners constructing stands on their own property; or persons who have received written permission from the landowner to build or use a tree stand.

Shooting at Random

During turkey season, it is unlawful to shoot at any target other than legal game. Target shooting is lawful only when done: (1) on property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner; (2) within 200 yards of a camp or headquarters where the shooter is either quartered or an invited guest; (3) at an established shooting range. The target must be protected by a natural or artificial barrier so that the bullet or arrow cannot travel more than 15 yards beyond the target.