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Pennsylvania Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In Pennsylvania, legal hunting hours for big game — deer, bear and elk — are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; spring gobbler and migratory birds differ.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: pa.gov →

Pennsylvania legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (deer, bear and elk): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:51 AM	6:54 PM
Sun, Oct 18	6:52 AM	6:53 PM
Mon, Oct 19	6:53 AM	6:51 PM
Tue, Oct 20	6:54 AM	6:50 PM
Wed, Oct 21	6:55 AM	6:48 PM
Thu, Oct 22	6:56 AM	6:47 PM
Fri, Oct 23	6:57 AM	6:46 PM
Sat, Oct 24	6:59 AM	6:44 PM
Sun, Oct 25	7:00 AM	6:43 PM
Mon, Oct 26	7:01 AM	6:41 PM
Tue, Oct 27	7:02 AM	6:40 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:03 AM	6:39 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:04 AM	6:38 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:05 AM	6:36 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Harrisburg. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering Pennsylvania

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

DelawareInfo
In Delaware, deer may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. Raccoon and opossum may be hunted from 1 hour after sunset to midnight during certain deer seasons.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnrec.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
MarylandInfo
In Maryland, legal hunting time begins 1/2 hour before sunrise and ends 1/2 hour after sunset. Some Sunday deer dates end at 10:30am; spring turkey differs.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
New JerseyInfo
In New Jersey, legal hunting hours for deer are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dep.nj.gov · Full New Jersey rule →
New YorkInfo
In New York, deer and bear may be hunted only from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dec.ny.gov · Full New York rule →
OhioInfo
In Ohio, deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: ohiodnr.gov · Full Ohio rule →
West VirginiaInfo
In West Virginia, deer and bear may be taken from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and spring turkey from 30 min before sunrise to 1 p.m. Check the regulations for species-specific variations.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wvdnr.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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