Intro to the state—landscapes, strategies, costs, and comforts.
Summary
Pennsylvania offers a diverse and exciting hunting experience, making it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The state's rich landscape, characterized by expansive forests, rolling hills, and pristine rivers, provides an ideal habitat for a wide variety of game species. Hunters can pursue whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, and small game such as rabbits and squirrels, all while enjoying the scenic beauty that Pennsylvania is known for. With a robust network of public lands and dedicated hunting seasons, the state ensures ample opportunities for both novice and seasoned hunters. Pennsylvania's commitment to wildlife management and conservation further enriches the hunting experience, promoting sustainable populations and preserving the natural environment for future generations to enjoy.
Pennsylvania’s hunting lands feature a mosaic of mixed hardwood forests, rolling ridges of the Appalachian Plateau, and fertile agricultural valleys. Extensive state forests and game lands are interwoven with open farm fields and brushy hedgerows, creating ideal cover and feeding grounds for deer, turkey, and small game. The terrain ranges from steep, forested hills and rocky hollows to gently sloping farmland and riparian corridors along creeks, rivers, and wetlands. Seasonal wetlands and pond impoundments further diversify habitat, offering waterfowl opportunities amid a backdrop of four-season scenery and easily accessed public parcels.
Hunting in Pennsylvania centers on easily accessed public lands, state forests, and game areas, with lodging options clustered in nearby towns or on private tracts. Accommodations range from rustic cabins and farm-style lodges with beds and basic furnishings to tent and RV sites at developed campgrounds. Many outfitters or landowners also provide insulated box blinds or simple field shelters. Heating in cabins typically comes from electric or propane systems and, in more traditional settings, wood-burning stoves; air-conditioning is rare but available in select turnkey lodges. Campground sites offer fire rings or grills for warmth and cooking, while hunters seeking a more outfitted experience can book climate-controlled cabins and bunkhouses equipped with modern amenities.
We think these three hunts should be at the top of your list:
No items found.
Pennsylvania FAQs
What you need to know before you book:
What type of terrain should I expect when hunting in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania offers a diverse mix of hunting terrain. You’ll find rolling ridges of the Appalachian Plateau cloaked in mixed hardwoods, steep forested hills with rocky hollows, and gently sloping agricultural valleys interlaced with brushy hedgerows. Riparian corridors along creeks and wetlands provide prime waterfowl habitat, while seasonal ponds and impoundments add further variety. This mosaic challenges hunters to adapt to both thick cover ambush scenarios and open-field glassing opportunities.
Are there specific regions of Pennsylvania known for better hunting?
Yes. The Ridge-and-Valley region in central and eastern Pennsylvania—including areas like the Poconos and Endless Mountains—is renowned for its mature hardwood cover and abundant deer and turkey populations. The northwestern forests around the Allegheny National Forest and State Game Lands 25 also hold high densities of big game. In south-central PA, the Cumberland Valley and nearby state forests boast productive agricultural edges that draw deer and small game alike.
Are hunts in Pennsylvania more on public or private land?
Hunting in Pennsylvania leans heavily on public access. The state manages over three million acres of state forest and about 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands, all open to licensed hunters. That said, many hunters supplement public-grassland opportunities with private-lease properties—often organized through outfitters—to target specific parcels or to hunt more intensively managed habitats.
Explore Our Pennsylvania Hunts
Filter, sort, and find the perfect hunt tailored to your style.