The 2023 Pennsylvania Turkey Season is quickly approaching, and sportsmen all over the state are excitedly getting ready. Pennsylvania is a shooting paradise for turkeys, offering various spring and autumn hunting options. There are many places for shooters to discover and put their abilities to the test, from the rocky topography of the Allegheny Mountains to the undulating plains of the Poconos. The 2023 Pennsylvania turkey season promises to be a thrilling and gratifying experience, regardless of whether you are a seasoned expert or a beginner shooter. This article will examine the most recent Pennsylvania Turkey Season 2023 schedules, regulations, permits, and other information.
PA Turkey Season 2023
From late October to late November, there are autumn turkey shooting seasons open to both men and women, except in some WMUs where hunting is prohibited. For the qualified novice and guided shooters, a unique season with a one-bird restriction for spring gobbler shooting begins in late April. May through late May is the regular spring gobbler season, which has a daily limit of one bird and a season maximum of two. During this time, hunters with a unique wild turkey certificate can capture a second fowl. Depending on the date, different hunting hours apply, with early closure periods during the first part of May.
Spring turkey Season (Bearded bird only)
| PA Spring Turkey Season | Spring Gobbler (Bearded bird only) |
| Hunting Dates | 27-Apr |
| May 4-31 | |
| Daily Limit | 1 |
| Season Limit | 2 |
| Special License Requirement | Second gobbler requires a valid special wild turkey license. |
| Hunting Hours | • May 4–18: half an hour before sunrise until noon; • May 20–31: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset |
Fall Turkey Season (Wild Turkey -Male or Female)
| PA Fall Turkey Season | Start Dates | End Dates |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 2B | October 28, 2023 | November 17, 2023 |
| WMU 2B | November 22, 2023 | November 24, 2023 |
| WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E | October 28, 2023 | November 4, 2023 |
| WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C | October 28, 2023 | November 11, 2023 |
| WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E | October 28, 2023 | November 11, 2023 |
| WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E | November 22, 2023 | November 24, 2023 |
| 5B | October 31, 2023 | November 2, 2023 |
| WMUs 5A, 5C and 5D | Closed for Fall Turkey Season | Closed for Fall Turkey Season |
Bag Limit
- Fall Turkey: 1 Turkey in all combined seasons
- Spring Turkey: Only 1 spring gobbler with a season limit of 2.
Turkey Hunting Licenses
| Turkey License Types | Cost |
|---|---|
| Resident | |
| Resident Special Spring Turkey | $21.97 |
| Resident Adult Hunting License | $20.97 |
| Resident Junior Hunting License | $6.97 |
| Resident Junior Combination License | $9.97 |
| Resident Senior Hunting License | $13.97 |
| Resident Senior Lifetime Hunting License | $51.97 |
| Resident Senior Lifetime Combination License | $101.97 |
| Resident Senior Lifetime Combination Upgrade License | $51.97 |
| Resident Military Hunting License | $2.97 |
| Resident National Guard Hunting License | $2.97 |
| Resident Landowner Hunting License | $4.97 |
| Resident Hunting Heritage License | $2.97 |
| Nonresident | |
| Nonresident Special Spring Turkey | $41.97 |
| Nonresident Adult Hunting License | $101.97 |
| Nonresident Junior Hunting License | $41.97 |
| Nonresident Junior Combination License | $51.97 |
| Nonresident 7-Day Small Game License | $31.97 |
PA Turkey Hunting Permits
| Permit Name | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mentored Youth Permit | $2.97 |
| Mentored Youth Permit - No Tags | $2.97 |
| Resident Mentored Junior Hunting Permit | $6.97 |
| Nonresident Mentored Junior Hunting Permit | $41.97 |
| Resident Mentored Adult Permit | $20.97 |
| Nonresident Mentored Adult Permit | $101.97 |
Tagging Requirements
Following a successful turkey hunt, shooters must tag the bird as soon as possible using the tags included with their license, with distinct IDs for the autumn and spring seasons. Hunting is prohibited while possessing an expired license, and the tag must be firmly fastened to a limb until the avian is ready for eating or mounting. Hunters must submit their harvest reports to the Game Commission within 10 days of harvest, either online, by calling a toll-free number, or by mailing a report card they got with their summary, postage paid.
Regardless of whether they capture a bird, hunters who buy a second spring gobbler ticket must report. In addition to the WMU, county, and municipality where the bird was captured, hunters must provide details on the finished tag, including the tag number, goatee length, and spur length. The “Big Game Regulations” of the digest’s “Tagging, Transporting & Reporting” part contains more details.
Turkey Hunting Regulations
- Single projectile-firing weapons are prohibited during the autumn bird shooting seasons. Only firearms and bow gear are permitted for use by hunters.
- Turkey hunting blinds in Pennsylvania must be made of artificial materials like plastic, nylon, canvas, or timber and fully contain the hunter on all four sides and from above to prevent movement. Rock, log, and tree blinds are banned. Turkey-hunting nets with spread wings are also banned. Portable hunting blinds on state game areas and other Game Commission-managed sites must have a sturdy identifying tag with the owner’s name and address or CID number from their hunting license or Game Commission number. Game Commission IDs are available online.
- Using live turkeys as decoys, using artificial sounds or devices, or going on turkey hunts during the spring and autumn turkey shooting seasons is prohibited.
- Hunters can buy a second spring turkey license from any giving agent or the Game Commission website before the normal spring turkey season begins on April 28, 2023. Hunters can take two gobblers with the second license, but only one per day.
Note: For complete PA Turkey season regulation, read on pgc.pa.gov website.
FAQ related to Turkey hunting season in Pennsylvania
When is the 2023 PA Spring Gobbler season, and what are the daily and season limits?
Two seasons comprise the 2023 PA Spring Gobbler season. On April 22, 2023, junior and guided hunters 16 and under can kill one spring gobbler daily until noon. The second season runs from April 29 to May 30, 2023, with a daily limit of one spring gobbler and a season limit of two. From April 29 to May 13, hunting is legal from one-half hour before dawn to noon, and from May 15 to May 30, from sunrise to dusk. Only special wild turkey license holders can take a second spring gobbler.
What are the legal hunting hours for the PA Spring Gobbler season?
Hunting is permitted from one-half hour before dawn until noon from April 29 through May 13. The permissible shooting window runs from a half-hour before dawn until a half-hour after from May 15 to May 30.
What is the bag limit for fall turkey hunting in PA?
According to the abundance of wild turkeys in each Wildlife Management Unit, the bag limit for autumn turkey shooting in Pennsylvania differs, spanning from close to three weeks plus the three-day Thanksgiving holiday season. The autumn catch is constrained by the duration of the shooting season because each hunting registration includes one fall turkey tag (and one spring tag).
How many turkey tags come with a hunting license in PA?
In Pennsylvania, each shooting permit includes a single autumn turkey tag. (and one spring tag).
