when buying an adult hunting license in pa, do i need to take a course ?

by Miss Talia Stokes V 9 min read

According to Pennsylvania law, all first-time hunters and trappers of any age must complete hunter education certification in order to purchase a hunting or trapping license in Pennsylvania. Is completion of the Pennsylvania state agency-approved course required in order to buy a license? Yes.

Hunter-Trapper Education. All first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully complete hunter-trapper education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license. Individuals may take hunter-trapper education either through an in-person class or by completing an online class.

Full Answer

What kind of hunting license do I need in PA?

General Hunting Licenses. Resident Adult Hunting License ($20.90): Issued to bona fide residents of Pennsylvania ages 17 through 64. This license includes one antlered deer tag, one fall turkey tag, one spring turkey tag and small game hunting privileges for one license year.

How long is a PA hunting license good for?

This license is valid for only the license year of issuance. This license includes one antlered deer tag, one fall turkey tag, one spring turkey tag and small game hunting privileges for one license year. Resident Senior Lifetime Hunting License ($51.97): Issued to bona fide residents of Pennsylvania ages 65 and older.

How much is a mentored adult hunting license in PA?

Nonresident Mentored Adult Permit ($101.97): Issued to nonresidents of Pennsylvania ages 17 or older. Applicants may not hold or have held a hunting or furtaking license, or mentored youth hunting permit in Pennsylvania or any other state or nation. This permit is eligible to purchase for three years only.

How old do you have to be to hunt in PA?

Hunters ages 14 and 15 must be accompanied by a licensed adult age 18 or older. Pennsylvania residents and non-residents under the age of 12 may apply for the Mentored Youth Permit. Mentored youth must be accompanied by a licensed mentor age 21 or older.

What is needed to purchase a PA hunting license?

Pennsylvania Hunting LicenseComplete the Pennsylvania hunter education certification requirements.Choose the correct license type.Buy the license through the Pennsylvania Game Commission website or a Pennsylvania–approved agent.

How long is the PA hunter safety course?

six-hourPennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education This is a six-hour training class required by law for all first-time hunters and trappers before they can buy a license. You must pass a certification exam at the end of the class to complete this training.

Can I hunt on my own land without a license in PA?

Contrary to the belief of some, hunting on private property without permission is trespassing – even if the property is unoccupied, and not posted or fenced. In Pennsylvania, you may not hunt private property without the permission of the landowner. Written permission is not required, but it is advisable.

How long does it take to get a hunting license in Pennsylvania?

Purchase your license online. Licenses purchased online may take up to 10 business days to arrive. Most general and add-on licenses are available on www.huntfish.pa.gov.

Is hunter safety course required in PA?

All first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully complete hunter-trapper education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license.

Does PA have an online hunter safety course?

The PA Game Commission has announced that anyone 11 years old or older can complete their hunter safety course online at no cost through May 1. This comes as a result of all in-person courses being suspended through May 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can I shoot a deer on my property in PA?

Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property, or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner.

Is it illegal to feed deer on your property in PA?

It is unlawful to feed wildlife anywhere on state game lands. And on all lands public or private in Pennsylvania, it's unlawful to intentionally feed bears or elk, or to place any food, fruit, hay, grain, chemicals, salt or other materials that cause bears or elk to congregate or habituate in an area.

Can PA Game Commission come on private property?

Pennsylvania law authorizes Commission officers to go “upon any land or water outside of buildings, except curtilage, posted or otherwise, in the performance of the officer's duties.” This broad sweeping rule however does not permit a Commission officer to come into or near your house, your shed, or your yard near your ...

How much is a PA hunting license 2021?

$20.97 forHunting and furtaker licenses for 2021-22 will go on sale Monday, June 14 and the new license year begins July 1. General hunting licenses and furtaker licenses each cost $20.97 for Pennsylvania residents and $101.97 for nonresidents.

Can you hunt on Sundays in PA?

SUNDAY HUNTING: It is unlawful to hunt on Sundays except foxes, crows and coyotes. Other exceptions are included with species seasons below.

Does Walmart sell Pa hunting licenses?

Walmart Sporting Licenses in Pittsburgh, PA | Hunting Licences, Fishing Licenses, Foraging Licenses | Serving 15275 | Store 2300.

How long does it take to change your hunting license?

Change of Residency Application (PDF) - A change in residency status from resident to nonresident or from nonresident to resident automatically invalidates a person’s hunting or furtaking license 30 days after the change in status unless the licensee completes and submits a change in residency.

When is the 2021-22 license year?

2021-22 License Year: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022. Though the Board has approved the use of digital licenses to be carried afield as an alternative to carrying certain paper licenses, digital licenses are not yet available.

How old do you have to be to get a hunting license in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania residents and non-residents between the ages of 12 and 16 may purchase a junior hunting license. Hunters ages 12 and 13 must be accompanied by a licensed family member age 18 or older. Hunters ages 14 and 15 must be accompanied by a licensed adult age 18 or older.

What is a resident in Pennsylvania?

A resident is a person who has lived in Pennsylvania for at least 30 days. All Pennsylvania residents must have a resident hunting license. Additional permits may be required. Pennsylvania residents age 18 or older who are first-time hunters may be eligible to participate in the Mentored Adult Hunting Program.

Can you hunt with a disability in Pennsylvania?

Hunters with physical disabilities may be eligible for disability permits. A current hunting license is required. Visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for more details.

Do you need a hunting license for a non-resident in Pennsylvania?

All non-residents must have a non-resident hunting license. Additional permits may be required. Non-residents age 18 or older who are first-time hunters may be eligible to participate in the Mentored Adult Hunting Program. Visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for full program details.

Do you need a Hunter Education Certificate to hunt in Pennsylvania?

Depending on your age, you may be required to have the Hunter Education Certificate in order to legally buy a license or permit to hunt. Complete the Pennsylvania hunter education certification requirements. Choose the correct license type.

Can you get a hunting license while on leave in Pennsylvania?

Active-duty military members who are Pennsylvania residents but stationed elsewhere may purchase a reduced-fee hunting license while on leave. Resident veterans who have a service-related disability may be eligible for the free Resident Disabled Veteran (DV) Hunting License or the reduced-fee Resident Reduced Disabled Veteran (DV) Hunting License.

What is Pennsylvania Hunter Ed?

This Pennsylvania Hunter Ed online hunting education course was developed in accordance with the standards set forth by IHEA-USA and meets the requirements of the Pennsylvania Game Commission hunter safety mandate.

What is responsible hunting?

Responsible (about hunting, wildlife, conservation, and hunting laws) Knowledgeable (by knowing and demonstrating acceptable behavior and attitudes while hunting) Involved (in joining and participating in hunting and conservation organizations)

When did the Hunter Education Association adopt the IHEA standards?

In 1999 the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) adopted a set of performance guidelines for basic hunter education courses. These standards have been used internationally by hunter education administrators to evaluate minimum core content in hunter education courses.

What is Hunter Ed?

Hunter Ed is committed to making sure Pennsylvania hunter education students learn the skills and information needed to have a safe, successful, and fun hunt. We strive to ensure this Pennsylvania online hunter safety course helps you become a more knowledgeable and ethical hunter. Educated hunters play an important role in making Pennsylvania a leader in conservation and wildlife management.

How much does a hunting license cost in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania residents pay $20.90 for a general hunting license and non-residents pay $101.90, with the license year beginning Wednesday, July 1, and ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Do you need a hunter safety course to become a mentor?

Completion of a hunter safety course is not required for persons being mentored. Purchasing a hunting license online ASAP is advised. Otherwise, there could be lots of complaining when it’s time to mail those doe applications. Dietz is parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association.

Do seniors need a bear tag?

Seniors still must purchase a bear license, a second spring gobbler tag, antlerless license, bobcat, fisher or river otter permits. Those who purchased their senior lifetime licenses after May 13, 2017, are required to obtain an annual pheasant permit to hunt pheasants.

Turkey Season

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 23, 2022. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.

Hunter Education Classes and Workshops

Since 1959, hunting-related shooting incidents have declined drastically. Hunting is safe and getting safer, thanks to hunter education.

Youth Hunting Opportunities

Special days are designated during the hunting seasons so that youth under the age of 16 may head afield with their parent or other adult mentor.

Learn to Hunt Program

The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Learn to Hunt progam is designed to help hunters of all ages get started. The online progam features many aspects of hunting. Participants will learn about game animal behavior, habitat preferences, choosing a firearm, preparing wild game meat for the table, and more.

Where to Hunt

An interactive map with searchable layers like habitat, seasons and bag limits, wildlife management units, and check stations.

Hunting Tips and Tactics

The Game Commission’s podcast Opens In A New Window, is all about wildlife, hunting, habitat and conservation efforts in the Keystone State.

Wild Game Cooking

The Game Commission has teamed up with Miss Allie’s Kitchen to provide resources for preparing and serving venison.

How old do you have to be to get antlerless deer license?

Mentored hunters ages 7 and older can apply for their own antlerless deer licenses (one antlerless license per mentored permit holder) and DMAP permits. For mentored hunters who are under 7 years old at the time of application, no big-game harvest tags will be issued.

When is the special youth hunting season?

This includes the antlerless-deer-only Special Firearms season held in October for junior and senior license holders.

How many turkey harvest tags can a mentored youth get?

A mentored youngster may not receive by transfer more than one spring and one fall turkey harvest tag each license year. A mentor can transfer one valid antlerless deer license and/or one Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit to a mentored youth who was under 7 years old at the time of application.

How many deer tags can a mentored youth receive?

A mentored youngster may not receive by transfer more than one antlered deer harvest tag each license year.

How many points does a mentored hunter have?

Mentored hunters 16 and under follow the same deer antler restrictions as junior license holders, which is one antler at least 3 inches long or one antler with at least two points. A mentored hunter who participates in any hunting party shall count as a member of the hunting party for maximum allowed numbers.

What animals can a mentor hunter hunt?

A mentored hunter can hunt squirrels, rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasants, crows, doves, porcupines, woodchucks, coyotes, deer, and turkeys in any of their respective seasons, and must follow daily and season bag limits for each species (one antlered deer, one fall turkey and one bearded turkey in the spring, per license year). ...

Do you have to take a Hunter Education class to become a mentor?

The Mentored Hunting Program has expanded to offer opportunities to unlicensed hunters of all ages. Mentored hunters are not required to take a Hunter Education class before obtaining a permit to hunt through the program.

How many elk licenses are there in Pennsylvania in 2021?

Pennsylvania elk hunters in 2021-22 also will be out there in record numbers. The 187 licenses available marks an increase from the 164 allocated the previous year. A record 56 of the 2021-22 licenses are for bulls. And the January late season, which in its first two years was open only to antlerless elk hunting, ...

How many antlerless deer licenses are there in the US?

A total of 925,000 antlerless deer licenses are available, down from 932,000 last year. Hunters statewide now have the opportunity to apply for and receive additional antlerless deer licenses, as long as licenses remain available, and provided that a hunter holds no more than six unfilled antlerless licenses at a time.

How many elk licenses are there in January?

The January late season is one of three elk seasons. There are 14 antlered and 15 antlerless licenses available for the archery-only elk season, which runs from Sept. 11 through 25, when bulls are in the rut. There are 32 antlered and 77 antlerless licenses available for the general six-day regular elk season, which runs from Nov. 1 through 6.

When is bull hunting season 2022?

And the January late season , which in its first two years was open only to antlerless elk hunting, in 2022 will be open to bull hunting, as well. Ten of the 49 licenses to be issued for the Jan. 1 through 8 late season are for bulls. The January late season is one of three elk seasons.

Do seniors need bear licenses?

Like other hunters and trappers, seniors still need to purchase bear licenses to pursue bruins and obtain permits to harvest bobcats, fishers or river otters. Hunters who acquired their senior lifetime licenses after May 13, 2017 are required to obtain an annual pheasant permit to hunt or harvest pheasants.

How old do you have to be to fish in Lake Erie?

Every angler over the age of 16 needs a license to fish in the state. This applies to residents and non-residents alike, even when fishing with a guide or charter. On top of a regular license, you’ll need an additional permit to fish on Lake Erie, or to take home Salmon or Trout.

When do fishing licenses expire?

All short-term fishing licenses for tourists end exactly the amount of days after you purchased them. For example, a 3-Day Fishing License bought on a Monday will expire at midnight on the Wednesday into Thursday. Similarly, the same logic follows with yearly and multi-year licenses.

What do you need to carry for a fish for free day?

Instead, they should carry proof of residency and status in the armed forces (PA driver’s license, military ID, and valid military orders showing the place of assignment and leave status). “Fish For Free Days” are the only other exception.

When are 1-day licenses valid?

Senior residents (aged 65 and older) can also buy a lifetime permit. One important thing to note is that 1-Day Licenses aren’t valid between March 15 and April 30.

Can a PA resident get a disabled veteran license?

As well as this, resident veterans who are blind or certified as 100% disabled are eligible for free a Disabled Veterans License.

Can you fish in waters that border other states?

Fishing in waters that border other states can be confusing at times. Luckily, Pennsylvania has reached an agreement with many of its neighbors, allowing you to fish in these waters with your PA license: