Pennsylvania

Massive hunting tradition, over 1.5 million acres of State Game Lands, trophy black bear, and ruffed grouse.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in Pennsylvania

Official Regulatory Authority

Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC)

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) manages the nation's premier State Game Lands (SGL) system, encompassing over 1.5 million acres across more than 300 individual tracts dedicated specifically to wildlife habitat and public hunting. Coupled with 2.2 million acres of Pennsylvania State Forests (DCNR) and the 514,000-acre Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania provides nearly 4.5 million acres of public hunting access. Famous for deep traditions of firearms deer season, the Keystone State boasts high-density whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, and expanding lottery elk opportunities.

Allegheny High Plateau | 514,000 Acres

Allegheny National Forest

Spanning Warren, Forest, McKean, and Elk counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. Massive tracts of mature black cherry, beech, and hemlock timber, remote backcountry river valleys, and thousands of miles of logging roads provide legendary big-woods hunting for whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse.

Elk & Cameron Counties | 100,000+ Public Acres

Pennsylvania Elk Country State Game Lands (SGL 14, 311, 44)

Located across Elk, Cameron, and Clearfield counties in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. Reclaimed strip-mine meadows, food plots, and oak ridges support Pennsylvania's thriving 1,400+ free-ranging wild elk herd, alongside trophy whitetail deer, black bear, and wild turkey.

North-Central Pennsylvania Wilds | 570,000+ Acres Combined

Sproul & Susquehannock State Forests

Sproul State Forest (305,000 acres) is the largest block of public land in Pennsylvania, featuring deep, rugged gorges along the West Branch Susquehanna River. Susquehannock State Forest (265,000 acres) in Potter and Clinton counties offers remote big-woods whitetail and black bear tracking across endless plateau hardwood ridges.

Ridge and Valley Hardwood Uplands | 200,000+ Acres Combined

Michaux & Rothrock State Forests

Michaux State Forest (85,000 acres) on South Mountain and Rothrock State Forest (96,000 acres) in central Pennsylvania provide accessible, high-ridge oak forests, rhododendron bottoms, and managed wildlife openings popular for archery deer, spring gobblers, and small game.

SGL 46 | Waterfowl & Controlled Archery | 6,254 Acres

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (SGL 46)

Located in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Dominated by a 400-acre lake and surrounding agricultural impoundments. Renowned as a critical Atlantic Flyway staging area for hundreds of thousands of snow geese and tundra swans, offering regulated blind waterfowl hunting and controlled archery deer hunting.