Pennsylvania hunting and furtaker licenses are available at more than 900 issuing agents throughout the state. Seven Game Commission offices and 66 County Treasurer offices issue licenses year-round. More than 800 sporting goods stores handle licenses from July through January. There are several out-of-state issuing agents located in New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland serving nonresidents.
A valid license is required to legally hunt, trap, take or kill wildlife in Pennsylvania. Licenses are valid from July 1 through the following June 30. Hunting and furtaker licenses must be signed in ink and displayed on the middle of the back. License fees are non-refundable; licenses are non-transferable.
To qualify for a resident license, applicants must be domiciled in Pennsylvania at least 30 consecutive days prior to application and produce positive proof of residency. A valid Pennsylvania motor vehicle drivers license is the most acceptable form of identification certifying residency. If the applicant has not held a prior license, he or she must successfully complete a Hunter-Trapper Education Course. First-time license
buyers must produce a valid Hunter-Trapper Education Card.
If you have any questions concerning hunting or furtaker licenses, please call or write to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, License Division, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, telephone (717) 787-2084. Our office is open Monday through Friday (except state holidays) from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The following information is for the 2002-2003 license year. Additional information on various license types follows this list.
License Type Age Cost
Resident Adult Hunting 17 - 64 $ 20.00
Resident Junior Hunting 12 - 16 $ 6.00
Resident Junior Combination 12 – 16 $ 9.00
Resident Senior Hunting 65 & up $ 13.00
Resident Senior Lifetime Hunting 65 & up $ 51.00
Resident Senior Lifetime Combination 65 & up $101.00
Nonresident Adult Hunting 17 & up $101.00
Nonresident Junior Hunting 12 - 16 $ 41.00
Nonresident Junior Combination 12 – 16 $ 51.00
Nonresident 7-Day Small Game 12 & up $ 31.00
Resident Archery (Deer) 12 & up $ 16.00
Nonresident Archery (Deer) 12 & up $ 26.00
Resident Migratory Game Bird 12 & up $ 3.00
Nonresident Migratory Game Bird 12 & up $ 6.00
Resident Bear 12 & up $16.00
Nonresident Bear 12 & up $36.00
Resident Antlerless Deer (2) 12 & up $ 6.00
Nonresident Antlerless Deer (3) 12 & up $26.00
Resident Elk (4) 12 & up $25.00
Nonresident Elk (4) 12 & up $250.00
Resident Adult Furtaker 17 - 64 $20.00
Resident Junior Furtaker 12 - 16 $ 6.00
Resident Senior Furtaker 65 & up $13.00
Resident Senior Lifetime Furtaker 65 & up $51.00
Nonresident Adult Furtaker 17 & up $81.00
Nonresident Junior Furtaker 12 - 16 $41.00
(1) Landowner, Armed Forces, and Disabled Veteran if applicable
(2) Landowner if applicable
(3) Replacement License - $6.00 each
Additional Information on License Types
Junior Licenses (resident and nonresident hunting, furtaker and combination):
Eleven-year-olds may apply for a junior license if they will reach age 12 by June 30 of the current license year and have successfully completed the required Hunter-Trapper Education Course. The actual hunting privileges granted to the junior license holder may not be exercised until he or she reaches age 12. The parent or guardian must sign the application/back tag copy. Nonresident junior hunting, combination and furtaker licenses are available online, through Game Commission Offices, County Treasurers and commercial issuing agents who request them.
Senior Licenses (resident hunting, furtaker, lifetime hunting, combination and furtaker):
These licenses are available to qualified applicants age 65 or older. 64-year-olds may apply for a senior license if they will reach age 65 by June 30 of the current license year. Resident senior lifetime licenses (hunting, combination and furtaker) are available on-line and through only Game Commission Offices.
Combination Licenses (resident junior,nonresident junior and resident senior lifetime):
Combination licenses grant hunting, furtaker, archery and muzzleloader privileges. Additional stamps are not needed to cover these privileges. Resident senior lifetime combination licenses are available on-line and through only Game Commission Offices.
Resident Senior Lifetime Licenses(hunting, combination and furtaker):
These licenses are available to qualified applicants age 65 or older. 64-year-olds may apply for a senior license if they will reach age 65 by June 30 of the current license year. Individuals who currently hold either a senior lifetime hunting or senior lifetime furtaker license may upgrade to a combination license for $51.00. Resident senior lifetime licenses and upgrades are available on-line and through only Game Commission Offices. To request an application, contact the License Division at (717) 787-2084.
Resident Landowner Hunting Licenses:
These licenses are issued to qualified resident owners or possessors of land, comprising 80 or more contiguous acres, that are enrolled in a Game Commission cooperative public access program. Licenses are available on-line and through only Game Commission Offices.
7-Day Nonresident Small Game Licenses:
Valid for seven consecutive days including Sundays. License is not valid for turkey. Nonresidents may purchase this license to hunt waterfowl in Pennsylvania as long as they also possess a Pennsylvania migratory game bird license and a federal duck stamp.
Free Resident Disabled Veteran Licenses(hunting, furtaker and lifetime):
These licenses are available to qualified resident applicants who are disabled veterans. Applicant’s disability must consist of the loss of one or more limbs, or the loss of use of one or more limbs or the applicant must present a certification from the Veterans administration indicating total disability. The disability must be service connected and the applicant must be a veteran of any war or armed conflict. Discharge papers may also be required. To be eligible for a resident disabled veteran lifetime license, the qualified veteran must meet one of the criteria shownv above and, if qualifying under loss of use of one or more limbs or certification from the Veterans Administration indicating total disability,present documentation that the condition/s is permanent. Free disabled veteran licenses are available through County Treasurer offices only.
Archery Licenses (resident and nonresident):
These licenses are issued in addition to a general license to qualified applicants who desire to hunt during the archery deer seasons.
Muzzleloader Licenses(resident and nonresident):
These licenses are issued in addition to a general license to qualified applicants who desire to hunt during the muzzleloader deer seasons. License cannot be purchased or issued after August 31, except to replace one that was lost (original license number required) or to a resident, full time, active duty serviceman/servicewoman in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard. Applicants in this category must produce proof of active duty status and documentation that their home of record is Pennsylvania. (Reserves are not exempt from the August 31 deadline for purchase.)
Antlerless Deer Licenses (resident and nonresident, landowner, resident armed forces and resident disabled veteran):
These county specific licenses are issued in addition to a general hunting license to qualified applicants. An application with instructions is included with each general hunting license. Antlerless deer licenses (all types) are available through County Treasurer Offices only. Exceptions to that rule are antlerless deer licenses issued for Philadelphia county. These licenses are issued by the Game Commission’s Southeast Regional Office. See application for details on how/when to apply.
Second round antlerless deer licenses (if available) may be applied for beginning on the fourth Monday in August, one per hunter, mail order only. Beginning on the second Monday in September, hunters may apply for one additional license if available. See Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulation for application procedure.
Landowner antlerless deer licenses are available to qualified applicants, both residents and nonresidents, who own 50 or more contiguous acres of land within the county of application. Land must remain open to public hunting and trapping the entire license year (July 1 to June 30). Licenses must be applied for and issued prior to their availability to the general public. Applicant must supply proof of ownership.
Armed forces antlerless deer licenses are available to qualified resident applicants who are full-time active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard (Reserves are not eligible). Applicants must produce proof of active duty status and documentation that their home of record is Pennsylvania.
Disabled veteran antlerless deer licenses are available to qualified resident applicants who are disabled war veterans. Applicant’s disability must consist of the loss of one or more limbs, or the loss of use of one or more limbs or the applicant must present a certification from the Veterans Administration indicating total disability. The disability must be service connected and the applicant must be a veteran of any war or armed conflict. Discharge papers may also be required.
Migratory Game Bird Licenses (resident and nonresident):
These licenses are issued in addition to a general hunting license to qualified applicants. Applicant must complete a migratory game bird harvest information program (HIP) survey card before license is issued. License need not be displayed, but must be carried while hunting migratory game birds.
Bear Licenses (resident and nonresident):
These licenses are issued in addition to a general hunting license to qualified applicants who desire to hunt during the bear season.
Replacement Licenses:
Applicants should return to the agent who issued the original license. (Antlerless deer licenses are replaced by only original license issuing agent.) Original license numbers are required before a replacement license can be issued. All replacement licenses, regardless of the category, cost $6.00