How to Get Your Pennsylvania Hunting License

Pennsylvania requires all first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, to complete an approved hunter education course before buying a hunting or trapping license. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you've previously held a license in Pennsylvania or another state.

A resident adult hunting license costs $20.97, while a non-resident adult license costs $101.97. Licenses are sold through the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) at HuntFishPA, by mail, or through an approved license agent, and a Pennsylvania hunting license runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year rather than a rolling 365-day window.

Let's look at how to get your Pennsylvania hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Pennsylvania?

A Pennsylvania hunting license is the legal document that allows you to take wildlife in the state. The general hunting license already includes one antlered deer tag and two turkey tags, one for fall and one for spring, so most hunters don't need to add much beyond it unless they're after bear, antlerless deer, or migratory birds.

The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed a PGC-approved safety course, and once you earn it, it's valid for life. The license, on the other hand, expires every June 30 and must be purchased again for the next license year.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania law requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents who hunt in the state, with no general age exemption the way many other states offer. Age still shapes which license type and hunter education path applies to you.

Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself.

Anyone who has never held a hunting license or hunter education certificate, in Pennsylvania or elsewhere, must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a license, unless they use one of Pennsylvania's supervised alternatives instead:

1. Under 12: May hunt through the Mentored Youth Permit under a licensed mentor age 21 or older, without a license or hunter education certificate of their own.
2. Age 12 through 16: Complete hunter education, then purchase a Junior Hunting License ($6.97); hunters 12 and 13 need a licensed family member 18 or older present, and hunters 14 and 15 need any licensed adult 18 or older present.
3. Age 17 and older, first-time hunter: Complete hunter education before buying a standard Resident ($20.97) or Non-Resident ($101.97) license, or hunt under the Mentored Adult Hunting Program without it.
4. Previously licensed, any age: Exempt from hunter education, but still needs a current license to hunt.

Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certification on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your Pennsylvania Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Pennsylvania depends mostly on whether you've ever held a license before, since the state's hunter education requirement is tied to first-time status rather than age or birth year. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you've never held a hunting license or hunter education certificate.
2. Purchase your license through the PGC website, by mail, or at an approved license agent.
3. Select your license type: resident ($20.97), non-resident ($101.97), junior ($6.97), or a reduced-fee option for seniors or veterans.
4. Add species-specific permits as needed, such as an antlerless deer license or a migratory game bird license.
5. Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Certificate, any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Pennsylvania's hunter education path splits by age, and neither of its two main options requires an in-person field day.

1. Online course (age 16 and older, Pennsylvania residents): The Hunter-Ed Pennsylvania course costs $34.95. Pass the final exam and print your certificate immediately, with your permanent card mailed within two to three weeks.
2. In-person classroom course (any age): A free, roughly six-hour course taught directly by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, available by scheduled date and location.

However you complete it, your certification never expires and stays valid across all 50 states once earned.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the PGC website, by mail, or at an approved license agent.

You'll need your driver's license or Customer Identification (CID) number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting

Your general Pennsylvania hunting license already covers antlered deer and turkey, but a handful of species and activities need something extra. Antlerless deer licenses, migratory game bird licenses, and bear licenses are all purchased separately from your base license.

Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.

Pennsylvania Hunting License Requirements by Age

Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in PA by age.

Privileges and stamps: Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older need the federal Duck Stamp, and those age 12 and older also need the Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License, which doubles as proof of Harvest Information Program (HIP) participation.

Bear hunters need a separate Bear License ($16.97 resident, $36.97 non-resident), and antlerless deer hunters need an Antlerless Deer License ($6.97 resident, $26.97 non-resident) on top of the general license.

Season dates and bag limits vary by species and Wildlife Management Unit, so check before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Pennsylvania offers a genuinely free path to certification through its in-person classroom course, and none of its options require a separate field day to finish. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

Whichever format you choose, the certification you earn is accepted for life across the U.S. and Canada. Only your Pennsylvania hunting license needs replacing, and in Pennsylvania that happens every year on June 30.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Pennsylvania hunting license. You'll need:

• Your driver's license or Customer Identification (CID) number
• Proof of your Hunter Education Certificate, if you're required to hold one
• Payment (card online or in person, or check by mail)
• Proof of Pennsylvania residency, if applying for resident rates

Pennsylvania Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting or furtaking without a valid license in Pennsylvania is a summary offense of the third degree, carrying a fine of $250 to $500. Repeat violations can lead to a suspension of hunting privileges for up to five years, and more serious Game Code violations can escalate to higher-degree summary offenses or, in rare cases, misdemeanors.

Pennsylvania also requires hunters to identify themselves and present their license and tags to a game warden on request.

Note that it's unlawful to hunt on Sundays except for foxes, crows, and coyotes, with a growing list of exceptions added for specific seasons each year.

What About Reciprocity?

Pennsylvania accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards.

States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a Pennsylvania Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-resident hunters pay $101.97 for a general hunting license, which includes the same antlered deer and turkey tag package residents receive.

First-time hunters from out of state must still complete Pennsylvania's hunter education requirement unless they already hold a certificate from their home state that meets IHEA-USA standards, and anyone hunting migratory birds needs the Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License regardless of residency.

Start Your Pennsylvania Hunter Safety Course Today

Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Pennsylvania course is approved by the PGC, self-paced, and available on any device, with no in-person field day currently required. Complete the course and get your lifetime Pennsylvania hunter education certificate.

Approved by Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) | Last verified August 12, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much does a hunting license cost in Pennsylvania?

A: A resident adult hunting license in Pennsylvania costs $20.97, while a non-resident adult license costs $101.97. Licenses are valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Both prices include one antlered deer tag and two turkey tags, so most hunters don't need to add much beyond the base license.

Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in Pennsylvania?

A: Yes, Pennsylvania requires hunter education for anyone who has never held a hunting license or hunter education certificate, regardless of age. Hunters who previously held a license in Pennsylvania or another state are generally exempt from retaking the course.

Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in Pennsylvania?

A: No, Pennsylvania's online hunter safety course does not require an in-person field day for hunters 16 and older who complete it through Hunter-Ed. Hunters younger than 16 complete either a fully in-person PGC classroom course or the interactive ilearntohunt course, neither of which adds a separate field day either.

Q: Can a 10-year-old hunt in Pennsylvania?

A: A 10-year-old can hunt in Pennsylvania through the Mentored Youth Permit, which allows unlicensed hunters under 12 to hunt under a licensed mentor age 21 or older. Mentored youth don't need their own license or hunter education certificate while hunting under this program.

Q: Does Pennsylvania's hunter education certificate work in other states?

A: Yes, a Pennsylvania Hunter Education Certificate is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means Pennsylvania-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Pennsylvania?

A: Hunting or furtaking without a valid license in Pennsylvania is a summary offense of the third degree, which carries a fine of $250 to $500. Repeat offenses can lead to a suspension of hunting privileges for up to five years, on top of the fine.