Visit the keystone state and enjoy a fishing or hunting adventure. Anglers can fish for wild trout while hunters can stalk elk in the Pennsylvania outdoors. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission manages fisheries while the Game Commission oversees wildlife management units throughout the region. These efforts help to ensure that healthy populations of wildlife and preserved habitats are maintained and protected.
Fish Species
Pennsylvania is home to a diversity of game fish. Cast in the streams for trout, salmon and steelhead or visit the rivers to pursue healthy populations of bass, catfish, walleye, pike, muskie and carp. The lakes abound with bass, trout and pike and panfish. The state manages wild trout streams that has natural reproducing trout like Potter Creek in Bedford County and Beaver Run in Berks County.
Fishing Grounds
The state occupies more than 85,000 miles of rivers and streams. There are also 4,000 inland lakes and ponds as well as the teeming waters of Lake Erie that spans 470,000 acres. Plenty of good fishing can be found in the state whether you prefer angling for trout or chasing big lunker bass. Visit two designated trophy trout streams in Northampton County at the southeast part of the state. The 1.9-mile section of Monocacy Creek that begins from Illick's Mill Dam upstream to the Gertrude Fox Conservation Area and the 2.1-mile section of Saucon Creek downstream to the state Route 0412 bridge are productive fishing grounds for healthy and large-sized populations of brook, lake and rainbow trout.
Game
Big game and small game animals are whitetail deer, bear, pronghorn, rabbit and hare. Bird species you are allowed to hunt include turkey, duck, goose, pheasant, dove, quail, grouse and chukar. Regulations and seasonal restrictions are in place to protect species from over hunting. The state allows one bear to be taken in a year by licensed hunters during three hunting days on late November. From November 1 to 6, only one elk may be taken for the entire licensed year.
Hunting Areas
Hunt in numerous state-maintained public shooting ranges across the state including Clarion County in the northwest region and Clearfield County in the north central region. Access route for Clarion County is in SR 1005 and RT 219 for Clearfield. Shooting ranges are free of charge and are open year-round unless otherwise posted.
License
You will need a fishing or hunting license to practice one or both activities in Pennsylvania. All anglers age 16 and above need to obtain a valid and state-issued license to fish for any species statewide. Individuals can purchase adult hunting permits for age 17 through 64 or junior hunting licenses for age 12 through 16. Resident and non resident licenses are available for hunting and fishing.
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