Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County is limited to bows and crossbows only — no firearms for hunting.
Pennsylvania Hunting Laws
Pennsylvania bars semi-automatic rifles for big game — only manually operated actions are legal for deer and bear — and its after-Christmas flintlock season prohibits telescopic sights entirely. Philadelphia County is archery-only.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Pennsylvania
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Special zones
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
All weapons
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species | Suppressors are reported legal for hunting in Pennsylvania. | Secondary compilations (pending primary verification) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
4 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| All species Philadelphia County | Philadelphia County is limited to bows and crossbows — firearms are not legal for hunting there. | PGC digest — special regulations areas | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species Philadelphia County | Philadelphia County is limited to bows and crossbows — firearms are not legal for hunting there. | PGC digest — special regulations areas | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Flintlock deer season: flintlock-ignition single-barrel long gun ≥.44 caliber (or handgun ≥.50 caliber) firing a single projectile. | 58 Pa. Code § 141.43 — flintlock season | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | The after-Christmas deer muzzleloader season is flintlock-ignition only; manmade spark materials on the hammer/frizzen and multiple-projectile loads are unlawful. Breech-loading captured-charge muzzleloaders (e.g., Federal FireStick) are allowed in the October seasons only. | 58 Pa. Code § 141.43 (flintlock provisions) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Telescopic sights are unlawful in the flintlock season — open or peep sights only. | 58 Pa. Code § 141.43 (subsection pending verification) | Aug 2026 needs review |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | 250 square inches of fluorescent orange required during the October muzzleloader season (not during flintlock season). | PGC digest (exact code cite pending verification) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Rifle
8 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Semi-automatic rifles are PROHIBITED for big game — only manually operated actions (bolt, lever, pump, single-shot) are legal for deer, bear, and elk. Semi-autos are authorized only for small game and furbearers.
"Manually operated rifles and handguns chambered for straight-walled centerfire cartridges, [or] muzzleloading long guns, .44 caliber or larger" |
47 Pa.B. 806 (amending 58 Pa. Code §§ 141.43–141.45) | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Semi-automatic rifles are PROHIBITED for big game — only manually operated actions (bolt, lever, pump, single-shot) are legal for deer, bear, and elk. Semi-autos are authorized only for small game and furbearers.
"Manually operated rifles and handguns chambered for straight-walled centerfire cartridges, [or] muzzleloading long guns, .44 caliber or larger" |
47 Pa.B. 806 (amending 58 Pa. Code §§ 141.43–141.45) | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Semi-automatic rifles are PROHIBITED for big game — only manually operated actions (bolt, lever, pump, single-shot) are legal for deer, bear, and elk. Semi-autos are authorized only for small game and furbearers.
"Manually operated rifles and handguns chambered for straight-walled centerfire cartridges, [or] muzzleloading long guns, .44 caliber or larger" |
47 Pa.B. 806 (amending 58 Pa. Code §§ 141.43–141.45) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk | Big game requires a manually operated centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), or a muzzleloading long gun .44 caliber or larger. | 47 Pa.B. 806; PGC digest 2025-26 | Aug 2026 |
| All species Philadelphia County | Philadelphia County is limited to bows and crossbows — firearms are not legal for hunting there. | PGC digest — special regulations areas | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game | Small game rifles: manually operated or semi-auto RIMFIRE, .22 caliber or smaller. | 58 Pa. Code § 141.22 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species Philadelphia County | Philadelphia County is limited to bows and crossbows — firearms are not legal for hunting there. | PGC digest — special regulations areas | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game | Small game shotguns (10 gauge or smaller): shot no larger than No. 4 lead, No. 2 steel, or No. 4 other nontoxic; centerfire shotgun magazine capped at 2, total 3. | 58 Pa. Code § 141.22 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shot: no larger than No. 4 lead, No. 2 steel, or No. 4 other nontoxic; centerfire shotgun magazine ≤2, total ≤3.
"using shot ammunition no larger than # 4 lead, # 2 steel, or # 4 of any other composition or alloy of nontoxic shot" |
58 Pa. Code § 141.45(b)(1)(i) spring; § 141.45(a)(1)(ii) fall | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Pennsylvania on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
47 Pa.B. 806 — Final-form rulemaking amending 58 Pa. Code §§ 141.43–141.45, 141.47
Pennsylvania Bulletin · retrieved August 30, 2026
58 Pa. Code § 141.22 — Small game
Pennsylvania Code · retrieved August 30, 2026
58 Pa. Code § 141.45 — Turkey
Pennsylvania Code · retrieved August 30, 2026
PGC Hunting & Trapping Digest 2025-26
Pennsylvania Game Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Pennsylvania hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Pennsylvania Game Commission directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.