WMU 4D, Pennsylvania

Anthracite coal country transitioning to mixed hardwood and scrub forest; rolling ridges of the Ridge-and-Valley province in Schuylkill and Carbon counties. Elevation ranges from valley floors around 500 ft to ridge tops near 1,800 ft. Old mine spoil areas, regrown clear-cuts, and second-growth oak-maple forest create a patchwork of edge habitat. Dense laurel and scrub on slopes; creek drainages provide travel corridors for deer and bear.

moderate-to-high

Antlered buck: OTC included with base hunting license, one buck per season (3-point minimum antler restriction applies statewide). Antlerless: extremely liberal — WMU 4D had the largest tag increase in the state for 2026-27, jumping from 83,000 to 120,000 antlerless licenses as PGC attempts to drive down a persistently high deer population. Hunters can hold up to 6 antlerless licenses. Extended antlerless firearms season runs Dec 26–Jan 18, 2027 (one of the few WMUs with this late extension). Tags available OTC during non-guaranteed sales rounds.

DEER: Archery Oct 4–Nov 20 and Dec 26–Jan 17; regular firearms Nov 21–Dec 5 (includes Sunday hunting per 2026-27 rules); muzzleloader Oct 18–25 and Dec 26–Jan 17; extended antlerless firearms Dec 26–Jan 18, 2027. One antlered buck per year; up to 6 antlerless licenses. BEAR: Archery bear Oct 17–25; regular firearms bear Nov 21–24 (statewide season, 4D included); extended bear season if applicable per PGC zone assignment. One bear per license year. TURKEY: Spring gobbler (bearded birds only) May 1–31, 2027 — half hour before sunrise to noon May 1–16, then all-day May 17–31; season limit 1. Fall turkey (either sex) Oct 31–Nov 15 in WMU 4D; season limit 1. ELK: Not applicable — WMU 4D is not part of Pennsylvania's elk management zone (WMU 2G in Elk/Cameron/Clinton counties). Elk licenses are allocated by lottery in the elk zone only.

One of Pennsylvania's most liberal antlerless allocations — 120,000 doe tags for 2026-27, the biggest single-year increase statewide. Extended late antlerless firearms season through mid-January. Decent bear numbers in forested ridge habitat. Accessible public land via multiple SGLs. Mining country landscape supports good turkey populations in regenerating forest. No elk — unit is well outside WMU 2G elk zone in north-central PA.