Every hunter deserves to start a new year with a bang, and this upcoming year, PA is where it is at! 

PA is arguably the most epic hunting destination in the country, and this year, it is about celebrating the new year in a way that is unique and special to you, participating in some of the most epic hunting seasons of your lifetime, challenging yourself, meeting like-minded shooters, and setting the tone for the upcoming year.

Let's take a deeper dive into the first four  PA hunting seasons in 2025, discuss all the reasons why you cannot afford to miss any one of them and recommend for you the perfect LPVO to take with you on your hunting adventures!  

1. Crow Hunting Season

Crow hunting season in PA will start from January 1 to March 23, 2025. There is no daily or season bag limit, but you can only hunt on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

Why You Don’t Want to Miss 2025 Crow Season!

Crow Hunting is special

Crow hunting in general is way more fun than many other types of hunting. Crows are extremely intelligent birds, and they can recognize patterns which makes them really difficult to track down and hunt.

Crow hunting is more of an experience that will test not only your shooting skills but also your level of intelligence, and you will not imagine to what extent you can go to outsmart a bird. Really have to earn every kill.

You’ve got to try crow hunting!

Crow hunting provides a great opportunity for hunters to refine their shooting skills during the off-season for other game. The fun thing about hunting crows is that they provide much more of a challenge than other kinds of game. They are very intelligent birds that can recognize patterns, which makes them really difficult to hunt.

Many organize themselves into groups, decoys, and electronic calls to mimic crow sounds, often setting up near wooded areas or open fields where crows are active and then pounce when they can.

Crow hunting is also necessary. 

Crows are agricultural pests: they damage crops and even feed on smaller livestock. This hunting season, you are helping make life easier for the people in the area.

You are posing a challenge to the ecological system in the state. Crows are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act so these hunting seasons are specially designated due to their high adaptability and the resilience of their population.

It is Historical

Crow hunting is a part of the history and culture of Pennsylvania. This tradition has gone on for decades and is an integral part of wildlife management and recreational shooting in the state.

Who Might You Meet?

Both predator and small game hunters looking for a challenge or honing shooting skills during the off-season.

Farmers interested in pest control for crops.

Social hunters in group setups, to hunters strategizing to outsmart the birds.

2. Woodchuck (Groundhog) Hunting Season

Groundhog Hunting Season in PA will start from January 1 to February 28, 2025. There is no bag limit this year (there usually isn’t), but there are some special regulations to pay attention to.

Special Regulations for Groundhog Season

• Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.
• Hunters must wear a minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing on their head, chest, and back when hunting during overlapping big game seasons.

Why You Don’t Want to Miss PA Groundhog Season in 2025

Groundhog Hunting Presents a Unique Challenge

Groundhog hunting is the ultimate test of precision and accuracy. Woodchucks are wary animals: they are suspicious, jumpy and always quick and ready to retreat into their burrows. Most of the time, you only get one shot.

Also, Groundhog hunting allows you to use different kinds of gear.

You can test out your skill with an LPVO optic or even a high-powered optic and see how proficient you are at long-range shooting. Even for professional long-range shooters, you can always buy new gear for this season and test it out in this highly tense gate of shooter vs Groundhog.

The prime time for Groundhog hunting is the early mornings and late afternoons because woodchucks are active during cooler parts of the day. This gives you enough time to rest, recuperate, and even explore some other parts of the historical city.

Talking About History!

Groundhog hunting has been part of rural life in Pennsylvania for centuries. It kinda picked up in the 90s as a form of sport and pest management. Groundhogs are constantly digging holes which is a nuisance to local farmers because they damage farming equipment, collapse fields, and injure livestock.

Who Might You Meet (or Bring) Up There?

Precision shooters interested in long-range marksmanship practice.

Farmer looking for pest control to protect crops and pastures.

3. Bobcat Hunting Season

In 2025, PA Bobcat Hunting season starts on January 11 and ends on February 5, 2025 (in designated WMUs). The primary regulation to keep in mind is that there is a bobcat limit of one bobcat per permit holder per season.

Getting a Permit for Bobcat Season

• You must apply for and receive a special bobcat permit.
• The bobcat permit is not a substitute for your general hunting license.
• Permits are allocated through a lottery system.

Why You Don’t Want to Miss This Bobcat Season

It obviously does not make much sense to move across states just for the bobcat season alone, especially considering the regulation of one bobcat per permit holder. However, this year bobcat hunting season intertwines with the crow hunting season and, to an extent, with the Groundhog hunting season. You might as well give it a shot while you're out there.

Understanding the Regulations: Some History

Bobcat history in PA has some interesting history, and this may help you understand the background for the strict regulations surrounding bobcat hunting in the region.

In the early 1970s, Bobcat hunting was illegal in Pennsylvania. The bobcat population in the area had been dwindling significantly: hunting was largely unregulated, and the state’s economy (including infrastructure) was advancing at a rapid pace, leading to loss of habitat.

So, a law was passed in the early 1970s to prohibit bobcat hunting and allow the species some time and space to flourish again. Now, the bobcat population has rebounded significantly. Now, with the right license, you can be allowed to hunt in specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).

 

Why You Don’t Want to Miss this Bobcat Season 2025

It is a  Flex!

Getting a bobcat on your first hunt would be an epic highlight of your career as a hunter. Bobcats are a prized challenge for any hunter, and that is not only because they only get one.

Bobcats, by nature, are solitary, elusive predators, rare to sight and challenging to shoot at. You are limited to one, but the real question is: can you find any?

Bobcat Hunting 101

To hunt bobcats, your best shot is to use predator calls to mimic small animals in distress and then lure luring bobcats into view.

Trapping is also an effective method, though separate seasons and regulations apply.

Who Might You Meet Up There?

Bobcat season is when the most experienced hunters come out to play. They are attracted by the challenge and prestige of successfully hunting such a secretive predator.

Predator management enthusiasts also take a special interest in bobcat hunting.

Trophy hunters hunt bobcats for their beautiful pelts, which are later tanned and displayed for prestige.

4. Fox and Coyote Hunting Season

Fox and Coyote Hunting season will officially extend from January 1 to February 17, 2025.

There are no bag limits on coyotes and no daily or seasonal limits for red or gray foxes.

Regulations

• Night hunting with a spotlight or thermal imaging is allowed for coyotes and foxes.
• Predators can also be hunted during daylight hours using rifles or shotguns.

Hunting Style

Coyote hunting is all about preplanning, preparation, and timing. Coyote hunters set up in open areas or along fields where coyotes are likely to roam, then lie in wait.

Fox hunters take the hunt to the foxes. They mainly focus on wooded areas, hedgerows, or abandoned barns, where foxes often den.

Both foxes and coyotes are hunted to protect the smaller livestock of the people in the area.

Who Might You Meet

The PA fox and coyote hunting season attracts a wide variety of trophy and fur hunters, night hunters, and predator control advocates.

Historical and Ecological Context

Fox hunting has a rich tradition in Pennsylvania, dating back all the way back to colonial times when it was both a necessity for protecting livestock and a recreational activity.

Coyotes, on the other hand, are relatively new to Pennsylvania. They began appearing in the state in the mid-20th century as they expanded eastward from their original western habitats.

General Tips and Reminders for PA Hunters

Make sure you have the proper hunting license and any additional permits (e.g., bobcat permit) required for specific species.

Legal hunting hours are typically from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset unless otherwise specified.

Safety Requirements:

Fluorescent orange clothing is required for most hunting seasons that overlap with big game seasons.

Review firearm and ammunition regulations for your targeted species.

Check WMU Regulations: Some seasons and bag limits are specific to Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).

For the most accurate and up-to-date regulations, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

LODIN LPVOs From Gogunnr: Pick the Right One!

Gogunnr’s Odin optics come in three models: the Odin 1-6x 28, Odin 1-8x 24 LPVO, and the Odin 1-10x 28 LPVO. These three Odin optics offer every possible magnification range within the capabilities of an LPVO, which makes them perfectly versatile for deer hunting.

7 Reasons To Check Out Gunnr’s LPVOs For Your Hunting Season!

• Gogunnr Odin scopes feature Bullet reticles with extended 1 MOA hash marks for precise windage and elevation adjustments. You can compensate for bullet drop at varying distances without even adjusting the scope's elevation turret.
• They come with a cantilever mount, directly compatible with the Picatinny rails of most hunting rifles. You can use them with no additional adapters.
• The lenses are made of German Schott glass, which gives clear image quality, even in low light, with no chromatic aberration.
• Odin scopes generally weigh about (about 4.8×1.65×2.44 inches in size), making them just as lightweight and maneuverable for your hunting setup.
• The exterior of each optic is made of 7075 aluminum alloy, durable and can withstand harsh hunting conditions.
• They are all tested to withstand 1,000 impacts at 1,000G and 2,000 live-fire rounds.
• They are also waterproof and fogproof. They are built to withstand temperatures from -59°F to 149°F and have an IP67 waterproofing rating.

Main References

Pennsylvania Game Commission Seasons and Bag Limits:https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/huntingandtrapping/regulations/seasons-and-bag-limits.html 

 Pennsylvania Game Commission Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaGameCommission/posts/-attention-pennsylvania-hunters-the-202425-hunting-seasons-are-just-around-the-c/916191343876560/