Hunting on Penn State Lands

More than 10,000 acres of Penn State forestland and agricultural land are open to some form of public hunting in accordance with current Pennsylvania game laws. Hunters must carefully review the maps linked to this page to understand what is permissible. If an area is designated as "OPEN TO ARCHERY HUNTING ONLY", that means there is a prohibition on pursuing game with all other hunting weapons. If an area is designated as "OPEN TO HUNTING BY PERMIT ONLY" that means a hunter must reach out to Jesse Darlington from the College of Ag Sciences to obtain a permit prior to hunting.

 All of Penn State's huntable lands, except for Rock Springs, are enrolled in a Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) agreement known as a Cooperative Wildlife Management Area or "400 Area". This formal, signed agreement for a Cooperative Wildlife Management Area allows PGC to assist in the planning and implementation of habitat management practices and to improve the long-term health of wildlife habitats, while simultaneously providing public access for hunting and trapping on lands enrolled in the program. On lands enrolled as Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas, PGC State Game Wardens may fully enforce rules and regulations promulgated under Titles 34 and 58 of the Game and Wildlife Code.

All of Penn State's huntable lands are located within the PGC Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4D. The Stone Valley Forest (SVF) is within 10 miles of the Chronic Wasting Disease Established Area (CWD EA). For that reason, the SVF is enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). The SVF is identified as DMAP unit 433.

• PA Game Commission DMAP information
• PA Game Commission CWD information

Visitors (hunters and non-hunters) to Penn State land open to hunting are strongly encouraged to wear fluorescent orange during all hunting seasons.

No motor vehicles of any kind, trucks, UTVs, ATVs, four wheelers, three wheelers, motor bikes, or snowmobiles are permitted on any forestland, field or pasture at any time.

The erection, construction or use of a permanent hunting tree stand is prohibited. Portable hunting tree stands (which do not harm the tree in any way) are permitted.  Hunting tree stands may be placed two weeks prior to the opening of the first deer season and must be removed within two weeks after the close of the final deer season. All portable hunting tree stands must be properly and clearly labeled with the owner's contact information and/or the owner's PA Game Commission customer identification number (CID).

 Parked vehicles must not block gates or roads at any time.