An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

Coronavirus-related Cancellations

 

In an effort to protect public health and reduce overall spread of COVID-19 the Game Commission is taking the following precautions. This page will be updated as additional information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Coronavirus and the Game Commission

As counties move from Red to Yellow and Green through the commonwealth's three-phase matrix to ease COVID-19 restrictions, openings of offices and state game lands ranges will occur.

Offices and Other Buildings

As of Monday, June 8, all region offices have resumed regular lobby hours. The agency’s Harrisburg headquarters will open for license sales on Monday, June 22. Closures include the Visitors Center at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County and Howard Nursery in Centre County.

State Game Lands Ranges

Ranges in counties in the three-phase matrix's Red-phase, and where stay-at-home orders remain in place and large gatherings are prohibited will be closed. Any rifle, shotgun, pistol and archery ranges on state game lands in counties that have been upgraded to Yellow or Green will have regular hours of operation.

As of Friday, June 5 all rifle, shotgun, pistol and archery ranges on state game lands have reopened and regular hours of operation have resumed. With all Game Commission shooting ranges and region offices open again, Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans thanks hunters, trappers and target shooters for their patience in recent months as the agency made adjustments to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.

Hunter-Trapper Education Classes

Anyone, ages 11 and up, can currently register for a Pennsylvania’s online Hunter-Trapper Education courseOpens In A New Window. In an effort to protect public health and reduce overall spread of COVID-19, in-person Hunter-Trapper Education classes have been cancelled through July 10. Beginning July 11, in-person classes may be offered in counties designated as Green in the Governor's three-phase matrix.

  • Classes will be limited to 50 percent capacity to ensure that social distancing can be maintained.
  • Classes are limited to pre-registered students only. Walk-in students will not be permitted. A parent or guardian attending with a minor child is required to register or remain outside the facility. All persons in attendance will count towards the maximum number of people for the classroom.
  • Each student shall be responsible for providing their own face covering/mask and will only be allowed to bring into the classroom a jacket, keys, phone and wallet or purse. Food and drinks will not be provided. Students should bring their own meals and beverages for consumption outside of the classroom.
  • Additional information can be found here: COVID-19 Guidelines for Hunter-Trapper Education Classes

Other Cancellations

  • Field Days: In an effort to protect public health and reduce overall spread of COVID-19, all Field Day events have been suspended until further notice.
  • 2020 Waterfowl Surveys: Cancellation: 2020 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, Q&As (PDF)

  • 2020 Middle Creek Wildlife Art Show (August) and National Hunting and Fishing Day (September): Out of an abundance of caution, these events at Middle Creek have been cancelled.

 

Pennsylvania Department of Health:

For general information about Coronavirus, please refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website, health.pa.gov.