Whether collecting forensic evidence that will bring poachers to justice, tracking down lost hikers or live-trapping black bears for research, Pennsylvania state game wardens have among the most unique, diverse and exciting careers in wildlife conservation.

This summer, youths ages 12 to 15 can experience some of it for themselves.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is holding one-day Junior Game Warden Camps across the commonwealth, providing those who attend a structured, fun-filled day learning about the career of a Pennsylvania State Game Warden.

Campers will spend the day with game wardens, gaining insight into the job and the Game Commission’s mission of managing and protecting the state’s wildlife and habitats while promoting hunting and trapping. Campers will join wardens in light physical fitness activities, confidence-building exercises and hands-on learning stations. Campers will learn about wildlife forensics and methods used by wardens to catch poachers and solve wildlife-related crimes. Other activities will involve wildlife-capture techniques, woodland tracking and outdoor survival.

Unless noted, the camps begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Registration can be completed online. Registration is limited to those who have not attended a camp held previously.

The dates and locations for the camps are as follows:

• Northcentral Region – Thursday, July 10, at Scotia Building, State Game Lands 176, Scotia Range Road, Warriors Mark, PA 16877. Registration is limited to 30 participants.

• Northwest Region – Saturday, Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Rimersburg Rod & Gun Club, 442 E. Rod & Gun Club Road, Rimersburg, PA 16248. Registration is limited to 30 participants.

Camps are also planned for the southwest, southcentral, northeast and southeast regions.

2025-26 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS SET

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set.

There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

“The Atlantic Population Zone allows the Atlantic Flyway to closely manage harvest for this smaller, more delicate population of migratory Canada geese,” said Game Commission Waterfowl Biologist Amanda Hoyt. “The most recent breeding pair estimate on the AP breeding grounds in northern Quebec indicated a further decline from the previous year.”

As for pintail, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the Atlantic Flyway accounts for just 3.3% of continental pintail harvest. The flat pintail bag limit will apply so long as the other three Flyways have seasons open for pintail.

Other migratory game bird seasons are similar to last year’s seasons.

Junior Day is Sept. 20, open to junior hunters and mentored youth hunters when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada geese as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season. Hunting hours to close at sunset.

Annual migratory game bird seasons are selected by states from frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Game Commission selections were made after reviewing last year’s hunter harvests, population survey data and public input.

The population survey data indirectly accounts for mortality, which would include any significant impact from the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreak.

While wildlife mortality events attributed to HPAI have been reported throughout the United States since 2022, including an event this past winter involving about 5,000 snow geese in southeastern Pennsylvania, the virus does not appear to be a significant contributing factor toward the reduction of any migratory game bird population.

SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

DUCKS

North Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-25, and Nov. 18-Jan. 10.

Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-Nov. 28, and Dec. 22-Jan. 10.

Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Nov. 3-Jan. 10.

Total Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 18 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 4 sea ducks; including no more than 3 eiders and no more than 1 female eider, 3 long-tailed ducks, and 3 scoters.

Daily limit for scaup varies (consult PGC regulations).

Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession

Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.

CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE)

Resident Population Goose Zone (RP)

All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population zone. Sept. 1-25 (8-goose daily bag limit); and Oct. 25-Nov. 28, Dec. 15-Jan. 17, and Jan. 30-Feb. 21 (5-goose daily bag limit in latter 3 segments).

See hunting digest for exceptions.

LIGHT GEESE (Snow geese and Ross’ geese):

Resident Population Zone

Regular: Oct. 21-Feb. 21; 25 daily, no possession limit.

Conservation Order: Feb. 23 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.

DOVES: Sept. 1-Nov. 28, and Dec. 20-Jan. 3. 15 daily, 45 in possession.

WOODCOCK: Oct. 18-Nov. 28, and Dec. 15-24. 3 daily, 9 in possession.

All hunters are required to have a Migratory Game Bird License to hunt migratory birds including waterfowl, doves, woodcock, brant, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe. In addition to a Migratory Game Bird License, waterfowl hunters 16 or older need a federal duck stamp, and if the actual stamp is carried, it must be signed across the face.

The electronic duck stamp, or E-Stamp, version of the federal duck stamp has now been authorized for use through the entirety of a waterfowl hunting season. Stamps can be purchased online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov or at any issuing agent.

A Snow Goose Permit is required to participate in the Conservation Order for light geese.