Pennsylvania WMU 5D: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
Pennsylvania's WMU 5D covers 1,326 square miles in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties. PGC estimates hunters took 2,995 antlered and 7,072 antlerless deer here in the 2025-26 seasons, and no bears in 2024. 1.8% of the WMU is public land, the largest share state park (10,587 acres), by the USGS Protected Areas Database.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest and licenses: PGC Annual Deer Population Report, April 2026. Bears: PGC Big Game Harvest data and PGC's 2024 bear harvest release. Seasons: PGC 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits. Land: PAD-US 4.1.
State game landsState forestState parkNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceMilitary (closed unless the base allows)WMU 5DNeighboring WMUsHighway
| Size | 1,326 square miles (PGC) |
|---|---|
| Counties | Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia |
| Public land | 1.8% (15,259 acres) |
| State Game Lands | 1 tract, 18 acres in the WMU |
| Deer harvested, 2025-26 | 2,995 antlered, 7,072 antlerless |
| Bears harvested, 2024 | 0 |
| Antlerless licenses, 2026-27 | 44,000 (39,000 in 2025-26) |
| Antler rule (adults) | Three points on one side, brow tine counted |
| Chronic wasting disease | Not found in the WMU (PGC 2026-27 pocket guide) |
| Archery deer, 2026-27 | September 19 to November 27, and December 26 to January 24, 2027 |
| Regular firearms deer, 2026 | November 28 to December 13 |
How many deer are harvested in WMU 5D?
PGC estimates 2,995 antlered and 7,072 antlerless deer in WMU 5D in 2025-26, against 2,281 and 7,740 the season before. The table runs back to 2005-06, with the antlerless licenses PGC allocated for each season.
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | Total | Antlerless licenses allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,995 | 7,072 | 10,067 | 39,000 |
| 2024-25 | 2,281 | 7,740 | 10,021 | 29,000 |
| 2023-24 | 2,938 | 6,660 | 9,598 | 29,000 |
| 2022-23 | 2,525 | 6,693 | 9,218 | 29,000 |
| 2021-22 | 2,636 | 6,273 | 8,909 | 29,000 |
| 2020-21 | 2,164 | 6,479 | 8,643 | 29,000 |
| 2019-20 | 2,488 | 6,721 | 9,209 | 29,000 |
| 2018-19 | 2,631 | 6,001 | 8,632 | 28,000 |
| 2017-18 | 3,327 | 7,526 | 10,853 | 30,000 |
| 2016-17 | 2,908 | 6,452 | 9,360 | 30,000 |
| 2015-16 | 2,191 | 5,172 | 7,363 | 24,000 |
| 2014-15 | 1,317 | 3,788 | 5,105 | 18,000 |
| 2013-14 | 1,589 | 4,483 | 6,072 | 18,000 |
| 2012-13 | 1,325 | 3,766 | 5,091 | 19,000 |
| 2011-12 | 1,156 | 3,827 | 4,983 | 22,000 |
| 2010-11 | 1,144 | 3,721 | 4,865 | 22,000 |
| 2009-10 | 1,130 | 3,911 | 5,041 | 22,000 |
| 2008-09 | 1,343 | 4,533 | 5,876 | 22,000 |
| 2007-08 | 977 | 5,185 | 6,162 | 20,000 |
| 2006-07 | 1,315 | 4,074 | 5,389 | 20,000 |
| 2005-06 | 1,460 | 4,166 | 5,626 | 20,000 |
Source: PGC Annual Deer Population Report, April 2026, WMU 5D worksheet.
Deer by season in WMU 5D
Archery hunters took 84.6% of WMU 5D's antlered deer in 2024-25, by PGC's season figures.
| Season | Antlered, archery | Antlered, firearms | Antlered, muzzleloader | Antlerless, archery | Antlerless, firearms | Antlerless, muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 1,987 | 349 | 13 | 5,496 | 2,141 | 104 |
| 2023-24 | 2,480 | 400 | 20 | 4,560 | 2,000 | 140 |
| 2022-23 | 2,080 | 400 | 20 | 4,760 | 1,800 | 140 |
| 2021-22 | 2,080 | 500 | 20 | 4,390 | 1,700 | 210 |
| 2020-21 | 1,790 | 400 | 10 | 4,310 | 2,000 | 190 |
Source: PGC Big Game Harvest data, rounded by PGC; the season totals can differ a little from the worksheet's.
Is WMU 5D's deer herd growing?
PGC does not publish a deer population estimate for WMU 5D; it judges the herd from harvest figures instead and rates the six-year trend stable. Its objective for the WMU is to reduce the deer population (PGC's note: agency leadership guidance).
PGC's worksheet describes WMU 5D as 18% forest, 11% farm and field and 61% developed.
How many bears are taken in WMU 5D?
PGC counted no bears from WMU 5D in 2024. PGC has counted no bears from WMU 5D in any year since 2013.
| Year | Bears | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | not given | not given |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sources: PGC Big Game Harvest data to 2023; PGC's 2024 bear harvest release for 2024.
How many turkeys are taken in WMU 5D?
PGC's spring gobbler estimate for WMU 5D was about 120 birds in 2023. WMU 5D is closed to fall turkey hunting in 2026.
| Year | Spring turkeys (about) | Fall turkeys (about) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 120 | none given |
| 2022 | 110 | none given |
| 2021 | 70 | none given |
| 2020 | 110 | none given |
| 2019 | 130 | none given |
| 2018 | 130 | none given |
| 2017 | 150 | none given |
| 2016 | 120 | none given |
Source: PGC Big Game Harvest data; PGC's estimates, rounded here to the nearest ten.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in WMU 5D?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery (antlered and antlerless) | September 19 to November 27, and December 26 to January 24, 2027 |
| Deer, antlerless muzzleloader | October 17 to 25 |
| Deer, antlerless special firearms (eligible hunters only) | October 22 to 25 |
| Deer, regular firearms (antlered and antlerless) | November 28 to December 13 |
| Deer, flintlock (antlered or antlerless) | December 26 to January 24, 2027 |
| Deer, extended antlerless firearms | December 26 to January 24, 2027 |
| Bear, archery | September 19 to November 27 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | October 22 to 25 |
| Bear, special firearms (eligible hunters only) | October 22 to 25 |
| Bear, regular firearms | November 21 to 24 |
| Bear, extended firearms | November 28 to December 13 |
| Fall turkey | Closed |
| Spring gobbler (bearded birds; one bird) | May 1 to 31, 2027 (until noon through May 15) |
Source: PGC 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits, read 2026-10-18. Sundays inside these dates are open, except in migratory bird seasons (PGC 2026-27 pocket guide to the Hunting & Trapping Digest). PGC can change a season; check its page before you go.
How much public land is in WMU 5D?
1.8% of WMU 5D is public land: 15,259 of its 848,775 acres. The largest share is state park, 10,587 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of WMU 5D |
|---|---|---|
| State park | 10,587 | 1.2% |
| National Park Service | 3,372 | 0.4% |
| Military (closed unless the base allows) | 1,283 | 0.2% |
| National wildlife refuge | 1,012 | 0.1% |
| State forest | 169 | under 0.1% |
| State game lands | 119 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside PGC's WMU boundary from USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Public land is open to hunting under each manager's own rules; state parks, refuges and Park Service land allow it only in places.
State Game Lands in WMU 5D
1 State Game Lands tract lies wholly or partly in WMU 5D, 18 acres in all.
| Game lands | Acres in WMU 5D | Acres in all | Parking areas (PGC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGL 339 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
Acres measured by FilledTag from PGC State Game Lands boundaries; parking areas from PGC State Game Lands parking areas.
Where is the WMU 5D boundary?
PGC draws WMU 5D along these roads and rivers:
- From the Delaware/PA state line near Yorklyn, PA Rt. 82 west to US Rt. 30.
- US Rt. 30 east to PA Rt. 113 at Downingtown.
- PA Rt. 113 north to Interstate 476.
- I-476 west to PA Rt. 563 (Ridge Road).
- Ridge Road east straight to PA Rt. 611.
- PA Rt. 611 south to the intersection of Tohickon Creek.
- Tohickon Creek east to the PA/New Jersey state line.
From PGC Wildlife Management Units. Highways crossing the WMU: US 1 (115 miles), US 202 (96 miles), I-95 (86 miles), US 13 (76 miles), I-76 (76 miles) and I-476 (73 miles).
Which WMUs border WMU 5D?
| WMU | Public land | Antlered deer, 2025-26 | Antlerless deer, 2025-26 | Bears, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 5C | 2.8% | 8,141 | 18,000 | 17 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are harvested in WMU 5D?
PGC estimates 2,995 antlered and 7,072 antlerless deer were taken in WMU 5D in the 2025-26 seasons, 10,067 in all. Over the five seasons to 2025-26 the WMU averaged 2,675 antlered and 6,888 antlerless deer a year, worked out from PGC's figures.
When is deer season in WMU 5D for 2026-27?
Archery: September 19 to November 27, and December 26 to January 24, 2027. Regular firearms: November 28 to December 13, 2026. Antlerless muzzleloader: October 17 to 25. WMU 5D also has an extended antlerless firearms season, December 26 to January 24, 2027. Sundays inside these dates are open (PGC 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits).
How many antlerless licenses does WMU 5D get?
PGC set 44,000 antlerless licenses for WMU 5D for 2026-27, up from 39,000 in 2025-26. PGC's objective for the WMU is to reduce the deer population (PGC's note: agency leadership guidance).
What is the antler restriction in WMU 5D?
WMU 5D follows the rule for most of the state: an adult hunter's antlered deer needs at least three points on one side, counting the brow tine. Juniors, mentored youth, certain disabled permit holders and resident active-duty military may take two points on one antler or a three-inch spike.
How much public land is in WMU 5D?
15,259 acres, 1.8% of the WMU, by PAD-US 4.1. That includes 18 acres of State Game Lands in 1 tract; the largest here is SGL 339 (18 acres).
How many bears are taken in WMU 5D?
PGC counted no bears from WMU 5D in 2024, against none in 2023. Bear archery in WMU 5D runs September 19 to November 27; the regular firearms season is November 21 to 24, 2026, with an extended season November 28 to December 13.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest, antlerless allocations, population estimates and objectives: PGC Annual Deer Population Report, April 2026.
- Deer by season, bears to 2023 and turkeys: PGC Big Game Harvest data. Bears in 2024: PGC's 2024 bear harvest release.
- Seasons: PGC 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits; PGC 2026-27 pocket guide to the Hunting & Trapping Digest.
- WMU boundary, antler rule and CWD status: PGC Wildlife Management Units. Public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Game lands: PGC State Game Lands boundaries.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Numbers are copied from PGC and federal sources, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.