Erie National Wildlife Refuge affords hunters the opportunity to pursue nearly every game species available in Pennsylvania. In the fall, hunters can pursue white-tailed deer, black bear, waterfowl, pheasant, ruffed grouse, woodcock, snipe, rail, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, woodchuck, quail, dove, crow, fox, coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, mute swan, weasel, porcupine, and feral hog. Turkey hunting is offered in the spring and fall seasons.
Hunters are seeing bigger deer at the refuge just a few years after Pennsylvania enacted area regulations that only bucks with four points on an antler may be taken. Some hunters have reported sighting 10 or more bucks in one day at the refuge. Waterfowl are plentiful because a large portion of the refuge is wetlands and creeks. Some areas require a non-motorized boat, but many others are accessible to jump shooters pursuing the refuge’s abundant wood ducks. The refuge has a lot of game, but it often requires hunting in thick, boggy habitat.
Check out the 2022-2023 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hunt Units web map to zoom in on your favorite hunting spot, or download the maps below for access, parking, and refuge hunting information.
Hunting and Fishing Plan
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final hunting and fishing plan for Erie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Pennsylvania. A draft plan was issued earlier this spring, and during the 97-day public comment period, 5 comment letters were received from the public. We are grateful to the people who provided meaningful comments on the draft, which helped in developing the final plan.
Some comments reflected an opposition to hunting and fishing in general and in particular on refuge lands. We understand and respect this viewpoint. The legislation which guides how national wildlife refuges across the country are managed not only requires us to consider allowing wildlife observation, hunting, fishing, photography, environmental education, and interpretation, but further directs us to promote these activities when compatible with refuge purposes. Not one of these recreational uses have a priority over another – they are simply different ways people choose to enjoy the refuges and to engage themselves, their families, and their friends in the outdoors.
A summary of all substantive comments, and our responses, can be found in Appendix E (Finding of No Significant Impact). No significant changes have been made between the draft and final versions of the Hunting and Fishing Plan. As part of next year’s proposed rule, Erie NWR will propose a non-lead requirement, which will take effect on September 1, 2026. The EA analyzes the impacts of lead ammunition and tackle; based on the breadth of comments received on the plan to require non-lead ammunition and tackle by 2026, the Service intends to complete additional analysis and provide another opportunity to comment during next year’s annual rulemaking.
We may begin to implement the Hunting and Fishing Plan for Erie NWR upon publication of the final 2022-2023 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations in the Federal Register. The final plan can be viewed here.
