Bird Dog Regulations
Pennsylvania Hunting Dog
Licenses & Field Trials 2026
Complete guide to Pennsylvania's hunting dog regulations — license requirements, field trial permits, training season dates, electronic collar rules, and public land training notes. Pennsylvania does not require a separate license for hunting dogs, but competitive field trial events require a permit. Training seasons allow year-round activity on private land, with public land training allowed under a standard hunting license. Electronic collars are permitted statewide.
Dog License Required
Field Trial Permit Required
E-Collar Permitted
2026 Dog Regulation Quick Facts
Verified 2026
Dog License
Required
Resident $0.00
Field Trial Permit
Required
$17.90 resident fee
Training Season
Restricted
September 1 – March 31
E-Collar
Permitted
No restrictions
License Requirements
Does Pennsylvania Require a Hunting Dog License?
Dog License Required in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires a separate hunting dog license in addition to your standard hunting license.
Resident fee: $0.00.
Field Trial Permit Required
A field trial permit is required for organized competitive field trial events.
Resident fee: $17.90. Organizers must obtain this permit before hosting any licensed field trial event.
Apply for Field Trial Permit →
Training Calendar
Pennsylvania Dog Training Season
Designated Training Season
Pennsylvania restricts public land dog training to the following season dates.
Opens: September 1
→
Closes: March 31
Note: Training season restrictions typically apply to public land. Year-round training on private land may be permitted — verify with Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Training Details
Species, Equipment & Bird Planting Rules
Species You Can Train On
Electronic Collar Rules
E-Collar Permitted
Electronic training collars are permitted statewide with no specific state-level restrictions noted.
Live Bird Planting
Permitted
Live bird planting for training purposes is permitted on private land in Pennsylvania.
Rabbits in Training
Allowed
Beagles and other rabbit hounds may train on rabbits in Pennsylvania. Check public land rules for rabbit dog training.
Public Land Rules
Training on Public Land in Pennsylvania
Training on state game lands is allowed with a valid hunting license during the designated training season (Sep 1 – Mar 31). Dogs must be under reasonable control at all times.
Important Notes
Pennsylvania-Specific Hunting Dog Information
Pennsylvania requires any person using a dog to track wounded deer to hold a valid Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker license. There is no additional dog-specific license fee beyond the base hunting license. However, the use of leashed tracking dogs to locate wounded deer is only permitted by licensed hunters or licensed blood trackers. Tracking dogs must be kept on a leash at all times during post-harvest tracking.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission (www.pgc.pa.gov).
Requirements verified 2026. Always confirm current regulations directly with the agency before training or hunting with dogs.