Hunting seasons for migratory bird and waterfowl are chosen by state wildlife agencies from a framework set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is expected to announce most regular and late waterfowl seasons in mid-August.

Early Canada goose season runs Sept. 1-15 statewide. Bag limits vary by region. In Western Pennsylvania, the daily bag limit is 1 goose in the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 618, SR 618 south to US Route 6, US Route 6 east to US Route 322/SR 18, US Route 322/SR 18 west to intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south to the Crawford/Mercer County line. The exception to this is on State Game Land 214, where September goose hunting is closed.

In the Southern James Bay Population Zone and on Pymatuning Reservoir and 100 yards inland from the shoreline (excluding east of Hartstown Road), the daily limit is 3 and the possession limit is 6.

The controlled hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon and Lancaster counties, and in State Game Land 46, are closed to September goose hunting as part of a U.S.-Canadian effort to reverse a decline in the resident Canada goose population.

Excluding these areas, the early season in the remainder of the state retains a daily bag limit of 8 Canada geese and possession limit of 16.

Youth Waterfowl Day, Sept. 19, is open to those hunters 12 to 15 years old with a junior hunting license. That day, youth waterfowlers can harvest ducks, mergansers, coots and moorhens, and because the Youth Waterfowl Day and the early Canada goose season overlap, youth and the adults accompanying them may harvest Canada geese.

Find more information at www.pgc.state.pa.us.