Pennsylvania Launched Online Hunting Access System
A new three-tier portal allows landowners to manage hunter access on private properties across the state.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Hunting
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission has introduced a three-tier online access system for private hunting lands. This digital update aims to help landowners manage their properties while facilitating easier access for hunters.
Why it matters
The program helps landowners manage wildlife populations and mitigate crop losses, while simultaneously providing hunters with structured access to hundreds of thousands of acres.
The Hunter Access Program covers over 600,000 acres across 2,000 private properties. Landowners with at least 80 acres enrolled receive discounted hunting licenses for their participation.
The players
Pennsylvania Game Commission
This is the state agency responsible for managing and protecting Pennsylvania's wildlife and their habitats.
Lancaster Conservancy
This organization manages over 6,000 acres across numerous preserves in Lancaster and York counties.
The details
Landowners now use an online portal to categorize property access into open, reservation, or permission-based tiers, allowing them to maintain full control of their land. Hunters review property maps through the same system to select available access levels.
Timeline
The Hunter Access Program began operations in 1936.
The Lancaster Conservancy was founded in 1969.
The three-tier online access system was implemented in 2026.
Culture Shift
The digitization of the Hunter Access Program reflects a broader movement toward utilizing online platforms to bridge the gap between private property management and public recreational use. This approach builds upon Pennsylvania's Recreational Use of Land and Water Act, which provides essential liability protection to landowners.
Hunters can now browse specific map-based listings to find and reserve land access that best fits their needs. Landowners can easily update their property rules through the portal, simplifying how they manage wildlife on their acreage.
The takeaway
This digital transition simplifies the process for private landowners to open their property for wildlife management while maintaining full usage control. Hunters should check the updated online map regularly as more properties, such as those from the Lancaster Conservancy, continue to enroll.
Further reading
Learn more about local regulations and land initiatives on our Hunting page.
More information
For details on the program or to view property maps, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Evening Sun.
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