What should you know before buying hunting land in Franklin and Fulton Counties?

If you're shopping Franklin and Fulton Counties for Outdoor Enthusiasts, three things decide whether a property works: its legal access, its position relative to large public land, and the hunting rules that apply to that exact parcel. The area has major State Game Lands tracts, including State Game Lands No. 124 at 6,835 acres on the Franklin and Fulton County border. Pennsylvania and Maryland publish separate rules, so a property near the state line needs state-specific verification before you rely on any season schedule.

Key Takeaways

• State Game Lands No. 124 covers 6,835 acres along Tuscarora and Dickeys Mountains on the Franklin and Fulton County border, and State Game Lands No. 65 covers 6,000.71 acres in western Fulton County.

• Pennsylvania seasons and bag limits vary by species, Wildlife Management Unit, and season year, so the same dates do not apply to every parcel.

• Washington County, Maryland sits in Deer Management Region A, Zone 2 for its western portion, so a Maryland parcel near the Pennsylvania line needs its own zone check.

• Pennsylvania's Hunter Access Program classifies enrolled private land as Open Access, Reservation Access, or Permission Access, and none of those categories means unrestricted public access.

• Fall turkey season in the listed Pennsylvania WMUs and in Washington County, Maryland both open October 31, 2026, so the season is only weeks away.

How do State Game Lands shape hunting land in Franklin and Fulton Counties for Nature Enthusiasts?

Large State Game Lands tracts set the character of the surrounding private land, because they define the terrain, the habitat, and how much open ground sits next to your boundary. I walk my clients through this before we ever look at a listing.

Tuscarora and Dickeys Mountains on the county line

The Pennsylvania Game Commission describes State Game Lands No. 124 as a 6,835-acre tract along the summits of Tuscarora and Dickeys Mountains. It's open for general use year-round, subject to posted restrictions, and motorized vehicles are generally prohibited on gated roads and trails.

That matters if you're picturing a property that sits at the edge of a mountain tract. Ridge terrain, hardwood cover, and limited motorized access make for a very different setting than rolling farm ground, and the two don't price or function the same way.

Western Fulton County and State Game Lands No. 65

State Game Lands No. 65 holds 6,000.71 acres in one tract in Brush Creek and Belfast townships. Properties in or near that part of Fulton County should be evaluated against the large public block, the access roads that serve it, and the township-level development pattern around it.

Both counties fall in the Game Commission's Southcentral Region, but I don't treat them as interchangeable. A mountain-edge tract, a stream-bottom parcel, and a mixed woodland and field property each serve a different purpose, and I help buyers match the land to how they actually plan to use it. If you want a broader look at the market for this kind of ground, my guide to hunting properties in South Central PA covers the investor side, and I explain why buyers are drawn to large rural tracts here.

What should you verify before buying recreational land near the state line?

Verify four things before you make an offer: legal access from a public road, the species and season rules for that parcel, the wildlife management zone, and whatever sits on the boundary. A parcel that looks perfect on a map can be landlocked or governed by different rules than the one next door.

Confirm legal access first

Confirm the parcel is legally accessible from a public road, that no portion is landlocked, and that any recorded easements actually provide the access you're counting on. Your title company can help sort out what the records show, and I'll flag access questions early so they don't surface late in the process.

Match the parcel to the right season and zone

Pennsylvania's seasons and bag limits vary by species, Wildlife Management Unit, and season year. For example, the 2026-27 fall wild turkey season includes October 31 to November 15 in WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4D. These are season-specific dates, not permanent ones, so check them each year.

Across the line, Maryland's 2026-27 hunting calendar places Washington County in bear hunt zones 1 and 2, where applicable permits are required. It also notes that not all listed species occur in every county. Maryland DNR announced that Washington County hunters may take fall turkey from October 31 through November 8, 2026, with a bag limit of one turkey per hunter.

For deer, Maryland's regulations place Washington County in Deer Management Region A, Zone 2, defined as the western portion of the county. The boundary follows county lines, state boundaries, and specified roads, including the area around Clear Spring, so the exact location of a parcel matters.

What to checkPennsylvania (Franklin and Fulton)Maryland (Washington County)Who sets the rules Pennsylvania Game Commission, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, How seasons are organized by species, Wildlife Management Unit, and season year by species and zone, with permits for bear in zones 1 and 2 Deer zoning Verify the WMU for the parcel Region A, Zone 2 covers the western portion of the county Public land types State Game Lands, such as SGL 124 and SGL 65 State forests, state parks, Wildlife Management Areas, and other designated areas Fall turkey opening, 2026 October 31 in the listed WMUs October 31 through November 8 in Washington County

Maryland also lists multiple categories of public hunting land, which is useful context if you're comparing a Washington County parcel against what's nearby. Your exact season schedule depends on your parcel, your species, and your permits, so verify it with the agency before you rely on it.

How do you match a property to the way you'll use it?

Start with your use, then work backward to the land: the species you want to pursue, how much privacy you need, how you'll reach the property, and what's next to it. This is exactly the kind of question I walk my clients through before we tour anything.

Private land and the Hunter Access Program

If you already own or are buying land, it's worth knowing that Pennsylvania's Hunter Access Program partners with private landowners to supplement public land. Enrolled properties may be Open Access, Reservation Access, or Permission Access, and reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance. If you're evaluating a property that's already enrolled, don't treat those categories as unrestricted public access. Ask what the agreement says and how it affects your plans.

Questions I'll work through with buyers

• Is the parcel reachable by a public road or a recorded easement?

• Which WMU or Maryland zone applies, and which species does the property actually support?

• How does the parcel sit next to State Game Lands, roads, trails, and neighboring homes?

• Does the terrain suit your plans, whether that's mountain ridge, creek bottom, or mixed woodland?

• Is there any enrollment, easement, or agreement already on the land?

Local pricing and inventory shift, so for current numbers I'd point you to my latest Franklin County market update and a conversation about the specific tract you have in mind. What a given property is worth depends on its access, terrain, and size, and that's where a local market analysis comes in.

FAQ

How much private acreage do I need for hunting in Franklin or Fulton County?

For deer hunting, it's as much the shape of the parcel as the total acreage. There isn't one number that works for every buyer. The right acreage depends on the species you're after, how you hunt, the terrain, and what borders the property. A smaller parcel next to a large State Game Lands tract can serve differently than a similar parcel surrounded by homes, so I look at the setting, not just the size.

Can I hunt on Pennsylvania State Game Lands near my property?

Generally yes, subject to posted restrictions and the rules for the species and season. For a tract like State Game Lands No. 124, the Game Commission states it's open for general use year-round, and motorized vehicles are generally prohibited on gated roads and trails. Always check the specific tract's map and posted rules before you plan around it.

What hunting seasons apply to a property near the Franklin and Fulton County line?

It depends on the species and the Wildlife Management Unit the parcel falls in. The Pennsylvania Game Commission sets seasons and bag limits by species, WMU, and season year, so confirm the dates for your exact parcel each year. I help buyers find the right unit before they commit.

Does Washington County, Maryland have different deer and turkey rules from nearby Pennsylvania?

Yes, Maryland sets its own rules through the Department of Natural Resources. Washington County's western portion falls in Deer Management Region A, Zone 2, and the 2026 fall turkey season there runs October 31 through November 8. Pennsylvania's rules differ by WMU, so a property near the state line needs state-specific verification.

Can private land be enrolled in Pennsylvania's Hunter Access Program?

Yes, the Game Commission partners with private landowners through the program, and enrolled land can be classified as Open Access, Reservation Access, or Permission Access depending on the agreement. If you're thinking about enrolling land you own or buy, review the program terms with the Game Commission first, since enrollment affects who may use the property.

Ready to look at land in person?

Buying land across Franklin and Fulton Counties for nature enthusiasts rewards the buyer who checks access, zones, and boundaries first. I've guided hundreds of clients through rural land purchases over 22 years, and I'll help you narrow the search to parcels that fit how you plan to use them.

REACH OUT TO JAY TODAY!

About Jay Starr

Jay Starr, REALTOR® and Team Leader of The Jay Starr Team at RE/MAX 1st Advantage, is a 22-year full-time real estate professional serving South-Central Pennsylvania and Central Maryland. He holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation and is known for expert guidance across luxury homes, large land tracts, farms, hunting properties, residential estates, and investment properties in Franklin, Fulton, Adams, Cumberland, Bedford, and Huntingdon Counties in PA and Washington County, MD. Outside of real estate, Jay manages over 10 honeybee hives and harvests local honey.

RE/MAX 1st Advantage · (717) 658-0177

Equal Housing Opportunity. Jay Starr, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, regulated by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice; confirm your own details with your title company, tax advisor, or lender, and verify current hunting rules with the Pennsylvania Game Commission or Maryland DNR.