Hunting in York County Parks

Hunting Permits - NOW AVAILABLE

Hunting permits will be available beginning on August 1, 2023 and will be available until November 22. Permits are available at John Rudy County Park and Richard Nixon County Park.  Click here to download a copy of the permit and waiver. You may also print the permit/waiver, fill out both and then scan and email it to parks@yorkcountypa.gov or bring it to John Rudy or Nixon Nature Center for approval. If emailed, we will review it and send an approved copy back to you that you must print and carry with you. 

 REMINDER – Each person must fill out the permit application and waiver. Filling out permits/waivers for other hunters is prohibited. Parents and guardians can fill out the permit/waiver for any minors. Permits must be approved at John Rudy or Richard M. Nixon County Parks.

2023-24 Hunting Dates to Remember

August 1 - November 22 - Permits available

August 22 - Hand out Goose Blind Permits at Bass Pavilion in William H. Kain County Park.  Hunters must be at Bass Pavilion by 5:30 P.M.  Permits will be handed out by a lottery system starting at 5:45 P.M.  No applications will be accepted after 5:45 P.M.  

September 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, & 20 - Goose Hunts at Kain Park.  A limited number of hunters (5 sites) will be allowed to hunt geese at William H. Kain County Park in the area between Hess Farm Rd; Iron Stone Hill Rd; Lake Rd and Log Rd.  This area will be closed to all other park visitors until 11:00 A.M. on the dates listed above.  A Park Ranger and/or Assistant Director will be on site during this hunt. Please note: water levels are currently dropped in the lake so there may be very little water on the hunt dates.

November 16:  Antlerless Deer Permits (shotgun or flintlock muzzleloader) (inline muzzleloaders and rifles are prohibited) handed out on a first come - first serve basis or a lottery if we receive a high number of applicants.  Permits will be handed out at Nixon Park Nature Center from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Hunters must have an antlerless deer license; KAIN PARK:  50 permits for Dec. 4th & 5th and 50 permits for Dec. 6th ROCKY RIDGE: 33 permits for Dec. 4th & 5th  and 33 permits for Dec. 6th. The number of permits given out is subject to change without notice if deemed necessary by the PGC or Parks Department.   

December 4, 5, & 6 :  Kain and Rocky Ridge County Parks will be closed to general public for a special antlerless deer hunt (hunters can use shotguns or flintlock muzzleloaders.  Rifles, pistols and inline muzzleloaders prohibited.  Special permit is needed.  ***See above “November 16:  Antlerless Deer Permits” for more information.

Click here to download a PDF of these important dates.