Natural Lands' 2026–27 deer management notice for Saunders Woods is short. The heading says "deer management underway." The dates come next: archery only from Sept. 19 through Nov. 27, then again from Dec. 26 through Jan. 24. Below that is a shorter line: "Sunday hunting permitted only on Nov 8, 15, 22 & Jan 3, 10, 17."
The word "only" matters. Under Pennsylvania's current rules, bowhunters in the wildlife management units named on that notice could use 15 Sundays this season. Natural Lands, the land trust that owns Saunders Woods Preserve, allows six. For anyone who walks the Bridlewild Trail on weekend mornings, the preserve's notice sets the Sunday calendar. The state rule doesn't.
The State Calendar Changed Last Year
For most of Pennsylvania's history, hunting on Sundays was banned. A limited exception came in late 2019. That was Act 107 of 2019, which PennLive reported opened three Sundays a year: one in firearms deer season, one in archery season, and one picked by the Game Commission.
The bigger change was HB 1431, signed July 9, 2025, as Act 36. The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the law repealed the old ban and gave the Commission authority to regulate Sunday hunting directly. In its September 2025 announcement, the agency said the goal was more time and opportunity for hunters, more participation, and support for wildlife conservation.
The Commission used that authority fully. When it approved the 2026–27 seasons in April, the board wrote that "all 2026-27 seasons include the Sundays that fall within their listed start and end dates." Migratory game birds are the only exception. The Saunders Woods notice is labeled for Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D. In those units, archery deer season runs Sept. 19 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 26 through Jan. 24, 2027. Those two windows contain 15 Sundays.
Six of Fifteen, and Which Ones
Natural Lands' dates match the 5C and 5D season exactly at the edges. Its archery windows start and end on the same days. The difference is the Sundays. As of Thursday, Oct. 22, five of those Sundays, in September and October, have passed. Here are the ten that remain:
| Sunday | Open to archery under state rules | Sunday hunting at Saunders Woods |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 25 | Yes | No |
| Nov. 1 | Yes | No |
| Nov. 8 | Yes | Yes |
| Nov. 15 | Yes | Yes |
| Nov. 22 | Yes | Yes |
| Dec. 27 | Yes | No |
| Jan. 3, 2027 | Yes | Yes |
| Jan. 10, 2027 | Yes | Yes |
| Jan. 17, 2027 | Yes | Yes |
| Jan. 24, 2027 | Yes | No |
That leaves two kinds of Sunday this fall. The next two Sundays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, have no hunting at the preserve. Then come three Sundays in a row in November when permit-holders may be in the woods. After Thanksgiving there's a gap. Archery season in 5C and 5D pauses after Nov. 27 and doesn't resume until Dec. 26.
The Sunday rule is the only thing that changes week to week. Saturdays and weekdays inside the two windows are open to the preserve's permit-holders all season. The notice's Sunday line is the only limit it sets on which days hunting can happen.
Who Is Actually Out There
The hunters at Saunders Woods are a small, vetted group. On its deer management page, Natural Lands says only "approved, active members" of its controlled hunting program may hunt its preserves. Hunters apply, complete training and proficiency testing, and follow strict safety protocols. The group isn't growing, either. The organization says it isn't accepting new hunters for its Pennsylvania properties and isn't adding names to its waiting list.
The program focuses on does. Natural Lands says removing does brings deer numbers down to tolerable levels faster than random removal. The organization also gives the reason for the program. It says deer populations in this region are about ten times what the land can support. It also links deer browse to the loss of more than 100 native wildflower species. On the same page, its land stewards show what an unmanaged preserve looks like: "a few remaining trees and invasive stiltgrass, with no seedlings or shrub layer."
That explains why the preserve's own visitor rules say "no hunting, trapping, or fishing," while a separate hunt runs from mid-September to late January. The public rule covers visitors. The deer program is a stewardship arrangement with a fixed group of trained hunters.
What the Notice Asks of Walkers
The posted guidance is short. Natural Lands' FAQ adds a few details, all about where and when people overlap:
- Stay on trails. The FAQ says hunters avoid hiking trails because hikers scare deer away.
- Leash your dog at all times. This applies year-round at Saunders Woods, and the preserve page says "no exceptions."
- Blaze orange is optional. The notice says visitors "may choose to wear" it.
- Dawn and dusk are the active hours. The notice says that's when hunters tend to be most active.
The fourth point lines up with the preserve's hours. Saunders Woods is open dawn to dusk, Thursday through Tuesday, so its opening and closing times are the same windows when hunters tend to be out. The FAQ also says some Natural Lands preserves close to visitors for short periods during hunting season. The Saunders Woods preserve page links the current deer management notice.
This is general information drawn from published state and Natural Lands rules, not legal advice. Anyone with questions about hunting regulations or access should confirm with the Pennsylvania Game Commission or Natural Lands directly.
The Ground Under the Calendar
The six-Sunday schedule covers 25 acres. Dorothy Saunders donated the land to Natural Lands in 1988. It was once known as "Little Farm," and it still has a circa-1830 barn, which opens for scheduled events. The trail guide lists 1.4 miles of trail in total. The routes cross open meadow, shaded woodland, and a few bridges and stream crossings.
The easiest section starts right at the lot. Turn left into the meadow for a mostly flat, mowed loop of about a quarter mile. Past that, trails range from rolling to steep, with rocks and roots on the woodland paths. There are benches throughout the preserve. There are no restrooms, no drinking fountains, and no accessible parking.
The preserve also connects beyond its own 25 acres. The Bridlewild Trail runs through it and links to township parks in Gladwyne and Bryn Mawr. A walk that starts on Waverly Road can end well outside the area the notice covers. Parking is free in a 12-car lot eight-tenths of a mile northeast of Morris Avenue on Waverly Road. The preserve is closed every Wednesday.
This Weekend, Before the November Run
Sunday, Oct. 25, the first of the two hunt-free Sundays left before November, falls during a busy weekend at Riverbend Environmental Education Center, 1950 Spring Mill Road. On Saturday, Oct. 24, Riverbend holds its fall Adopt-A-Tree planting at 10:30 a.m. It's open to all ages, and registration is required. On Sunday, Oct. 25, the free Fall Bird Walk runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with separate start times for adults and families. Riverbend asks people to register.
After that comes Nov. 1, the last Sunday before hunting returns to the Saunders Woods Sunday calendar on Nov. 8.
At the Damon Michels Team, we track the details that shape a Gladwyne week, from preserve calendars to township schedules. If you'd like help finding a home near the trails you already walk, or want to talk through what a move would mean for your routine, contact us.
