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HUNTING2025–2026 SEASONSALL 50 STATES

HUNTING SEASONS,
SPECIES & STRATEGY

Season dates for deer, elk, turkey, bear, and waterfowl across all 50 states. Cartridge selection, draw deadlines, field skills, and the gear that actually matters.

📅 Season Dates🎯 Game Guides🔫 Cartridge Guide🎲 Draw Deadlines🎒 Gear Essentials
2025–2026 HUNTING SEASONS BY STATE

Dates shown are general rifle/archery windows. Many states have overlapping archery, muzzleloader, and antlerless seasons. Always verify with your state wildlife agency before purchasing a license.

StateDeerTurkeyBearWaterfowlLicense (approx.)Notes
AlabamaNov 15 – Jan 31Mar 15 – Apr 30N/ANov–Jan$15 res / $105 non-resRut peaks late Oct–early Nov
AlaskaAug 1 – Dec 31N/AAug 10–Jun 30Sep–Jan$25 res / $160 non-resBrown bear requires guide for non-res
ArizonaOct 18 – Nov 1Oct–NovSep 6–Dec 31Oct–Jan$37 res / $160 non-resUnit draw required; apply by June
ArkansasOct 1 – Jan 31Apr 15 – May 15Oct–NovNov–Jan$10.5 res / $50 non-resStrong public land opportunity
CaliforniaAug 10 – Oct 26Mar 29 – May 4Nov 2–Dec 27Oct–Jan$52 res / $183 non-resZone A deer archery opens July
ColoradoAug 31 – Nov 20Apr 1 – May 31Sep 2–Nov 20Oct–Jan$36 res / $371 non-resPrimary draw closed; leftover tags available
ConnecticutSep 15 – Dec 31May 1–31N/AOct–Jan$19 res / $91 non-resLimited hunting access
DelawareSep 1 – Jan 31Apr 21 – May 24N/ANov–Jan$14 res / $56 non-resSmall state; most hunting on private land
FloridaOct 19 – Jan 19Mar 1 – Apr 20ClosedNov–Jan$17.50 res / $151 non-resOsceola turkey only in FL
GeorgiaOct 19 – Jan 15Mar 22 – May 15Oct 10–Nov 30Nov–Jan$15 res / $100 non-resGood public WMAs statewide
IdahoAug 30 – Nov 20Aug 30 – Dec 31Sep–JunOct–Jan$14.75 res / $154 non-resDraw apps for 2026 run May 1–Jun 5
IllinoisOct 1 – Jan 15Apr 17 – May 25N/ANov–Jan$12 res / $157 non-resFirearm zone restrictions apply
IndianaOct 1 – Jan 31Apr 23 – May 11N/ANov–Jan$17 res / $109 non-resGood CWD management zones
IowaOct 1 – Jan 10Apr 14 – May 18N/AOct–Jan$28 res / $601 non-resTrophy whitetail state; apply early
KansasSep 15 – Dec 31Apr 16 – May 31N/ANov–Jan$27.50 res / $442 non-resOver-the-counter archery; draw for firearms
KentuckySep 6 – Jan 18Apr 15 – May 15N/ANov–Jan$25 res / $135 non-resGood public land in Daniel Boone NF
LouisianaOct 1 – Feb 15Mar 21 – Apr 30N/ANov–Jan$15 res / $100 non-resSwamp and piney woods hunting
MaineOct 1 – Nov 30May 1 – Jun 1Aug 26–Nov 30Oct–Jan$26 res / $115 non-resLargest black bear population in lower 48
MarylandSep 10 – Jan 31Apr 19 – May 30Oct 25–28Oct–Jan$15 res / $130 non-resLimited bear permits
MassachusettsOct 5 – Dec 31Apr 27 – May 23Sep 7–Dec 12Oct–Jan$27.50 res / $67.50 non-resShotgun and archery seasons overlap
MichiganOct 1 – Jan 31Apr 23 – Jun 7Sep 10–Oct 26Oct–Jan$11 res / $151 non-resFamous Nov 15 firearm opener
MinnesotaSep 14 – Dec 31Apr 19 – May 31Sep 1–Oct 14Oct–Dec$22 res / $155 non-resZone licensing for deer management
MississippiOct 1 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Apr 30N/ANov–Jan$10 res / $150 non-resSome of the longest deer seasons in the US
MissouriSep 15 – Jan 15Apr 14 – May 4N/ANov–Jan$19 res / $130 non-resStrong Ozarks turkey population
MontanaOct 25 – Nov 30N/A generalApr 15–Jun 15Oct–Jan$20 res / $628 non-resElk draw required for most units
NebraskaSep 1 – Jan 15Apr 1 – May 31N/AOct–Jan$30 res / $252 non-resSandhills unit known for trophy mule deer
NevadaOct 1 – Nov 30N/AAug 10–Nov 30Oct–Jan$33 res / $142 non-resDraw-only; apply by June deadline
New HampshireSep 15 – Dec 15May 1 – Jun 1Sep 1–Nov 30Oct–Jan$15 res / $103 non-resBear hounding popular
New JerseySep 11 – Feb 28Apr 26 – May 31Dec 8–12Nov–Jan$28 res / $135 non-resUrban hunting zone regulations complex
New MexicoOct 19 – Nov 3Oct–NovSep 1–Dec 15Oct–Jan$15 res / $195 non-resArchery elk over-the-counter in many units
New YorkOct 1 – Dec 31May 1 – Jun 8Sep 27–Nov 30Oct–Jan$22 res / $101 non-resSouthern zone vs Northern zone seasons differ
North CarolinaSep 6 – Jan 1Apr 4 – May 1Oct–NovNov–Jan$25 res / $100 non-resMultiple management zones
North DakotaSep 26 – Nov 16Apr 12 – Jun 1N/ASep–Jan$30 res / $390 non-resResident-first tag system
OhioSep 27 – Feb 8Apr 19 – May 18N/ANov–Jan$19 res / $124 non-resSome of best whitetail habitat in the Midwest
OklahomaOct 1 – Jan 15Mar 29 – May 4N/ANov–Jan$25 res / $200 non-resScissortail and creek-bottom whitetails
OregonAug 24 – Nov 30Aug 1 – Dec 31Aug 1–Dec 31Oct–Jan$34 res / $152 non-resColumbia Blacktail and Roosevelt elk unique species
PennsylvaniaSep 16 – Dec 14Apr 26 – May 31Nov 17–21Oct–Jan$21 res / $101 non-resLargest antlered deer harvest in the US
Rhode IslandSep 13 – Feb 1Apr 26 – May 25N/AOct–Jan$18 res / $40 non-resSmall state; limited public land
South CarolinaAug 15 – Jan 1Mar 22 – Apr 5N/ANov–Jan$10 res / $100 non-resEarliest deer archery opener in the US
South DakotaSep 27 – Jan 31Sep 27 – Jan 31N/ASep–Jan$26 res / $160 non-resPheasant hunting world-class
TennesseeSep 28 – Jan 31Mar 29 – May 11Oct–NovNov–Jan$34 res / $100 non-resCherokee NF elk reintroduction successful
TexasNov 1 – Jan 19Mar 28 – May 10N/ANov–Jan$25 res / $315 non-resPrivate land dominant; lease system common
UtahAug 19 – Nov 30Sep–NovAug 19–Nov 30Oct–Jan$32 res / $263 non-resDraw required; apply by Feb
VermontOct 4 – Dec 15May 1 – Jun 8Sep 1–Nov 30Oct–Jan$28 res / $102 non-resYouth hunt available weekends prior
VirginiaOct 5 – Jan 4Apr 5 – May 15Oct 5–Jan 4Nov–Jan$23 res / $122 non-resNational Forest units — good public land
WashingtonNov 10 – Dec 15Apr 15 – May 31Apr 1–May 31Oct–Jan$42 res / $199 non-resRoosevelt elk in Olympics; mule deer east side
West VirginiaSep 28 – Dec 31Apr 19 – May 11Oct 7–Dec 31Nov–Jan$19 res / $100 non-resBlack bear hunting growing
WisconsinSep 13 – Jan 4Apr 14 – May 31Sep 3–Oct 12Oct–Jan$20 res / $160 non-resFamous 9-day gun deer season Nov 22
WyomingSep 15 – Nov 30N/ASep 1–Nov 30Oct–Jan$46 res / $627 non-resElk draw required; archery OTC in many units
⚠ VERIFY BEFORE YOU HUNT: Season dates change annually. Always confirm with your state wildlife agency before purchasing licenses or tags.
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