Deer Hunting Season in Each State

Deer hunting is a cherished tradition across the United States, offering hunters the opportunity to connect with nature and contribute to wildlife management. Each state regulates deer hunting seasons to maintain healthy deer populations and ensure safety. This guide provides an overview of deer hunting seasons in each state, helping hunters plan their trips accordingly. Please note that hunting regulations, dates, and zones are subject to change annually. Always consult the official state wildlife agency for the most current information before heading out.

Understanding Deer Hunting Seasons

Before diving into each state’s specifics, it’s important to understand the common terms and types of deer hunting seasons:

• Archery Season: Designated periods when hunters may use bows and arrows.
• Muzzleloader Season: Specific times when muzzleloading firearms are permitted.
• Firearm Season: General hunting seasons where rifles, shotguns, or handguns are allowed.
• Youth Season: Special dates reserved for young hunters, often accompanied by a licensed adult.
• Antlered vs. Antlerless Seasons: Regulations may differentiate between hunting bucks (antlered) and does (antlerless).

State-by-State Deer Hunting Seasons

Alabama

• Archery: Typically early October to early February.
• Firearms: Mid-November to early February.
• Muzzleloader: Early November to mid-November.
• Notes: Dates vary by deer zones; check the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Alaska

• General Season: Varies greatly by region, from August to December.
• Methods: Archery and firearms permitted during open seasons.
• Notes: Deer hunting primarily for Sitka black-tailed deer in southeastern Alaska.

Arizona

• Archery: Late August to mid-September and December to January.
• General Season: October to November, dates vary by unit.
• Notes: Permits are allocated via a lottery draw system; consult Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Arkansas

• Archery: Late September to late February.
• Muzzleloader: Varies by zone, generally October and December.
• Modern Gun: November to December, varying by zone.
• Notes: Zones have specific regulations; refer to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

California

• General Season: Varies by zone, typically August to November.
• Archery: Dates precede general season in each zone.
• Notes: Numerous zones with specific dates; check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Colorado

• Archery: Late August to late September.
• Muzzleloader: Mid-September.
• Rifle: Several seasons from October to November.
• Notes: License draw system in place; consult Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Connecticut

• Archery: September to late January.
• Shotgun/Rifle: November to December.
• Muzzleloader: December.
• Notes: Private and public land seasons differ; see Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Delaware

• Archery/Crossbow: Early September to late January.
• Muzzleloader: October and January.
• Shotgun: November to January.
• Notes: Special antlerless seasons available; refer to Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Florida

• Archery: Varies by zone, as early as late July.
• Crossbow: Follows archery season.
• Muzzleloading Gun: After archery/crossbow seasons.
• General Gun: Dates range from September to February.
• Notes: Four hunting zones with different dates; consult Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Georgia

• Archery: Early September to mid-January.
• Firearms: Mid-October to mid-January.
• Primitive Weapons: Early October.
• Notes: Dates consistent statewide; check Georgia Department of Natural Resources for any changes.

Hawaii

• General Season: Varies by island and unit, typically May to October.
• Methods: Archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons available.
• Notes: Unique species like axis deer; consult Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Idaho

• Archery: August to December, varying by unit.
• Any Weapon: General seasons in October and November.
• Notes: Controlled hunts require applications; see Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Illinois

• Archery: Early October to mid-January.
• Firearm: Specific weekends in November and December.
• Muzzleloader: December.
• Notes: CWD surveillance zones may have additional seasons; refer to Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Indiana

• Archery: Early October to early January.
• Firearm: Mid-November to early December.
• Muzzleloader: Early December to mid-December.
• Notes: Special antlerless seasons may apply; consult Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Iowa

• Archery: Early October to early December; late December to mid-January.
• Shotgun: December.
• Muzzleloader: October and late December to January.
• Notes: Licenses allocated by quota; check Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Kansas

• Archery: Mid-September to December.
• Muzzleloader: Mid-September to end of September.
• Firearm: Early December to mid-December.
• Notes: Unit-specific regulations; see Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism.

Kentucky

• Archery: Early September to mid-January.
• Crossbow: Mid-September to mid-January.
• Modern Gun: November.
• Muzzleloader: October and December.
• Notes: Zones affect bag limits; consult Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Louisiana

• Archery: Mid-September to mid-February.
• Primitive Firearms: Dates vary by area.
• Modern Firearms: Varies from October to January.
• Notes: Specific areas have unique regulations; refer to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Maine

• Archery: Early October to early November.
• Firearms: Late October to late November.
• Muzzleloader: Late November to early December.
• Notes: Antlerless deer permits allocated by lottery; see Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Maryland

• Archery: Early September to late January.
• Muzzleloader: October and December.
• Firearms: Late November to early December; January.
• Notes: Region A and B have different bag limits; consult Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Massachusetts

• Archery: Early October to late November.
• Shotgun: Late November to early December.
• Primitive Firearms: Early December to late December.
• Notes: Zones dictate season dates; check Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Michigan

• Archery: Early October to mid-November; December to January.
• Regular Firearm: Mid-November to end of November.
• Muzzleloader: December.
• Notes: Chronic Wasting Disease zones have special regulations; refer to Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota

• Archery: Mid-September to end of December.
• Firearm: November, dates vary by zone.
• Muzzleloader: Late November to early December.
• Notes: Permit areas have specific rules; see Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Mississippi

• Archery: Early October to mid-November; late January to early February.
• Gun Seasons: Various dates from November to February, including primitive weapons.
• Notes: Zones A, B, and C have different dates; consult Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

Missouri

• Archery: Mid-September to mid-November; late November to mid-January.
• Firearms: Mid-November; late November to early December for antlerless.
• Muzzleloader: Late December to early January.
• Notes: Urban zones may have extended seasons; refer to Missouri Department of Conservation.

Montana

• Archery: Early September to mid-October.
• General Season: Late October to late November.
• Notes: Permit areas and general license areas vary; check Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Nebraska

• Archery: Early September to end of December.
• November Firearm: Mid-November.
• Muzzleloader: December.
• Notes: Statewide permits available; consult Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Nevada

• Archery: Varies by unit, typically August to September.
• Muzzleloader: September to October.
• Any Legal Weapon: October to November.
• Notes: Tags allocated by draw; see Nevada Department of Wildlife.

New Hampshire

• Archery: Mid-September to mid-December.
• Muzzleloader: Late October to early November.
• Firearms: Early November to early December.
• Notes: Wildlife Management Units have specific regulations; refer to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

New Jersey

• Archery: Early September to late October; extended in some zones.
• Firearm: December to February, varying by zone.
• Notes: Complex zoning system; check New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.

New Mexico

• Archery: September.
• Muzzleloader: October.
• Rifle: October to November.
• Notes: Draw permits required; consult New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

New York

• Archery: Early October to mid-November; December.
• Regular Season: Mid-November to mid-December.
• Muzzleloader: December.
• Notes: Northern and Southern zones have different dates; see New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

North Carolina

• Archery: Early September to early November.
• Blackpowder: Early November.
• Gun: November to January.
• Notes: Dates vary by region; refer to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

North Dakota

• Archery: Early September to early January.
• Gun: Early November to late November.
• Muzzleloader: Late November to mid-December.
• Notes: Limited licenses via lottery; check North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Ohio

• Archery: Late September to early February.
• Gun: Late November to early December; additional weekends.
• Muzzleloader: Early January.
• Notes: Statewide seasons; consult Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Oklahoma

• Archery: October to mid-January.
• Muzzleloader: Late October to early November.
• Gun: Late November to early December.
• Notes: Zones may affect bag limits; see Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Oregon

• Archery: Late August to late September.
• Firearms: Dates vary widely by unit and species.
• Notes: Controlled hunts require applications; refer to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Pennsylvania

• Archery: Early October to mid-November; late December to mid-January.
• Regular Firearm: Late November to mid-December.
• Flintlock: Late December to mid-January.
• Notes: Wildlife Management Units have specific regulations; check Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Rhode Island

• Archery: Early October to late January.
• Muzzleloader: November to December.
• Shotgun: December.
• Notes: Specific permits required; consult Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

South Carolina

• Archery and Gun: Varies by game zone, from mid-August to January.
• Notes: Six game zones with different dates; refer to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

South Dakota

• Archery: Early September to end of January.
• Firearm: November.
• Muzzleloader: Late November to end of December.
• Notes: Licenses allocated by lottery; see South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

Tennessee

• Archery: Late September to late October; late October to early November.
• Muzzleloader: Early November to mid-November.
• Gun: Mid-November to early January.
• Notes: Units have varying antler restrictions; consult Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Texas

• Archery: Early October to early November.
• General Season: Early November to mid-January.
• Muzzleloader: Mid-January.
• Notes: North and South zones have different dates; refer to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Utah

• Archery: Mid-August to mid-September.
• Any Weapon: Mid-October.
• Muzzleloader: Late September to early October.
• Notes: Permits required; check Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Vermont

• Archery: Early October to late October; December.
• Regular Season: Mid-November to early December.
• Muzzleloader: Early December.
• Notes: Antler restrictions apply; consult Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

Virginia

• Archery: Early October to mid-November.
• Muzzleloader: Early November to mid-November; late December to early January.
• General Firearms: Mid-November to early January.
• Notes: Seasons vary by county; refer to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Washington

• Archery: Early September to late September.
• Modern Firearm: Mid-October to late October.
• Muzzleloader: Early October.
• Notes: Game Management Units dictate dates; see Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

West Virginia

• Archery: Late September to end of December.
• Firearm: Late November to early December.
• Muzzleloader: Early December.
• Notes: Counties have specific regulations; consult West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Wisconsin

• Archery and Crossbow: Mid-September to early January.
• Gun Deer Season: Late November.
• Muzzleloader: Late November to early December.
• Notes: Additional antlerless hunts may be available; check Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Wyoming

• Archery: Dates vary by region, generally September.
• Rifle: Varies by hunt area, typically October.
• Notes: Limited quota licenses; refer to Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Final Thoughts

Deer hunting seasons across the United States vary significantly by state, region, and even specific hunting units within states. Regulations are designed to manage deer populations responsibly and ensure hunter safety. Before planning your hunting trip:

1. Consult Official Sources: Always refer to the latest information from the state’s wildlife agency.
2. Obtain Necessary Permits: Ensure you have the required licenses and tags.
3. Understand Local Regulations: Be aware of specific rules regarding hunting methods, bag limits, and antler restrictions.
4. Practice Ethical Hunting: Respect wildlife, property, and fellow hunters.

By staying informed and adhering to regulations, hunters can enjoy a successful and rewarding deer hunting season.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is based on typical season dates and may not reflect the most current regulations. State wildlife agencies may change dates, rules, and zones annually. Always verify with the official state resources before hunting.