The 8 States With The Earliest Deer Seasons

Every state has its own deer hunting guidelines. Some allow hunting rather early, while others make their residents hold off for months after everyone else has started. Often, it has to do with the state’s deer population and climate. If the deer breed later, it only makes sense for the season to occur later, too.

If you’re interested in grabbing a rack early this year, you may be interested to learn where you can hunt first. Here is a list of states with relatively early hunting seasons, though it can vary from year to year.

1. California

California has one of the earliest deer hunting seasons in the United States, providing a great opportunity for hunters to snag a deer early. There are several different zones and regulations, though.

Archery season can start as early as July 10th – more than a month before most people can hit the field. The season usually ends around November 7th, also earlier than most. If you want to hunt with a firearm, you’ll have to wait until the A zone opens on August 12th, in the northern portion of California on the coastal areas.

While zone A is pretty easy to hunt in, the other zones in California open later and are much harder to get a tag for. The X zones cover the northeastern part of the state and are very coveted, though hunters must apply through a drawing system.

The B, C, and D zones cover most of the central and southern parts of the state, offering a variety of terrain and habitat types for deer.

The heat makes these hunts rather challenging, especially in the earlier portion of the season. You should expect high temperatures, dry conditions, and fire hazards.

2. South Carolina

South Carolina is also known for having an early deer hunting season. They typically run through early August and into January, but it depends greatly on the area. They have six different game zones, all with their own rules and regulations.

Zones in South Carolina have different deer hunting seasons. Zones 3, 5, and 6 have the longest season, from August 15 to January 1. In contrast, Game Zones 1 and 2 have a shorter season, running from September 15 to January 1. Finally, Game Zone 4’s season varies depending on the county. It can run from August 15 to October 1 or from October 15 to January 1.

Of course, there are also regulations on the specific weapon you use, which is often tied to the specific day. The number of tags available depends on teh area and the type of license you have. In many cases, you can apply for lotteries for special permits.

3. Florida

Florida has a surprisingly early deer hunting season, as well. They have a very long season that runs from July to February, though the specifics depend on your area.

Zone A, in particular, has a very early start date of July 30th. This zone covers the southern part of the state. Zone B covers the central part of the state and has a later season that starts on October 14th.

Zone C covers most of the northern part of the state and has a similar season, running from September 16 to January 21. D covers the panhandle and has a shorter season, running from October 21 to February 25.

Florida does have rules on when you can use what weapons. You can use archery and crossbows all the time, but you can only use modern firearms during the general gun seasons.

4. Idaho

Idaho has a general deer hunting season that runs from August 30 to December 1. However, the exact date does depend on your area. The bag limits, regulations, and other information also vary by zone.

Idaho has a bit of a confusing deer hunting season. Their seasons are split into general and controlled hunts. General season is open to anyone with the proper license and tag. The controlled season must be won in a drawing with a limited number of tags available.

Furthermore, this state also has different kinds of deer tags. There are tags for specific kinds of deer, as well as the antler characteristics of the deer. For instance, the white-tailed deer tag only allows hunters to harvest white-tailed deer of either sex – no other deer.

Idaho allows archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm hunting for deer, depending on the season and unit. The weapon types and season dates vary by unit and tag type.

5. Nebraska

Nebraska has a deer hunting season that runs from September to January. However, there are specific guidelines for different zones and weapon types. Following the guidelines is vital across all six of Nebraska’s game zones.

This state offers general and controlled hunts for deer. If you have a valid license and deer tag, you can hunt in the general hunt for deer. To hunt in the controlled hunts, you have to enter into a drawing system and win a tag.

There are three different deer harvest tags available, depending on the species and antlers on the deer. For instance, the regular deer tag allows hunters to harvest either a male deer or a white-tailed deer of either sex. However, you cannot take antlerless white-tailed deer in some areas.

6. Wyoming

Wyoming is a great state for deer hunting. It is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer thanks to the wide variety of habitats. It has 29 game management units, each with regulations and bag limits.

Like many states, Wyoming has both general and controlled deer hunts. Anyone can take part in a general hunt if they have a valid license and deer tag. Controlled hunts only have a very specific number of tags per season, and they must be won through a drawing system. The application period starts on May 1, so you need to start early.

Wyoming also has regulations and seasons for different weapons, as well. Weapon types and season dates vary by unit.

In most areas, archery season starts around September 1 through September 30. However, the season closes earlier in some areas. Sometimes as early as September 9 or 14. Either way, Wyoming is a good choice if you’ve always wanted to add a buck that’s still in velvet to your hunting resume.

Pronghorn and mule deer are rarer in teh state than they used to be. Therefore, getting tags for these deer is challenging.

7. Kentucky

Kentucky is a popular destination for deer hunters, as it offers both white-tailed deer and mule deer. It’s also one of the states with the earliest deer seasons. It has four game zones, which makes things a bit easier to follow than other other states. Of course, each bag limit has its own season dates, bag limits, and regulations.

This state also divides the season based on weapon-type. Archery season is furst, often starting at the very beginning of September. Crossbow season and muzzleloader season is often divided into two segments. Modern gun season doesn’t start until mid-November.

Kentucky is known for producting trophy bucks, as it has high-quality habitat and a balanced age structure in the deer herd.

8. Delaware

Delaware offers many hunting opportunities for enthusiasts. Their season is longer than most, running from September to January. However, their season is divided by the weapon type and has different regulations depending on the period.

The archery and crossbow seasons are open a the very beginning of September, which is pretty early. However, general firearm season doesn’t open until November – much later than many other states.

Summary of the 8 States With The Earliest Deer Seasons