The Earliest Hunting Seasons in the U.S.

You might be surprised, but it looks like California has the earliest opening day to deer hunt in America. In fact, as you read this, it’s probably already open. Bow hunters can start chasing mule deer in The Golden State on July 13 this year, meaning you could have fresh backstrap on the grill before summer’s over and even wash it down with a few leftover Fourth-of-July beers.

Numerous states have archery seasons that open early enough to bag a big buck in velvet. Image by Jim Cumming

For those who just can’t wait to hit the woods this fall, we’ve compiled a list of species that have the earliest opening days in the country. As dates and regulations are constantly changing, you should treat this as an approximate guide. But if you’re after waterfowl, big game, upland birds, or small game, we’ve got you covered. And if you live in California, stop reading this right now and go deer hunting.

Bag a Deer During the Dog Days of Summer

As we said, California has everybody beat when it comes to the first opening day. Archery hunters in the A zone, which runs along the coast, can get after it in mid-July. Gun hunters aren’t far behind with seasons opening up for muleys on August 10. The rest of the state’s deer seasons fall around September and October, making it a good place to punch a tag if you can get permission on private ground or access to public.

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For more early-season deer hunting, check out Idaho, Florida, South Carolina, and Arizona. These states all have opening days in August. Others like Kentucky, Delaware, and Wyoming are also good for impatient hunters. They have early deer seasons in September, with Kentucky being one of the best places in the country to arrow a velvet buck.

Hunt Waterfowl in September

From wood ducks and teal to resident Canada geese, several states see waterfowl hunters headed afield in September. Image by Michael Warwick

If you want to hunt ducks and geese early, the trick is to go north. Migrating waterfowl from Canada will hit northern states first, which is why the northern hunting zones of states like Maine and Michigan have duck, goose, and even brant seasons in early- to mid-September.

If you just can’t wait to pitch out a few decoys, and you aren’t planning to head to the top of the country for waterfowl, you still have options. Several states in the Northeast offer hunts for the resident geese that live in those states year-round. Bag limits are pretty liberal, too, with some reaching double digits. Resident goose hunting is a little different than regular-season goose hunting. The seasons in states like New York and Massachusetts start in September, so it can be hot. Plan on bringing ice to keep birds cool, and try to intercept resident flocks between food sources and roosting ponds.

For the rest of waterfowlers in the country, September usually means teal season. Teal, especially bluewings, will migrate earlier than just about any other waterfowl species out there. But the best time to hunt them only happens in a flash. When you’ve hit it right, you’ll know it, and when you hit it wrong, you’ll be left wondering why you’re sitting in a marsh when you could be soaking up the last days of summer by the pool. Most flyways have some version of an early teal season, and a few including Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky combine it with an early wood duck opportunity, too.

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Chase Western Big Game Before Labor Day

Aside from hunting deer, big game hunters in the West will usually kick their seasons off with pronghorn. As many of you know, Western hunting seasons are complicated and vary widely depending on specific hunting units and draw points. Overall, though, you can expect to hunt pronghorn with a bow starting in early- to mid-August throughout the West.

Archery pronghorn seasons in many western states begin as early as August, with elk and other game following soon behind. Image by Christopher D Gilman

The same can be said for elk for some resident hunters, like those in Nevada. In a few units, they can start hunting elk on August 1. In Washington State, hunters that are part of the Master Hunter program can also hunt elk with a gun in two units on August 1. Other archery elk hunters in states like Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana should plan on hitting the woods from mid-august through September. The elk rut starts kicking in September, and that’s when you’ll have the best chance of calling in a monster bull.

Hit a Dove Field in a T-Shirt

Dove season is like the appetizer to hunting seasons throughout the U.S. — and not just because they taste good rolled in bacon, cream cheese, and jalapenos. Most states have an early dove season, though there are a few exceptions like Michigan and several states in the Northeast. If you don’t live in one of those places, September is usually the time to grab a shotgun, a few boxes of shells, and a few buddies, and head to a dove field.

For many hunters, a good dove shoot marks the official start to hunting season. Image by Harold Stiver

Doves bob and weave and are challenging to hit, making them a perfect warm-up for other bird seasons. On a good day, you’ll see a lot of them, so you’ll have plenty of chances at redemption, should you miss a shot or two. While many think they should shoot a sub-gauge for doves, a 12-gauge works much better. And if you don’t have a dedicated dove gun, don’t worry. The same one you use for duck hunting will work just fine. Early dove seasons throughout the country usually start around the first of September, but check local regs before planning your hunt.

Tag a Black Bear Before Deer Season

Black bear seasons in many states start as early as August and September so early hunters need to be prepared to get their meat cooled in a hurry. Image by BG Smith

There are several early bear seasons around the country, and you might be surprised that a few are in the Northeast. New York and Massachusetts both have special September bear gun seasons. The trick here is meat handling. Don’t plan on hunting bears without some way to cool meat down quickly, like a big ice chest. For other early bear opportunities, go west and even check the mid-south. Arkansas has a bear season that starts in late September, and Montana’s season usually kicks off around the 15th. And if you’re into running bear dogs, check out Idaho’s early training season. You can’t shoot the bears but you can still watch the dogs, run starting in mid-July.

Shoot Summer Squirrels

For most states, hunters can count on squirrels as a fun and challenging way to kick off hunting season. Image by Ethan Mark Scholz

Squirrel season is how I like to kick off the fall in my home state of New York. It starts on September 1 there, and around the country, you can usually count on chasing squirrels through the last days of summer. Some states like Illinois and Tennessee even have squirrel seasons in August. If there’s a downside to early squirrel hunting, it’s the dense foliage. Although the leaves give you plenty of cover for sneaking around, spotting squirrels and getting clear shots can be a real challenge. You may not fill a bag limit on squirrels in late summer but in my opinion, it’s still better than fishing.

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