Deer Hunting Season Lengths (by State/County)

[WolverineFury]

Hi, I was talking with a relative of mine who recently got into deer hunting. He lives in North Carolina, and I was shocked to learn that in his area of the state he had a 1-2 month modern gun season, and only a 1 week archery season. This got me wondering as to the season lengths for deer in other parts of the country. Of course I recognize that it varies by county too, I'd just like you to post your seasons which you may happen to know. You also might throw in what your bag limit is if you feel like it

In Kentucky:

Modern Gun Season is 2 2/7 weeks for half the state and 1 week for the other half

Archery Season lasts for 5 months statewide.

Bag Limits:

In my county and 1/4th of the state you can take unlimited Antlerless deer, and 1 Antlered deer

In the other 3/4 of the state you can take up to 4 deer total.

 

[lpsharp88]

I too hunted in Kentucky this fall, during modern gun season, in zone 4. What I thought was strange was that during modern gun season, you could only take bucks. What's the reasoning?

 

[zdc1775]

In most of Alabama archery season runs from October 15th until January 31st with modern gun starting around the middle of November. Some of the southernmost counties had their season extended to February 15th this year. Private or leased land limit is 2 deer a day every day, only one of which may be antlered, and only 3 antlered deer a year, one of which must have at least 4 points on one side. Public land is buck only except for certain days which vary by county, same limits apply. Some counties/areas have more stringent antler restrictions.

ETA: Oh, one more thing, the buck only is only for gun hunters, archery hunter have hunters choice all season on almost all public land.

 

[Patocazador]

Florida FWC has determined that there are 4 populations of deer here that rut at different times, therefore, there are 4 deer hunting zones with Archery opening in late July in the south where tropical deer live and a primitive season in the Panhandle lasts until March 2nd this year. Currently, two areas are still open for deer, one in the Panhandle and a 4-5 county area around Tampa. The gun season usually lasts a bit over 2 months with a 2 deer/day limit.

Sounds like paradise, right? Trouble is there are just a few places to hunt except limited draw public land that hold decent populations of deer. Some hunters go 3+ years between drawing permits for a good area.
Private leases are very expensive. Memberships can run in excess of $7k/season for deer that will not approach a record book minimum.

It boils down to: lots of time to hunt with little chance of success.

 

[WayBeau]

Virginia's Archery Season opens in early October and, depending on where you are, can run through March (for urban antlerless). The seasons are as follows (dates of this past season):

Archery: 10/5 - 11/15
Muzzleloader: 11/2 - 11/15
General Firearms: 11/16 - 1/4/14

Some areas have more restrictions, and some have a late antlerless rifle season (1/6/14 - 3/29/14).

Bag limit of 6/yr., 3 can be bucks. If you've tagged out, you can buy 'Bonus' permits which allow for more deer to be taken.

 

[interlock]

deer seasons

365 days a year with rifles at differing species.


in the UK

 

[Jaxondog]

Granville Co. in central N. C.
Archery Sept. 7 to Nov. 1

muzzleloader Nov. 2 to 15

Guns Nov 16 to Jan 1

Some people refer this area to Camp Butner.

 

[haywoodhunter]

I believe your friend may have been a little mistaken. This past year in nc the shortest archery season by region was a day under 3 weeks (20 days). In some of the the state the archery season was much longer.

 

[jmr40]

In GA archery season starts around mid September for 4 weeks. Primative weapons can be used the last week. Rifle season starts after Archery ends. In the northern half of the state it ends on Jan 1. It runs till the 15th in the south. You can use archery or PW's at anytime during rifle season if you choose.

 

[buckman11]

in Missouri.
5 month archery season

2 day early November youth season

10 day regular gun season

10 day antlerless gun season

12 day muzzleloader season

2 day January youth season

 

[45crittergitter]

MISSISSIPPI has 3 geographic zones whose seasons vary a bit.

You can get the scoop here:

http://www.mdwfp.com/media/7311/hunting_seasons.pdf

 

[Outlaw Man]

365 days a year with rifles at differing species.


in the UK

Deer hunt year round? I know some people who would probably move to the UK if they read that.

In Arkansas, archery runs for about five months; modern gun is about a month, depending on the zone, plus a Christmas hunt. We have a six deer (two buck) bag limit statewide, unless restricted in a zone.