Reference · 2026-27
Deer season opening dates, all 50 states
One table: the day deer season opens in every state for 2026-27 — the archery opener and the gun opener, side by side. Every date was read on the state agency's own published season material and is cited to the page it came from, with the day we checked it. 49 of the 50 states have announced; every row without a date says exactly why.
Where a state zones its season, the earliest zone's day is shown and the row says "varies by zone" — the agency link beside it has the full split. Nothing here is guessed or carried over from last year: a date we could not read on the agency's own material does not appear.
The openers, state by state
Alphabetical to start. Deeper dates on the eighteen states with season boards here are one click away on the state's name — zone tables, youth weekends, muzzleloader and late seasons.
Click a column heading to sort — by state, by either opener, or by the day the row was last checked. Rows without a date sort last.
| State | Archery opens | Gun season opens | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Oct 1, 2026 Archery & Spear — Zones D & E Varies by zone — earliest zone shown | Nov 7, 2026 Gun Deer (Stalk Hunting) — Zones D & E Varies by zone — earliest zone shown | Alabama WFF | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Alaska | No single day No separate statewide archery deer season — Alaska deer seasons are any-weapon from each unit's opener, with weapons-restricted segments only in a few management areas. | Aug 1, 2026 General deer season (any weapon) — Unit 8 (Kodiak) Varies by zone — Set unit by unit — Unit 8 shown; other units differ | ADF&G | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Arizona | Aug 21, 2026 Archery-Only Nonpermit-Tag Deer Varies by zone — Statewide over-the-counter windows; open areas vary by unit | Oct 23, 2026 General Deer (draw by hunt number) Varies by zone — Draw by unit — earliest general hunt shown; most hunts open Oct 30 through December | AZGFD | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Aug 29, 2026 Early Buck-Only Archery | Nov 14, 2026 Modern Gun | AGFC | Aug 13, 2026 |
| California | Jul 11, 2026 Archery Season — Zone A Varies by zone — Zone A earliest; B-4 opens Jul 25, most B and D zones Aug 15 | Aug 8, 2026 General Season — Zone A Varies by zone — Zone A earliest; most B zones Sep 19, C, D and X zones Sep-Nov | CDFW | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Colorado | Sep 2, 2026 Archery | Oct 14, 2026 First Rifle — First Rifle Season | CPW | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Sep 15, 2026 Archery Deer Season | Nov 18, 2026 Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver Deer Season | CT DEEP | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Delaware | Sep 1, 2026 Archery | Nov 13, 2026 General Firearm | DNREC A special antlerless-only firearm season runs earlier in October; Nov 13 is the general firearm opener. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Florida | Aug 1, 2026 Archery season — Zone A Varies by zone — Zone A earliest; Zone C opens Sep 19, Zone B Oct 17, Zone D Oct 24 | Sep 19, 2026 General gun season — Zone A Varies by zone — Zone A earliest, split season; Zone C opens Nov 7, Zone D Nov 26, Zone B Dec 5 | FWC | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Georgia | Sep 12, 2026 Archery | Oct 17, 2026 Firearms | Georgia DNR WRD | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Hawaii | See the agency We could not read the DLNR DOFAW site. | See the agency We could not read the DLNR DOFAW site. | DLNR DOFAW The DLNR site would not let us read its hunting pages; the state's Go Hunt Hawai'i portal listed no deer season to apply for on the day we checked. Hawaii announces its game-mammal hunts island by island. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Idaho | Aug 30, 2026 General Archery Only Seasons (Regular Deer Tag) Varies by zone — Most units run Aug 30 - Sep 30; some units differ | Oct 10, 2026 General Any Weapon Seasons (Regular Deer Tag) Varies by zone — Most units open Oct 10 with varying closing days; some units are white-tailed deer only | IDFG | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Illinois | Oct 1, 2026 Archery Deer Season | Nov 20, 2026 First Firearm Deer Season | IDNR Firearm season is closed in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane County east of Route 47. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Indiana | Oct 1, 2026 Archery | Nov 14, 2026 Firearms | Indiana DNR | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Iowa | Oct 1, 2026 Archery (Early Split) | Dec 5, 2026 Shotgun 1 | Iowa DNR | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Kansas | Sep 14, 2026 Regular Archery | Dec 2, 2026 Regular Firearms | KDWP The October pre-rut firearm segment is whitetail antlerless-only; Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth subunits run their own firearm segments. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Sep 5, 2026 Archery | Sep 25, 2026 CWD Antlerless Season — CWD Surveillance Zone | KDFWR | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Sep 19, 2026 Archery — Areas 3, 7, 8 and 10 Varies by zone — Earliest areas shown; Areas 1, 2, 4 and 6 open Oct 1 | Oct 17, 2026 Firearms (Still-Hunt) — Areas 3, 7, 8 and 10 Varies by zone — Earliest areas shown; Area 2 opens Oct 31, Areas 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 Nov 21 | LDWF | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Maine | Oct 3, 2026 Regular Archery | Nov 2, 2026 Firearms Season | MDIFW Expanded archery in designated areas opens Sep 12; Saturday Oct 31 is Maine residents-only day ahead of the Nov 2 firearms opener. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Maryland | Sep 11, 2026 Archery Season | Nov 28, 2026 Firearms Season | Maryland DNR | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Oct 5, 2026 Archery Deer Season Varies by zone — Zones 13 and 14 (the islands) also run an early season from Sep 21 | Nov 30, 2026 Shotgun Deer Season | MassWildlife | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Michigan | Oct 1, 2026 Archery (early segment) | Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearm — Lower Peninsula DMUs | Michigan DNR | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Sep 19, 2026 Archery | Nov 7, 2026 Firearms Season A | Minnesota DNR | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Oct 1, 2026 Archery — Delta, North Central and Hills units Varies by zone — Earliest units shown; the Southeast unit opens Oct 15 | Nov 21, 2026 Gun (with dogs) — Delta, North Central and Hills units Varies by zone — Earliest units shown; the Southeast unit differs | MDWFP | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Missouri | Sep 15, 2026 Archery | Oct 9, 2026 Firearms Early Antlerless Portion | MDC | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Montana | Sep 5, 2026 Archery | Sep 15, 2026 General — Backcountry HDs 150, 280 and 316 Varies by zone — earliest zone shown | Montana FWP | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Sep 1, 2026 Archery | Nov 14, 2026 November Firearm | Nebraska Game and Parks | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Nevada | Aug 10, 2026 Mule Deer — Archery (draw) Varies by zone — Draw by unit group; most unit groups run Aug 10 - Sep 9 | Oct 1, 2026 Mule Deer — Any Legal Weapon (draw) Varies by zone — Draw by unit group; the early hunt in units 101-109 opens Oct 1, most groups Oct 5 | NDOW | Aug 31, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Sep 15, 2026 Archery | Nov 11, 2026 Firearm | NH Fish and Game | Aug 31, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Sep 12, 2026 Fall Bow Varies by zone — High and medium regulation-set zones open Sep 12; low-set zones open Oct 3 | Dec 7, 2026 Six-Day Firearm | NJ Fish & Wildlife | Aug 31, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Sep 1, 2026 Deer Bow (draw) Varies by zone — Draw by unit; the standard bow season is Sep 1-24 in most units | No single day Rifle deer hunts are unit-by-unit draws with no statewide opener — the earliest standard public-draw windows begin Oct 24, with later units through November and December. | NMDOW | Aug 31, 2026 |
| New York | Sep 27, 2026 Bowhunting — Northern Zone Varies by zone — earliest zone shown | Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearms — Southern Zone | NYSDEC | Aug 14, 2026 |
| North Carolina | Sep 12, 2026 Archery | Aug 22, 2026 Special Early Season — CWD Management Areas | NCWRC | Aug 13, 2026 |
| North Dakota | Sep 4, 2026 Bow | Nov 6, 2026 Regular (Deer Gun) | ND Game and Fish Seasons open at noon Central time on the opening day, per the agency page. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Ohio | Sep 12, 2026 Early Archery — Disease surveillance area | Oct 10, 2026 Early Gun — Disease surveillance area | Ohio Division of Wildlife | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Oct 1, 2026 Deer Archery | Nov 21, 2026 Deer Gun | ODWC | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Oregon | Aug 29, 2026 General Archery Season — Western Oregon Varies by zone — General tag covers designated western units; most eastern archery deer hunting is controlled draw | Oct 3, 2026 General Any Legal Weapon deer season — Western Oregon Varies by zone — One opener for the western general buck season; eastern rifle deer hunts are controlled draws with varying dates | ODFW | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Sep 19, 2026 Archery — WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D Varies by zone — earliest zone shown | Oct 22, 2026 Special Firearms (Antlerless) | PGC | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Sep 15, 2026 Archery — Zones 1 and 2 Varies by zone — Zone 3 archery opens Oct 19 | Dec 5, 2026 Shotgun — Zones 1 and 2 Varies by zone — Zone 3 has no shotgun season; Block Island runs its own combined-methods season | RI DEM | Aug 31, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Aug 15, 2026 Archery Only — Game Zones 3 and 4 Varies by zone — Earliest zones shown; Zone 2 opens Sep 15 | Aug 15, 2026 Archery & Gun Hunts — Game Zone 3 Varies by zone — Guns are legal from opening day in Zone 3; Zone 4 gun opens Sep 1, Zones 1 and 2 Oct 11 | SCDNR Private-land seasons; Game Zone 3 runs a single archery-and-gun season from Aug 15, so both openers fall on the same day. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Sep 1, 2026 Archery Deer | Nov 14, 2026 West River Deer — West River Varies by zone — West River opens Nov 14; East River Nov 21; the Black Hills season runs Nov 1-30 | SD GFP Nonresident archery on public lands starts Oct 1, per the handbook footnote. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Aug 28, 2026 August Archery | Nov 21, 2026 Gun / Muzzleloader / Archery | TWRA | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Texas | Oct 3, 2026 Archery-Only | Nov 7, 2026 General Season | TPWD | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Utah | Aug 15, 2026 General-season archery buck deer | Oct 17, 2026 General-season any legal weapon buck deer | Utah DWR A separate early any-legal-weapon general hunt runs Oct 7-11. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Vermont | Oct 1, 2026 Archery | Nov 14, 2026 16-Day Regular Season | VT Fish & Wildlife Expanded archery in designated areas runs Sep 15-30. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Virginia | Sep 5, 2026 Urban Archery — Urban archery cities & towns | Sep 5, 2026 Early & Late Antlerless-Only Firearms — Antlerless-only firearms areas | Virginia DWR | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Washington | Sep 1, 2026 Early archery general deer season Varies by zone — All units open Sep 1; closing days vary by unit, and a late archery season follows in select units | Oct 17, 2026 Modern firearm general deer season Varies by zone — All general units open Oct 17; closing days vary by unit and species | WDFW | Aug 31, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Sep 26, 2026 Deer (Archery and Crossbow) | Nov 23, 2026 Deer (Buck Firearms) | WVDNR | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Sep 12, 2026 Archery | Oct 3, 2026 Gun Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities | Wisconsin DNR | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Sep 1, 2026 Special archery season Varies by zone — Set by hunt area, but every special-archery area in the 2026 regulation opens Sep 1 | Oct 1, 2026 Regular season (by hunt area) Varies by zone — No statewide opener — the most common and earliest hunt-area opener is Oct 1; many areas open Oct 15 or Nov 1 | WGFD | Aug 31, 2026 |
One row per state — all fifty. The District of Columbia is deliberately absent: this is a table of the fifty states' hunting seasons. "Archery opens" and "Gun season opens" are each season's first day under the agency's own name for it, printed beneath the date; gun means the general firearms season, not a muzzleloader-only or youth-only window. Where the agency zones the opener, the earliest zone's day is shown and the row says so.
Questions this page gets
When does deer season open for 2026-27?
It depends on the state. On this table, archery deer openers run from Jul 11, 2026 (California) to Oct 5, 2026 (Massachusetts), and gun openers from Aug 1, 2026 (Alaska) to Dec 7, 2026 (New Jersey). Most gun seasons open in November; most archery seasons open in September or October.
Why do some rows carry no date?
One row on this table carries no date: Hawaii. A row says "not yet announced" when the agency has not published its 2026-27 deer dates, and "see the agency" when we could not read the agency's own pages. Either way the row links the agency page with the day we last checked it, because a date we have not read on the agency's own material is not a date we will print.
Why do some rows say the opener varies by zone?
Because in those states it does. Where an agency zones its deer season — Florida’s four zones, South Dakota’s West River and East River, Louisiana’s areas — the table shows the earliest zone’s opening day and says so, with the agency page linked in the same row for the zone-by-zone detail. A single date for a zoned state would be wrong for most of the state.
Where do these dates come from?
Every date was read on the state wildlife agency’s own published season page or regulations document — the source link in each row — and each row carries the day it was last checked. Dates for the states with full season boards on this site come from the same files those pages print, so the two can never disagree.