15 states · 2026-27 season

When does deer season start?

It depends on the state, the weapon and often the zone — so here is every deer season we hold, side by side. The earliest opener in the table is Aug 22, 2026 in North Carolina (Special Early Season), and the last day anywhere is Feb 28, 2027 in Arkansas.

Deer today

Where deer season is open right now

Every chip is checked on its own state’s calendar — blaze orange means open there today.

Alabama Opens Oct 1 38 days away Arkansas Opens Aug 29 5 days away Colorado Opens Sep 2 9 days away Georgia Opens Sep 12 19 days away Kentucky Opens Sep 5 12 days away Michigan Opens Sep 12 19 days away Minnesota Opens Sep 19 26 days away Missouri Opens Sep 15 22 days away New York Opens Sep 12 19 days away North Carolina Opens Sep 12 19 days away Ohio Opens Sep 12 19 days away Pennsylvania Opens Sep 19 26 days away Tennessee Opens Aug 28 4 days away Texas Opens Oct 3 40 days away Wisconsin Opens Sep 12 19 days away

2026-27 deer season dates by state

The first and last open days below bracket every deer season the agency publishes — archery, gun, muzzleloader and youth days included — so a state’s season is rarely open straight through from one to the other. Click your state for the full table, zone by zone.

State	First open day	Gun season opens	Last open day	Zones	Agency regs
Alabama	Oct 1, 2026 Archery & Spear — Zones D & E	Nov 7, 2026 Gun Deer (Stalk Hunting) — Zones D & E	Feb 10, 2027	2 zones Zones A, B, C & CWD Management Zone · Zones D & E	Alabama WFF checked Aug 13, 2026
Arkansas	Aug 29, 2026 Early Buck-Only Archery	Nov 14, 2026 Modern Gun — Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11	Feb 28, 2027	6 zones	AGFC checked Aug 13, 2026
Colorado	Sep 2, 2026 Archery	Oct 14, 2026 First Rifle — First Rifle Season	Nov 22, 2026	5 zones	CPW checked Aug 13, 2026
Georgia	Sep 12, 2026 Archery	Oct 17, 2026 Firearms	Jan 31, 2027	1 zone Extended archery counties	Georgia DNR WRD checked Aug 13, 2026
Kentucky	Sep 5, 2026 Archery	Sep 25, 2026 CWD Antlerless Season — CWD Surveillance Zone	Jan 18, 2027	1 zone CWD Surveillance Zone	KDFWR checked Aug 13, 2026
Michigan	Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearm — Lower Peninsula DMUs	Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearm — Lower Peninsula DMUs	Jan 1, 2027	2 zones Lower Peninsula DMUs · Upper Peninsula DMUs	Michigan DNR checked Aug 14, 2026
Minnesota	Sep 19, 2026 Archery	Nov 7, 2026 Firearms Season A — 100-series permit areas	Dec 31, 2026	3 zones	Minnesota DNR checked Aug 13, 2026
Missouri	Sep 15, 2026 Archery	Oct 9, 2026 Firearms Early Antlerless Portion	Jan 15, 2027	Statewide	MDC checked Aug 13, 2026
New York	Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearms — Southern Zone	Sep 12, 2026 Early Antlerless Firearms — Southern Zone	Jan 31, 2027	4 zones	NYSDEC checked Aug 14, 2026
North Carolina	Aug 22, 2026 Special Early Season — CWD Management Areas	Aug 22, 2026 Special Early Season — CWD Management Areas	Jan 1, 2027	7 zones	NCWRC checked Aug 13, 2026
Ohio	Sep 12, 2026 Early Archery — Disease surveillance area	Oct 10, 2026 Early Gun — Disease surveillance area	Feb 7, 2027	1 zone Disease surveillance area	Ohio Division of Wildlife checked Aug 14, 2026
Pennsylvania	Sep 19, 2026 Archery — WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D	Oct 22, 2026 Special Firearms (Antlerless)	Jan 24, 2027	1 zone WMUs 2B, 5C & 5D	PGC checked Aug 14, 2026
Tennessee	Aug 28, 2026 August Archery	Nov 21, 2026 Gun / Muzzleloader / Archery	Jan 10, 2027	Statewide	TWRA checked Aug 13, 2026
Texas	Oct 3, 2026 Archery-Only	Nov 7, 2026 General Season — North Zone	Jan 31, 2027	2 zones North Zone · South Zone	TPWD checked Aug 13, 2026
Wisconsin	Sep 12, 2026 Archery	Oct 3, 2026 Gun Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities	Jan 31, 2027	3 zones	Wisconsin DNR checked Aug 14, 2026

Each row is the same data that state’s own page shows, read from the agency regulations linked in the last column on the date shown there.

Keep going

What’s open to hunt right now — every state, every species, on one board.

Other seasons by state: turkey season · duck season · dove season