Hunting Seasons & Fishing Seasons Across the United States
Your Complete Guide to State-by-State Hunting and Fishing Regulations, Dates, and Outdoor Adventures
Discover hunting season dates, fishing season calendars, license requirements, and expert outdoor tips for all 50 states
Explore Outdoor Activities in the United States
Find complete guidelines for all of your outdoor activities, from hunting and fishing to camping and hiking. Find out when the seasons are, what the rules are, professional tips, and information about specific places for outdoor lovers all around the US.
Hunting Seasons
Complete guide to the seasons for pursuing deer, turkey, ducks, upland animals and all other games in each state. Find hunting regulations, license requirements, and bag limits for all US states.
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Fishing Seasons
Find fishing season calendars, rules, and the best spots to fish in every state. Find out when bass fishing season, trout fishing season, and the best times to fish in saltwater and freshwater around the country.
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Big Game Hunting
Seasoned guidance on whitetail, elk, mule deer, black bear, and moose hunting. Discover big-game hunting tactics, season dates, and trophy plans.
Big Game Hunting Info
Camping Adventures
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All 50 States Hunting & Fishing Seasons
Complete hunting and fishing season information for all 50 states. Season dates, rules, licensing requirements, bag limits, and professional outdoor suggestions for each state's wildlife management and conservation programs are in our extensive state guides.
State Hunting Seasons
Complete United States deer, turkey, duck, upland game, and other game hunting season information. Find state-specific hunting dates, rules, and licenses.
View All Hunting SeasonsState Fishing Seasons
Complete fishing season rules for all 50 states, including the best times to fish, what kinds of fish to catch, and where to fish.
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Your trusted resource for accurate, up-to-date hunting and fishing information across the United States
Updated Season Dates
All the hunting and fishing season details are revised annually as per state wildlife agencies.
Complete Regulations
The rules, licenses, bag limits, and requirements for hunting and fishing in each state.
Expert Tips & Guides
Experienced outdoorsmen share ideas on where to hunt and fish, what gear to bring, and how to accomplish it.
State-by-State Coverage
A detailed guide to hunting and fishing in all 50 U.S. states, offering wildlife-specific details, regulations, and seasonal information.
Understanding Hunting Seasons and Fishing Seasons in the United States
State wildlife agencies in the United States set strict rules for hunting and fishing seasons to make sure that wildlife is managed in a way that is both sustainable and ethical. If you love the outdoors, it's important to know the rules, dates, and criteria for deer hunting, turkey hunting, duck hunting, bass fishing, or trout fishing.
What Are Hunting Seasons?
There are certain times of the year when it is permitted to hunt certain types of wildlife in each state. These dates for hunting season change depending on the state, the type of animal, the type of weapon, and the wildlife management zones. Some common times for hunting are:
- Deer Hunting Season: The most popular big game season, including archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons for whitetail deer and mule deer
- Turkey Hunting Season: Spring and fall turkey seasons with specific regulations for bearded birds and harvest limits
- Waterfowl Hunting Season: Duck and goose hunting seasons regulated by federal migratory bird frameworks
- Upland Game Seasons: Hunting seasons for pheasant, quail, grouse, and other upland bird species
- Big Game Hunting: Seasons for elk, moose, bear, antelope, and other large game animals
- Small Game Hunting: Rabbit, squirrel, and other small game hunting opportunities throughout the year
Understanding Fishing Seasons
Fishing seasons tell fishermen when they can catch certain types of fish to safeguard breeding times and keep fish populations healthy. There are big differences in the rules for fishing in freshwater and saltwater:
- Bass Fishing Season: Largemouth and smallmouth bass regulations with catch-and-release periods during spawning
- Trout Fishing Season: Stocked trout seasons and wild trout regulations in mountain streams and rivers
- Salmon Fishing Season: Pacific and Atlantic salmon runs with specific season dates and catch limits
- Walleye and Pike Fishing: Northern species seasons with spring spawning closures
- Saltwater Fishing Seasons: Regulations for redfish, snook, grouper, snapper, and other coastal species
- Ice Fishing Season: Winter fishing opportunities on frozen lakes and ponds in northern states
State Wildlife Management and Conservation
The Department of Natural Resources, Fish and animal Service, or Game and Fish Department in each state sets hunting and fishing seasons based on scientific surveys of animal populations, habitat evaluations, and conservation goals. These rules make guarantee that:
- Sustainable wildlife populations for future generations of hunters and anglers
- Protection of breeding and spawning periods for game species
- Fair chase hunting opportunities and ethical outdoor recreation
- Habitat conservation through hunting and fishing license revenue
- Wildlife disease management and population control
Planning Your Outdoor Adventures
Planning and being ready for a hunting or fishing expedition is important for it to go well. StateOutdoors.org has a lot of information to help you:
- Find accurate hunting season dates and fishing season calendars for your state
- Understand licensing requirements, permits, and tag applications
- Learn state-specific regulations, bag limits, and legal methods of take
- Discover the best hunting locations, fishing spots, and public land opportunities
- Access expert techniques for different game species and fish species
- Stay compliant with wildlife laws and conservation regulations
Beyond Hunting and Fishing
StateOutdoors.org also talks about other outdoor activities that may make your time in the wilderness even better, such camping in isolated places near good hunting and fishing spots, hiking paths to get to backcountry hunting areas, and survival skills for safe outdoor excursions. Our detailed guides will help you get the most out of America's amazing outdoor history.
It's important for any outdoor activities, whether you're a seasoned hunter, an expert fisherman, or just starting out, to know when hunting and fishing seasons are. Check out our guidelines for each state to confidently plan your next fishing or hunting trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting & Fishing Seasons
Find more about hunting and fishing rules, seasons, and other outdoor activities in the US.
Different states and species have quite different hunting seasons. Most of the time, archery deer hunting starts in September, early muzzleloader hunting starts in October, and rifle deer hunting starts in November. Turkey hunting has seasons in the spring (April to May) and the fall (October to November), whereas waterfowl hunting seasons usually go from October to January. Always verify the rules in your state for the exact dates.
Go to our websites on fishing seasons in your state to get complete calendars for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. The fish and wildlife department in each state decides when the fishing seasons are. These seasons are different for each species, body of water, and location. Most states let you fish for some species all year, but there are other times when you can't fish for them because they are spawning.
Yes, in every US state, you need a different license to hunt and fish. You could also require species-specific licenses, such deer tags, turkey tags, or waterfowl stamps. You might also need federal stamps for shooting migratory birds. Many states sell hunting and fishing permits that are good for both activities at a lower price.
No, hunting and fishing permits are only good in certain states. You need to get a license in any state where you want to fish or hunt. Most states provide licenses for both residents and non-residents. Non-resident licenses usually cost more. Some states have agreements with each other on boundary waterways.
Bag limitations are the most game animals or fish you may legally catch in a certain amount of time, like daily, possession, or seasonal. animal biologists set these limitations to keep populations stable and make sure that animal resources are still available for future generations. If you go above the luggage limitations, you might get a big fine and lose your license.
National forests, Bureau of Land Management holdings, state wildlife management areas, and state parks all provide places where people can hunt and fish. Our state guides provide information about places where people can hunt and fish, as well as public access grounds. Always verify the rules and restrictions for getting to public lands in your region.
Start Planning Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Explore comprehensive hunting and fishing season information for all 50 states