Utah Deer Hunting Season

Utah is a well known destination when it comes to big game hunting. Deer are a common animal to hunt in the state. Utah deer hunting season brings out many old and new hunters alike. Below you can find a general description of the rules and regulations to Utah’s deer hunting season.

Types of Deer to Hunt

The most common types of deer to hunt in Utah are white-tail deer and mule deer. The white-tail deer’s population is rapidly growing whereas the mule deer will be a little harder to come across. Both types can be found all across the state. This is primarily because the state consists of much mountainous terrain and national forest land.

Methods of Deer Hunting in Utah

Many weapons may be used to take a deer in the state of Utah. Some weapons used include muzzleloaders, crossbows, bow and arrow, and of course a wide variety of rifles. If you have the correct permit, there is actually a special season for archery in August and September. In addition to this, there are other seasons where muzzleloaders and any legal weapon may be used. This will be explained in the next section.

Permits and Seasons

In order to participate in Utah’s deer hunting season, you must get a hunting license. This could be a basic hunting license or a combination license. The only difference between the two is the combination license allows you to fish as well. Hunter’s Education courses are offered in order to receive one of these licenses. In addition to the hunting license, you must obtain a permit for hunting deer. This permit may be applied for in the state’s hunt drawing or paid for and obtained online.

Seasons will depend on your area and what is being hunted. As previously mentioned, archery season runs from late August to the end of September. Muzzleloader season is usually around the first week in October. At the end of October, there are a few weeks where any legal weapon may be used.

Other Laws and Regulations

An important law to remember is the time a hunter can go out in Utah. Big game hunting is only legal from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.

Where to Hunt in Utah

Utah is a superb location for hunting statewide. This is because of the many mountainous regions and national park land in the state. The Wasatch and Uinta Mountain areas reside east of Salt Lake City and are a prime spot for big game hunting. Across the Colorado Plateau is another good spot because of the national forest area. In South and Southwestern Utah you have the Abajo and La Sal Mountains, in addition to the Paunsagaunt Plateau area. In Central Utah, there is some good hunting along the mountaintop road of Skyline Drive. It is hard to find a bad hunting spot in Utah simply because of the state’s vast mountainous terrain and national forests.

Utah is a fantastic place to go deer hunting. The mule deer is highly sought after and there are quite a few to be found in the state of Utah. The mild weather offers comfortable seasons for hunters as well. Along with this, there is a much national forest land and mountainous terrain. All of these factors make Utah a prime hunting destination. It has become a very popular spot for hunters of all ages from all around the country. If you would like more information, there are a variety of resources and text available for you at http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting/, including the latest deer hunting season dates.

Vermont Deer Hunting Season

Vermont deer hunting season

Vermont is a beautiful place with a hundred year tradition of hunting deer. What follows is a description of hunting deer in Vermont.

Species of deer available to hunt

Vermont is known for its white tailed deer, which live all over Vermont, The hunting grounds are vast.

Available hunting methods in Vermont for deer

In Vermont there are several ways to hunt deer. Depending on the time of season, you can hunt with the bow and arrow, a crossbow with special permit, a rifle, pistol, muzzle loading rifles, shotguns, trapping is allowed. Temporary tree stands and ground blinds are allowed from the third Saturday of October to the third Saturday of December

Required permits and hunting seasons

In Vermont both a valid license and tag are required to hunt deer. You’re required to get a license which may requires taking a hunting course first pending on your age and other requirements. A hunting license is $22 for a resident and $100 for a nonresident, a five-year hunting license is $104 for a resident and $494 for a nonresident, a youth hunting license for children under the age of 18 is $12 for residents and $30 for nonresidents, a combination is $35 for residents and $130 for nonresidents, a five-year combination is $169 for a resident and $644 for a nonresident, trapping licenses are $20 per resident and $300 per nonresident, a five-year trapping license is $94 per resident and $1494 per nonresident, a youth trapping license is $20 per resident and $35 per nonresident, an archery deer license is $20 per Resident and $35 per nonresident(hunting license required), archery only deer hunting license is $75 for nonresident(no hunting license required), muzzle loader deer license is $20 per resident and $40 per nonresident, permanent licenses available for those 65 or older for $36, a mentor hunting license is $10 per resident or nonresident. A special permit may be acquired for disabled people who need to use a crossbow.

The deer hunting season starts in October and runs through November ending in December. Starting with the bow and arrow season in October and then again early December moving onto a youth deer weekend in early November and then the regular season in November, followed by the muzzle loader season in early December, coinciding with the second bow and arrow season.

Other laws and regulations

In Vermont it’s legal to hunt from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. It’s illegal to use laser sights to take prey. There are additional requirements for hunting with dogs. Using light near or around roads to trap or take prey is illegal. It’s illegal to bait deer or take deer that are in the water. There’s an annual three deer limit, only two of which are allowed to be full-grown bucks.

Places in Vermont where you are allowed to hunt

There are many places to hunt in Vermont from public parks to private property with the owner’s permission of course. There is extensive wildlife management areas designated for deer hunting. With many parks and trails that allow the use of motor vehicles. For more information about deer hunting and maps of available hunting locations visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com where you can also see the latest in deer hunting season dates and revised laws.

Virginia Deer Hunting Season

The start of deer season in the state of Virginia depends on two things: 1) the type of weapon used, and 2) location. Youth Deer Hunting day is September 29 statewide for deer hunters aged 5 and under if accompanied by an adult and when in compliance with all applicable laws and licensing requirements. Early Archery Season runs October 6 through November 16. Late Archery Season runs December 1 through January 5 depending area. Early Anterless-Only Archery Season begins September 1 through October 6 in a few counties. Urban Archery Seasons are September 1 through October 5 and January 7 through March 30 only is specified counties and properties.

Some areas of the state permit the use of muzzleloading rifles. Early Muzzleloading Season is in early November with specific days set aside for either-sex hunting. Late Muzzleloading Season for specific counties both east and west of the Blue Ridge is mid December through early January.

Firearms Deer Seasons vary depending on county and section of the state. The following link give a map breakdown with counties listed for each season listed here: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/deer.asp .

PERMISSIBLE WEAPONS
Hunters using archery tackle or muzzleloading firearms to hunt deer during firearms hunting season must adhere to the following:

• use of muzzleloading firearms is permitted only if no restrictions apply
• muzzleloading deer hunters must wear blaze orange during firearms deer season
• blaze orange must be worn by archery deer hunters during firearms season except where use of firearms is prohibited
• hunters must comply with either-sex deer hunting days during firearms deer season

Special restrictions apply within each county for firearms usage. See this link for details regarding local ordinances: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/local-ordinances.pdf
Permissible weapons can be summed up in these regulations:

• shotguns must not be larger than 10 gauge
• unplugged shotguns are legal for hunting nonmigratory game
• shotgun barrels must be at least 18 inches long
• shotguns with rifled barrels are permitted where slugs can be used
• deer may not be hunted with shotguns from boats
• rifles used for deer must be .23 caliber or larger
• rifles and air rifles are permitted except where prohibited by local ordinances
• pistols and revolvers are permitted for deer only in counties where hunting for deer is lawful; cartridges must be .23 caliber or larger with a manufacturer’s rating of 350 footpounds muzzle energy or more
• muzzleloading rifles, muzzleloading shotguns, or archery tackle may be used during firearms season where not prohibited
• crossbows are legal to use

Go to the website of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/general.asp#legal-use for additional information regarding hunting weaponry.

VIRGINIA STATE REGULATIONS
In addition to season and weapons information, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offers detailed information about all state regulations. A downloadable pdf of regulations is available, along with what’s new for 2012 – 2013, licenses and fees, ordinances, hunting on public and private lands, and other information is available on their site: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/

SPECIES OF DEER AVAILABLE TO HUNT
The white-tailed deer is the most popular deer species hunted in Virginia. VDGIF provides an informative fact sheet on the species. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/va_game_wildlife/deer_fact_sheet.pdf

WHERE TO FIND DEER
The VDGIF provides a link to a site that provides a point-and-click map to assist in finding deer populations. In addition, numerous clubs, associations, and guide services exist to offer assistance. An internet search provides many choices.

Washington Deer Hunting Season

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to big game hunting in the State of Washington, before you get started you need to understanding the rules and regulations set forth by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for Washington Deer Hunting Season. Familiarizing yourself with the rules will save a lot of problems down the road.

Types of Deer

Black tailed deer, mule deer, and whitetailed deer.

General Hunting Season

General hunting season is open from early September to late December. Check the specific dates on the state website. State lands are legal; state parks are not legal for hunting. General locations for each type of deer will be reported at this site as well. The site provides maps.

Licensing and fees

The license year begins in April 1 and ends March 31 of the following year, and is set by the State of Washington. There are various types of licenses for big game make sure to get the right one for Washington Deer Hunting Season.

There is different pricing depending on specific categories. Currently, the fees are as follows but are subject to change at any time.

Resident and senior resident (no special discount for seniors) – $44.90

Non Resident – $434.30

Youth under 16 – $21.80

Disabled individuals – $21.80 – There are restrictions associated with the disabled category. Applicants must be a resident of the State of Washington, a veteran with 30 percent service related disability, have a RCW 77.32.480 developmental disability, confined to a wheelchair, or blind (or visually impaired).

Where to buy hunting licenses

Vendor outlets

Obtain a deer hunting license at any one of the 600 outlets within Washington State. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors to find the closest vendor.

You can also purchase a license online or by telephone: 1-866-246-9453. The license will arrive in the mail between 7-10 business days.

Duplicate licensing or tags

It is a crime to possess duplicate licensing or tags, except if the originals were lost or stolen.

There are no refunds for licenses and no exchanges for a different license after the season has opened or a special permit was applied for.

Hunters must clearly display the vehicle access pass on the outside dashboard or have it hung from the rear view mirror.

Discover pass

The discover pass is not needed on WDFG lands but is required in other places. Go to discoverpass.wa.gov to find out where these passes are required.

Social Security Numbers

Anyone 15 years of age or older must produce their social security number to obtain a deer hunting license.

Proof of Hunter identification

First time hunters are required to take hunters education training and it is highly recommended that this course be taken in the beginning of the year as the places available are generally filled around August of each year. Furthermore, anyone born after January 1, 1972 must show proof of completing the class.

Every hunter is required to stop at the Wild life check station to show documentation and any wildlife they have in their possession.

Hunter orange clothing

Hunter orange clothing is required to be worn from the waist up; just wearing a hat is not sufficient. Anyone one who is hunting deer or elk and is using modern firearms in the modern firearms season or is hunting the designated areas is required to comply with this law.

Modern firearms

Deer must be hunted with minimum of .24 caliber (6mm) centerfire rifle

Handguns – 4 inch barrel, .24calber 9gmm) centerfire cartridge

Rimfire handguns are illegal

Shotguns – 20 gauge to 10 gauge shotguns shooting slugs or #1 or larger buckshot.

Crossbows

Muzzle loading shotguns .40 caliber or larger. Buckshot size #1 or larger may be used in a smoothbore of .60 calibers or larger

Hunting reporting activity

These reports must be filed by January 31, 2012. Failure to complete the reports for each license or tag you possess will result in a $10.00 penalty. You are required to fill out the report even if you did not do any hunting.

Incentive Permit Drawing for early reporting

If reports are filed before January 10 or at the end of the hunting permit date on time, hunters will be eligible for a drawing for five statewide deer permits.

More information on Washington deer hunting season can be obtained at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife site.

West Virginia Deer Hunting Season

Hunting season is upon us again and many hunters in the West Virginia area are looking forward to getting the opportunity to head out once again. But, before you get started it is important to review all of the rules and regulations that surround deer hunting in the state of West Virginia. We’ve compiled the most important information and special regulations that need to be learned to ensure a safe, healthy and legal hunting season.

Season Dates

The legal buck season opens in mid November and runs through early December. Hunting in State Parks is prohibited unless otherwise specified and all rules and regulations must be followed in order to be in accordance of the law. Specifically a license to hunt, unless hunting as a landowner on your own property, must be obtained. Youth under the age of 21 are permitted to hunt without a license, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is licensed. The dates listed are specifically for the hunting of Bucks with antlers that are 3 inches above the hairline. The dates include bow and arrow hunting as well as firearm hunting; including traditional guns and muzzleloader guns.

Legal Weapons

During the buck season rifles using centerfire ammunition can be used to hunt deer. Additionally rifles using .25 caliber or larger ammunition are permitted to be used. Muzzleloading rifles and handguns are permitted for deer hunting as long as the item uses .38 caliber ammunition or larger. Handguns with a .357 magnum cartridge or larger are permitted, but a Class A-1 license for handguns is required for legal use during hunting seasons. Shotguns with solid ball ammunition are also permitted. Non-modified bow and arrows with or without scopes are permitted for use during the season. Crossbows must have a draw weight of 125lbs or higher to be considered legal. Modified crossbows are illegal during the archery season.

Each location may have their own regulations pertaining what can be used at the time. The Wilson Cove Deer Study Area is holding a muzzleloader only hunting season. Those carrying non-muzzleloader weapons will not be permitted to hunt.

Special Regulations

Landowners in West Virginia are permitted to hunt deer on their own property without a license, however the number of deer taken remains limited to the limitations that licensed hunters are held to. A landowner can not take more than 3 deer during the entire season, nor can a landowner take more deer through licensed hunting. One RG stamp can be purchased prior to the start of the season. The stamp allows for one extra deer to be taken; however the stamp must be purchased before the opening of the season; no exceptions.

A special state park season will be taking place November 5th and November 8th at Blannerhasset Island. During this period hunters are allowed to hunt deer in the state park at Blannerhasset Island. The regulations pertaining to hunting, including the number of deer the can be taken and the firearms that can be used still apply. Hunting is only permitted during the dates listed and all those who plan to hunt must be wearing blaze orange to be permitted into the park.

All hunters in areas that offer youth licenses must wear blaze orange. The garment must be outerwear and cover 400 square inches for safety reasons. Those who are not wearing blaze orange in these counties will be removed from the premises. Landowners hunting on their own property are not legally held to this responsibility but it is suggested that all hunters outfit themselves in blaze orange.

Wisconsin Deer Hunting Season

Wisconsin has always been a spectacular state to visit during deer hunting season. In the falls hunter line up looking for the biggest and best. Below is valuable information and everything that is needed for a successful hunt in Wisconsin.

Species Common to The Area

Wisconsin hunters primarily are in search of the whitetail deer. There are ample areas states wide that offer plenty of opportunities for catching the prize buck. The whitetail deer love to hang around rivers and any type of farmland. Wisconsin has become famous for the trophy deer that have been claimed from its woods. Buffalo County is famous for its record setting prizes. More trophy deer are taken from this area than any other place in the country.

Hunting Methods Allowed In Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, numerous different methods are allowed to hunt deer. No automatic weapons are allowed. However, the only exception to this rule is a .22 caliber handgun. The handgun must have center-fire cartridges and there are restrictions on the barrel, it must be 5.5 inches in length. One may use the traditional hunting artillery, which includes shotguns, muzzleloaders and riffles. The muzzleloaders are only allowed during a specific period during the season. Wisconsin is very strict on laws in transporting these firearms; they must all be unloaded while traveling in a vehicle. Officials want the guns in enclosed containers and if there is a muzzleloader, they must be cleaned of all powder.

Hunting License

You must be at least 12 years of age to hunt in Wisconsin. Everyone must have a hunting license and a deer tag. There are several packages for hunters to consider. If you do several types of hunting, like deer, pheasant, small game and also fishing, the combination license will work best. The license is $60.00 and will cover one year. Those who are 12-17 years of age can purchase the same package for $35.00. It is $24.00 for a gun license to hunt deer and $24.00 for archery deer hunting as well. The gun deer license is in addition to a regular hunting license and must be carried by anyone using a gun. You will also need to purchase carcass tags. They can be bought in different categories. The categories are for the deer there is antlerless, or a buck. These tags help in areas that are herd controlled. The deer must be tagged with a valid time and date as soon as it is killed. The hunter has until 5 p.m. to register the deer as being killed by a gun, the day after the end of season.

Where to Hunt In Wisconsin

There are numerous places to hunt in Wisconsin. Being a rural state the opportunities are endless for great hunting territory. About 90 miles south of The Twin Cities is Turtle Creek. This is one of the most popular hunting destinations in the state. This area is considered the heart of deer country for the state. Many prize bucks have come from this area and it is always frequented by those looking for an amazing kill. Even still some of the best hunting is around the upper Mississippi river. Deer love to be near water and this place provides ample areas for hunters to find their prize for the season.

Wyoming Deer Hunting Season

Planning a deer hunting trip can be an overwhelming yet rewarding experience for any big game hunter. Coupling the deer population with the beautiful scenery make Wyoming deer hunting seasons some of the most desirable.

Deer Species Available

Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed species. Although the mule deer has the larger population and is the more popular of the two in Wyoming, white-tails are easy to come by in the Northeast and lower levels. The larger mule deer populations are typically found in the higher mountain elevations in the Western part of the state.

Seasons and License Fees

Rifle hunting seasons in Wyoming open in early season and extend into late December for doe seasons. Nonresident permits are granted through a draw process divided into 15 regions separated by geographic location. A region general license allows the hunter rights to any license area within that region. Often the availability of public hunting land will help the applicant choose which region for which they will submit a draw permit. Typically, hunters are allowed to use the same license to hunt the species of their choice. Each individual license will specify which species is permitted for that particular region. Some permits allow the harvest of any antlered deer, while others limit the harvest to any antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer.

The nonresident application period is open from January 1 to March 15 and the resident period runs during the month of May. Permits are priced and sold according to the sex of the species desired. A nonresident antlered permit costs $312 and the resident permit costs $38. Doe or fawn permits cost $34 for a nonresident and $2 for residents. All hunters born on or after January 1, 1966 are required to possess a hunter safety card or certificate and must be carried while in the field.

Methods of Harvest

Most big game regions participate in special archery seasons that open prior to the regular hunting season. These archery seasons require a separate license outside of the general hunting license. Hunters are only required to purchase one archery license per year that is valid for all big game specialty archery seasons. These seasons generally open mid August and run through early September. Rifle season is by far the most popular method of harvest for Wyoming deer. The bulk of the season is devoted to rifle hunting. Aside from a select few regions, Wyoming does not currently offer designated muzzleloader seasons for any of their big game.

Where To Hunt

Nearly 50 percent of the state of Wyoming is public land. The majority of which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Accessible public lands are open to hunting unless otherwise posted. State Trust Lands are leased to private parties, but are often open to public hunting if access is available. Generally those State Trust Lands used for raising crops require permission from the lease holder. Maps of these public hunting lands are available from Wyoming Game and Fish, the Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Forest Service.

Additional Rules

One exterior fluorescent orange garment is required for all hunters during regular big game seasons. This excludes the use of hunter orange during specialty archery seasons. Camouflage fluorescent orange is allowed in the state of Wyoming. The use of off-road vehicles is generally restricted to maintained roads and trails. In some instances, vehicles may be permitted to retrieve game if no damage will occur.

Wyoming boasts a large population of wildlife making it one of the more attractive big game hunting states in the U.S. For more information regarding Wyoming deer hunting seasons, refer to wgfd.wyo.gov.