Blogs — Hunter's Corner

🦌 2025–2026 U.S. Hunting Season Guide: What to Expect and How to Prepare 0

As the 2025–2026 hunting season approaches, hunters across the country are gearing up for a fresh round of adventure, skill, and tradition. Whether you're after deer in the woods, turkey in the fields, or ducks on the water, understanding the seasonal dates and preparing properly is key to a successful and ethical hunt.

Below, you’ll find a comprehensive hunting calendar for all 50 states covering deer, turkey, and waterfowl seasons from June 2025 through March 2026. But before you dive into dates and locations, here are essential tips to make this season safe, productive, and memorable.

Cold Mornings Won’t Stop You—

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🧭 Know the Dates — Plan Ahead

Hunting season dates can vary significantly not just between states, but also between zones or regions within a state. Some deer seasons begin in late summer with archery, while others don’t kick off until November. Turkey and waterfowl seasons often overlap, and understanding the structure can help maximize your opportunities.

🗂 Use the chart below as a reference, but always check your state wildlife agency’s official regulations for updates, tags, and special requirements.

🧰 Essential Hunting Preparation Tips     

✅ 1. Check Licensing and Tags Early

Many states have lottery draws or limited-entry hunts that require advance applications. Make sure your license is up to date and apply for tags as early as possible.

✅ 2. Scout Your Hunting Area

Whether public land or private, early-season scouting gives you a major advantage. Look for bedding areas, food sources, game trails, and signs of recent activity.

✅ 3. Get in Shape

Hunting—especially archery and upland bird hunting—demands physical endurance. Start a light cardio and strength program to prepare for long treks and variable terrain.

✅ 4. Tune Up Your Gear

Inspect bows, rifles, optics, and blinds. Replace worn strings, calibrate scopes, and make sure everything is clean, dry, and field-ready. Don’t forget to pack extras: batteries, scent control, ammo, and emergency supplies.

✅ 5. Understand the Animal Behavior

• Deer: Late October to mid-November is prime time due to the rut (breeding season). Focus on travel corridors and scrape lines.
• Turkey: In spring, toms respond well to calls. Use decoys and scout roosting sites.
• Waterfowl: Weather and migration patterns matter most. Cold fronts push ducks south—follow reports and time your hunts accordingly.

Stay Warm. Stay Focused.

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🦺 Safety First — Always

• Wear blaze orange where required
• Unload firearms while hiking
• Use safety harnesses when climbing
• Share your location or hunting plan with someone before heading out

🌿 Practice Ethical Hunting

Respect bag limits, avoid waste, and follow fair chase principles. Take only what you need and always respect the land and its wildlife.

Beat the Freeze.

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📅 Ready to Hunt?

Now that you’re prepared, review the full chart below to find out when and where to hunt in your state. Whether you're a seasoned outdoorsman or a new hunter looking to join the tradition, 2025–2026 offers incredible opportunities to connect with nature, practice skillful harvesting, and enjoy time with fellow hunters.

🗓️ 2025–2026 U.S. Hunting Seasons by State

🎯 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re planning your first hunt or you’re a seasoned pro counting down the days to opening season, preparation is everything. From understanding local regulations to dialing in your gear and scouting prime locations, every step you take now sets you up for a safer, more successful experience in the field.

With our state-by-state 2025–2026 hunting calendar, you have a powerful tool to guide your plans for deer, turkey, and waterfowl season. Use it, share it, and return to it often as you fine-tune your strategy for the months ahead.

🦌🦃🦆 The season is coming fast—start preparing today so when the moment comes, you’re ready.
Check the chart, gear up, and make this your best hunting season yet.

Oklahoma Hunting Seasons - Limits and Regulations 0

About the Oklahoma Hunting Seasons

There’s no better time of year than hunting season in Oklahoma. But before you grab your gear and head out into the wilderness, you better check your dates first. The game you are interested in and the time of year will determine whether it’s legal or not for you to go after it. So read our short guide to the proper information about the different Oklahoma hunting seasons. This way you never have to worry about getting into trouble and can always be proud to show off your trophy catch.

Permits  

You will need some of them, especially in certain areas. It really depends on the type of hunting you plan on doing. Before you do anything, head to your local Fish and Wildlife Office and apply online for your permit. There’s a wide range of permits available for whatever kind of game you're trying to catch and all kinds of discounts for students, seniors, veterans and so on.

There is also a combined a hunting and fishing license which is more than worth it so you only have to do your paperwork once a year and assuring you are covered! Not only that, it is cheaper than the individual licenses so you get a discount on both!

Deer and Big Game

If you looking into a bigger catch then you have a pretty narrow window. Essentially for any larger animals that range from deer to bears and even elk, late November is a general time. You can go after antelope in October, but be sure to check explicitly for mountain lions. Both of these months are short months that go by quickly. Remember to learn some tactics so you can succeed in hunting winter buck. In addition, year to year the regulations change so it’s worth calling the local office before you try to tangle with one of them.

The Right Equipment

When you are filing for your permit make sure you check to be sure your gun is licensed. Most rifles purchased within the state should be fine, but be sure to double check. You definitely don’t want to be slapped with a random fine just because you didn't have a muzzleloader or used incorrect ammunition.

Most of the hunting seasons are also during chillier times of the year. Make sure you have the right items to keep you warm. If you want to be able to sit out there and stalk your prey then throw some hand warmers and boot warmers in your bag so you can be prepared for whatever mother nature throws your way!

Getting the Most of Hunting Season

Hunting season is the best time of year. Just remember there isn’t one but many Oklahoma hunting seasons. So check out the Oklahoma hunting regulations, apply for the right permits and get yourself ready for some incredible fun!

The 3 Best Hunting Gear for the Winter Season 0

We are experiencing some weather issues this late summer, and indications are we might be in for a tough winter too. Autumn hunting season 2017 calls for taking extra precautions and selecting the best Heat Hactory clothing that keeps the body warm. Your search for the best hunting gear and protective clothing starts right here on this page. These tips are courtesy of Papa’s Warehouse, proud suppliers of proven warming products for when out hunting, skiing, or camping.

Warmth escapes a hiking tent each night when we leave the flap open while we step outside. With our bodies, heat goes walkabout through any part exposed directly to the air. Our feet, and hands especially are vulnerable, as they do not have much natural insulation over them. Our FIRST TIP is to stock up on disposable foot and hand warmers, so you never run short of the best hunting gear for the winter season.

Our heads and necks are great energy conductors too. In summer, we enjoy the sun beaming down on them preparatory to warming our bodies. Heat escapes from our necks and heads just as fast. So our SECOND TIP for the best hunting gear for the winter season is wearing a turtleneck or scarf, and keep your collar tightly buttoned up!

Things can get out of hand at night when we start shaking from the cold. This is nature’s warning alarm that our body temperature is becoming subnormal. Worse still, this drains our precious bodily energy so we get cooler still. If this were to happen, it’s essential not to fall asleep. We have to stand up and exercise until the moment passes.

Alternatively, we can tuck into our sleeping bags with as much clothing on as possible, provided it is dry that is. This seldom happens when hiking through the snow in winter. The workaround is having a supply of adhesive body warmers in our backpack. Our THIRD TIP for selecting the best hunting gear should keep you nice and warm at night. But there are other precautions you need to take.

Have a Plan Where You Are Going and Tell Someone

Nature can spring surprises on us when we are out in it. An avalanche could block our path. A rock could snag a rope when abseiling. It is always best to hunt in the company of two others. Then there is one person to go for help if necessary, while the other stays behind as the company.

The best hunting gear of all includes a fully charged phone in your backpack, at least one working flashlight, and a compass or GPS. If you are unable to walk out and someone knows the trail you likely followed, these will help you geolocate your position, and beam your rescuers in. Taking these precautions does not mean you are a softy. It means you remain in charge.

Bowhunting Pack Essentials 0

Have you ever seen a buddy bring out a tool from their bag that you had never thought to bring with you on a hunting trip? We've all had it happen. So we've decided to create a list of the bare essentials that you cannot do without on your hunting escapades. 

1. Spare fuel, petrol or diesel in your vehicle in case you ever run out of gas while on a trip. For those of you camping out for long periods of time and carrying electrical appliances, it's smart to keep a back up generator. 

2. A torch light- If a wild animal confronts you and your firearm is not loaded or you do not have time to load, the high beam of a torch light is your next best tool. Simply flash the light into the eyes of the animal and it will freeze for a short while, earning you at least a minute to load/reload/ or pull out your rifle. 

3. First Aid Kit: Always carry a first aid kit in case of emergency. I like to carry Quick Clot or CHITO-Sam with me at all times in case of a gun shot wound. 

4. Bow Maintenance- Maintenance is key to having a successful hunt. Wrapping your bow twice and carrying extra cotton, sponge, cushion or even socks to fill the free space inside your bow case can stop it from moving around and getting damaged during transit.

5. Head Lamps- A head lamp can be very handy when hunting from a treestand or even on foot. Trees can create shade and a head lamp can help you find things faster. 

15. Wool Socks- Any heat you can get is great. While we're on the subject, hand warmers should be carried at all times too. 

16. Range Finder (with GPS & compass)- You do not want to get lost. 

Of course this is our own personal list; many have created more thorough lists with their own favorite products, tools and other gear to carry. 

Hand Warmers For Hunting 0

The use of your hands is absolutely necessary when it comes to holding weapons and tools such as hunting rifles, laying down your traps, etc. If you want to be a successful hunter, you'll need all of the agility you can get. Being a hunter is a dedicated job and you have to be on your toes every moment. Your hands really are your best friends.

The most common hunting region is Africa, where the climate is hot and incredibly dry. However, some of the other best regions are in the North where the climate is very cold. It is therefore necessary to be equipped with all of the needed equipment and supplies if you plan on having a successful hunt. 

One of important things that people forget to pack along with them is essential to keeping your hands warm- they're called hand warmers. Hunting is a risky sport; you can be vulnerable to unexpected attacks (Todd Orr demonstrated this perfectly last week) and you therefore need to stay ready at all times. You can also miss your opportunity if you are not paying attention or your hands are compromised by the cold and unable to do their job. 

Suppose, you encounter a wild deer running full speed; you take out your rifle and start aiming. Unfortunately, your fingers are shaking and your reaction time has now increased. You've just missed your shot. The above example show how easily you can lose your day's prize just because of a small mistake- or simple ignorance. 

One more example can be that you are having your day's rest and therefore have temporarily lowered your guard. However, a bear takes this as an opportunity and advances on you without you getting to know about it until his near vicinity. If your hands are cold, you'll be slower to reach out your weapon and defend yourself compared to a situation in which you have maintained yourself. The former situation will increase the risk of losing your life while the latter will ensure that there is minimum risk involved.

The colder regions can also pose a threat to you getting exposed to hypothermia- this is a phenomena where you can lose your hand because of weather. If you get exposed to water, you need an effective and fast remedy to make yourself warm again or you pose yourself a threat to fall victim to the cold.

There is a lot of gear available on the market to effectively keep you warm. But Hand Warmers are worth the small investment you are going to make on yourself when you embark on a hunting journey. This journey can be one of a lifetime, a memorable experience for you and your loved ones, and a comfortable one if you choose this path. 

Why Hunting Is Good For Our Environment 0

Since extinction of many species, wildlife conservation organizations such as WWF has aggressively campaigned for the betterment of the environment by preserving species. This is why, the proportion of hunters in the general population has declined steadily over the last four decades, going from 11% in 1960 to 8.3% by 1990 to about 6% in 2001 (Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, 2003).

Why is hunting good for the environment? To begin with, let’s characterize "good" as circumstances or exercises that keep up natural life at current levels. All things considered, hunting is useful for the ecology in light of the fact that the hunting group guarantees that natural life populaces of amusement species are supportable starting with one era then onto the next. This requires an assorted qualities of regular natural surroundings be kept in place, unpolluted, and undisturbed. Hunting bolsters every one of these endeavors.

The taxes from hunting exercises go to the states or to the government for such purposes as improving natural life living space, overseeing and keeping up of parks and wildlife refuges, and directing reviews and research to decide the status of diversion as well as some non-game species. Along these lines, hunters contribute widely to profiting indigenous habitats.

Keeping our wild living spaces undamaged, clean, and regular as could reasonably be expected is a key part of having the priviledge to hunt. In any case, hunters are by all account not the only ones looking for such environments. Environmentalists rely upon them for examination. Explorers, bird watchers, and wildflower viewers all search for  natural surroundings that are uncontaminated and brimming with wild things.

Obviously, these gatherings target living spaces that support their own particular advantages. Explorers need trails. Bird watchers need a differing qualities of moderately calm natural surroundings. What's more, hunters need land administration that supports their birds or mammal. Likewise, hunters and gatherers don't care to share their environments, as their passions are completely different and most of the time, clash. However, despite the fact that time-sharing may in some cases be an issue, an assortment of untamed life lovers have a solitary vision- - solid ecosystems.

Obviously, what makes a "decent" woodland for a hunter might be not the same as what different occupations consider a "decent" domain, and bargains must be made to suit every one of them. In any case, the time has come when hunters must gain entry into the organizations with different outdoor lovers who have a similar enthusiasm for keeping up sound natural surroundings of backwoods, streams, and wetlands. The time is also here for them to collaborate in an effort to create successful environments for future generations. 

In reality hunters are going into associations with examination environmentalists, and associations that emphasize the insurance of our natural surroundings. These people all rely on one another to save our environment. Ironically, one group is pushing out the ultimate conservationist- the hunter.