HUNTING

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced changes to two Sieben Ranch Company Block Management Areas near Lincoln. Horsefly Creek now requires written permission through limited reservations with Cathy Baucus (406-442-2228), limited to 10 hunters daily with no camping. Keep Cool Hills has new designated parking areas and camping limited to three days per 21-day period.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announces bear hunting season begins September 1, with two seasons running through November 22. Bear biologist Jaclyn Comeau reminds hunters of regulations including licensing requirements, field dressing procedures, and tooth collection for population data.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reports optimistic upland bird hunting prospects for fall, with pheasant counts up 11% from spring surveys and 36% from summer comparisons. Bryan O'Connor, upland game program manager, notes mild winter conditions and timely rains supported bird survival, though western drought may impact hunting cover availability.

Free Hunter Education field days for online students will be held September 18 in Glendive at Dawson Community College's Ullman Center and September 19 in Lame Deer at Morning Star Baptist Church. Students ages 12-17 must demonstrate proficiency in firearm safety, ethics, and shooting skills to complete their online Hunter Ed certification.

Nebraska's ninth annual Upland Slam begins September 1, challenging hunters to harvest four upland game bird species in a single season. Participants can win prizes from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, with special drawings for pheasant entries celebrating Nebraska's 100th pheasant season.

The Utah Wildlife Board approved 450 additional antlerless elk permits for the 2026 hunting season across multiple units to address drought-related habitat damage. The board also implemented changes to Book Cliffs bison hunts following a pneumonia outbreak that reduced the adult population by nearly 40%, including waived surrender requirements and refund options for affected hunters.

Oklahoma's dove season begins September 1st. The ODWC provides public land dove hunting resources, WMA field maps with GPS coordinates, and information on hunting licenses and Harvest Information Permits through Go Outdoors Oklahoma. The Wildlife Department manages WMAs and leases properties through the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) for hunting opportunities.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Hunter Landowner Stewardship Program is a voluntary online educational initiative featuring five videos on hunter ethics and landowner relations. The program, managed by Francis Reishus, helps new and experienced hunters learn responsible behavior, with participants entering the Protect the Hunt raffle upon completion.

Montana Hunter Education classes are scheduled in Terry in August and Glendive and Lame Deer in September. Anyone born after January 1, 1985 must complete a Hunter Education course to hunt in Montana. Contact Jeremy Fowler, Trent Hansen, or Ed Joiner for registration details at their respective locations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has divided SPP Montana, LLC's Block Management Areas in northwest Montana into three distinct BMAs for 2026: SPP MT - Ashley Lake, SPP MT - McGinnis, and SPP MT - North. Each area requires specific season-long hang tags or written permission, with updated maps and rules available on the FWP website.

FWP wildlife stewardship outreach specialist Danielle Oyler explains how hunters can learn to call elk using their natural voice instead of electronic devices. The technique involves mastering cow calls, calf calls, and other elk sounds by listening to real animals and practicing regularly, with benefits including reduced gear and improved hunting success.

Nebraska's state recreation areas open to hunting on Sept. 8, with several seasons beginning Sept. 1 including archery deer, dove, grouse, and early teal. A Nebraska Vehicle Park Entry Permit is required, and standard hunting regulations apply with restrictions near public facilities.

Two major wildfires—the Big Grass Fire in Owyhee County and the Tartar Fire in Washington County—have burned through popular Southwest Idaho hunting units. Idaho Fish and Game reports no hunting seasons have changed, but temporary access closures are in effect. Hunters should check official BLM and Forest Service sources before each trip.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife announced antlerless deer permit lottery winners on August 19 following a randomized computer drawing. Hunters can check the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website to see if they won a permit, with winners listed in regular lottery and landowner categories. Permit recipients must reprint their licenses to include antlerless permits for fall hunting seasons.

Beginning August 15, hunters in Florida's Statewide Alligator Hunt and Super Hunt can report harvests through the Fish l Hunt FL app. Harvests must be recorded within 24 hours or before transferring the carcass, with a temporary harvest transfer log option available if cellular service is unavailable.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's "Where to Hunt" pages provide detailed information to help hunters plan their next outing. The resource includes GMU boundaries, species information, climate data, terrain descriptions, maps, and contact information for government agencies across six geographical regions.

Michigan deer hunters face several 2026 regulation changes including universal antlerless deer license use limits, expanded senior crossbow opportunities in the Upper Peninsula, elimination of the Limited Firearms Deer Zone, and new digital eHarvest tags available through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission released the 2026-2027 Public Access Atlas identifying over 1.3 million acres of publicly accessible lands. The atlas is available in print at commission headquarters and online at OutdoorNebraska.gov in multiple formats, including interactive maps and Google Earth files.

Idaho Fish and Game announced the second wave of Super Hunt drawing winners from 66,843 entries. Winners were selected across deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, and Super Combo categories, with participants eligible for any open hunt in their state for their drawn species.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announces resident Canada goose hunting seasons from September 1-25 and additional seasons through January 4, with varying daily bag limits by zone. Hunters must obtain a hunting license, federal and Vermont duck stamps, and register with the Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.).