Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has completed drawings for deer and elk permits and nonresident combination licenses. Applicants can check results online through MyFWP or by calling 406-444-2950. Upcoming deadlines include May 1 for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison applications.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks celebrated 315 landowners statewide for 30 years of Block Management Program participation, with 26 cooperators in south-central Montana reaching this milestone. The program provides public hunting access to private land while landowners receive impact payments and support from FWP.
Nebraska's spring shotgun turkey season opens April 18, with statewide population indices showing an 18% increase from 2024 to 2025, according to Carlie Gizel, wild turkey program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Hunters should be aware of drought conditions and follow fire safety guidelines while hunting.
Moultrie partners with ambassador Sam Soholt, host of "Field & Stream Legends of the Wild" and "Roost" podcasts, to share five expert turkey hunting tips including trail camera scouting with Moultrie EDGE Series cameras, strategic positioning, and patience techniques for spring success.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved final 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons with significant changes including one spring gobbler bag limit for wild turkeys, longer archery bear seasons in WMUs 3C and 3D, and new early October elk firearms season. Antlerless deer licenses increased to 1,469,000 statewide, and 155 elk licenses were allocated across four seasons.
Arkansas's youth turkey hunt runs April 11-12 for hunters ages 6-15. The AGFC provides tips for mentors to keep young hunters engaged, including obtaining free youth turkey tags, practicing patience and stillness, ensuring comfort with snacks and insect repellent, and prioritizing fun over success to create lasting hunting memories.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will meet April 17 at Chadron State Park to consider staff recommendations for 2026 deer, antelope, and elk hunting seasons. Proposed changes include adjusting permit quotas, season dates, and bag limits to meet management goals based on population data and hunter input.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement Program offers rice producers up to $150 per acre to leave post-harvest waste and flood fields during winter, creating habitat for migrating waterfowl while allowing managed weekend hunts coordinated by Private Lands Biologist David Graves.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for one 2026 bighorn sheep regular lottery permit from April 20 through August 7, with a $34 nonrefundable application fee. Only Nebraska residents 12 years and older are eligible, with the permit drawing occurring in August and the season running December 1-22.
In March 2026, Governor Healey announced legislation to allow Sunday hunting, expand crossbow use, and reduce setback distances for bowhunting in Massachusetts. MassWildlife held public listening sessions that generated nearly 1,000 attendees and over 11,300 comments, with majorities supporting the proposed changes to modernize hunting laws and improve wildlife management.
Michigan's spring turkey season begins April 18, 2026, with new mandatory harvest reporting requirements within 72 hours. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has consolidated turkey management units from 14 to three and introduced new youth hunting opportunities for ages 10-16.
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife announced that hunters have donated over 100,000 meals of venison through the Hunters Share the Harvest program since 2022, connecting hunters with food banks across the state. The milestone comes as Governor Maura Healey proposes legislation to expand hunting access, including Sunday hunting, to increase participation and support families facing food insecurity.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced 2026 spring wild turkey hunting season dates with separate youth seasons for south and northeast zones. The Division collaborates with The Ohio State University on turkey nesting research and gobbling frequency studies to inform science-based management decisions.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department announces that all existing crossbow permits and Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permits (CHAMPs) will expire on June 30, 2026. Hunters seeking these permits after July 1, 2026 must complete new medical evaluations and submit updated applications to AZGFD.
Traditions Performance Firearms celebrates Texas becoming the 33rd state to legalize the Federal FireStick system for muzzleloader season. The technology enhances safety and reliability while expanding participation among hunters. Traditions' NitroFire and NitroBolt muzzleloaders are compatible with the innovative FireStick system.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department now provides deer age data on its website from 3,184 harvested deer in 2025. Deer Project Leader Nick Fortin noted the information helps assess population size, health, and hunting regulation effects. The oldest documented buck in Vermont was 13 years old, taken in Lincoln.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved Federal Premium's FireStick muzzleloading system for the 2026-2027 hunting season, compatible with rifles including Traditions NitroFire, CVA Crossfire, and Thompson/Center Encore. With over 30 states now legalizing FireStick, Federal Ammunition and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation continue expanding access to this safer, more reliable muzzleloader technology.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Copper State Draw closes Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m., offering six permit-tags for mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting. The highly sought-after Arizona Strip antlered mule deer tag for Units 13A and 13B is among the available opportunities.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering leftover nonresident hound licenses on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, April 8, at 5 a.m. Licenses can be purchased online or in person at FWP offices and through license Ambassadors.
Vermont's spring turkey hunting season begins with youth and novice weekend April 25-26, followed by the regular season May 1-31. Toni Mikula, Vermont's wild turkey biologist, highlights the opportunity for experienced hunters to mentor new hunters. Last year, youth and novice hunters took 643 turkeys during the April weekend, with 5,131 bearded birds taken during the regular spring season.