Michigan's fall hunting seasons for turkey and small game, including cottontail rabbit, ruffed grouse, squirrels, and woodcock, begin Tuesday. Turkey hunters must now report all harvested turkeys through the DNR's website or mobile app within 72 hours. The fall turkey season runs September 15 through November 14 in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
North Dakota's waterfowl season opens September 26 for residents and October 5 for nonresidents. Swan season begins October 3 for residents and October 5 for nonresidents with a swan license. All waterfowl hunters must obtain a habitat restoration stamp and federal duck stamp, and be Harvest Information Program certified.
Michigan DNR operates 15 shooting ranges across the state offering safe, low-cost target practice and firearm sighting opportunities. Ranges in Barry County, Dansville, Echo Point, Lapeer, Ortonville, Pontiac Lake, Rose Lake, and Sharonville will have extended hours in October and November to help hunters prepare for upcoming seasons.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hosts a free Youth Trap Shoot and Safety Refresher on Sept. 18 at Custer Rod & Gun Club in Miles City for hunters 15 and under. The event includes instruction on safe gun handling, field ethics, regulations, and non-competitive trap shooting, preparing youth for Montana's pheasant and waterfowl hunting weekends.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will release approximately 2,500 pheasants across multiple state regions before the youth pheasant weekend Sept. 19-20 as part of the Roosters for Recruitment Program's fifth year. The initiative, authorized by the 2021 Montana Legislature and re-authorized through 2029, aims to help new and returning hunters find success and encourage continued interest in hunting and conservation.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announces the archery deer hunting season running October 1-December 15. Hunters may take up to four deer with specific antler requirements varying by Wildlife Management Unit, and an archery deer license and tag are required for each deer.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department provides preparation tips for the 2027 Spring Draw for turkey, javelina, bison, bear, and raptor capture. Applicants must have valid hunting licenses, know their Customer ID, download Arizona E-Tag, and open AZGFD portal accounts to access draw results by the October 6, 2026 deadline.
The Arizona Deer Association is raffling one elk hunt permit-tag valid for 365 days across Arizona. Tickets are $20 with no purchase limit, on sale through September 30, with 100% of proceeds supporting Arizona Game and Fish Department conservation projects.
A nine-and-a-half-day youth deer hunting season begins September 18 at noon Central time and closes September 27. Youth hunters must be under direct adult supervision, with orange clothing required for both hunters and mentors. The youth license is also valid during the regular deer gun season from November 6-22.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering a field day for students ages 12-17 who completed an online hunter education course on September 18 in Glasgow. The field day will cover firearm identification, safe handling, shot selection, and other hunting skills.
North Dakota's sandhill crane season runs September 19 through November 15 with daily limits of three cranes in unit 1 and two in unit 2. Hunters must obtain Harvest Information Program certification and respective crane permits from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, with shooting hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m., extended to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
By order of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission, Black Bear Management Unit 411 is closed to all black bear hunting for the remainder of the archery-only season, effective one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists report improved habitat conditions in southeastern Montana Region 7 for 2026. Elk populations remain strong in core areas, mule deer numbers improved 15 percent, and pronghorn counts reached their highest levels since 2006, prompting increased license availability.
The Michigan DNR launched a rebuilt MiHunt interactive map allowing hunters to customize which layers appear, including species management units, cover types, and special hunting areas. The new version, developed in-house by DNR's Wildlife and Forest Resources divisions, enables hunters to import their own spatial data and is accessible via web browser at Michigan.gov/MiHunt.
North Dakota's youth waterfowl season and special veteran and active military personnel waterfowl season are both set for September 19-20. Licensed youth hunters 15 and younger, and veterans and active duty military members may hunt ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers statewide with proper licensing and certifications.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced archery hunting season begins September 12 in Ohio's Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance area, with early gun hunting October 10-12. Mandatory CWD testing is required for deer harvested October 10-11 and November 30-December 1 at designated locations throughout the affected counties.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources has released a 2026 deer hunting preview with regional information on deer populations, habitat conditions, fawn recruitment, antler development, and important regulation changes including antlerless hunting opportunities and December firearm seasons across the Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula, and southern Lower Peninsula.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department now allows hunters to report turkeys and some deer harvests online through their website. Turkeys and deer from muzzleloader and most archery seasons can be reported online or in-person, while deer from November 14-29 and bears must be reported in-person at regional stations.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the 2026 hunting forecast for northeast Montana (Region 6), reporting improved elk and mule deer populations following mild winters and increased precipitation. FWP adjusted license quotas for elk and mule deer, while white-tailed deer populations remain low due to recent EHD outbreaks. Pronghorn populations increased to their highest levels since 2003.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is hosting hunter appreciation events across the state this fall at multiple locations. Hunters can bring harvested deer for aging, collect free hunting swag, and connect with DNR staff and fellow hunters at events scheduled for September 14, November 16, and November 21.