HUNTING

Governor Healey filed legislation (Bill H.5377) in April 2026 to update Massachusetts hunting laws, including removing the Sunday hunting ban, allowing crossbow hunting, reducing archery setback distances, and removing falconry setbacks. MassWildlife held public listening sessions with nearly 1,000 attendees and received over 11,300 comments, with majorities supporting the proposed changes to modernize wildlife management practices.

Nonresident hunters can now check their position on Montana's Alternates List through their MyFWP account. The list provides a second chance to obtain combination licenses when other hunters return them. Hunters will be notified by email and have five days to finalize purchases.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider restricting personal deer permit limits from two to one per calendar year for antlered deer, effective in 2027. The commission will also review proposed changes to turkey, mountain lion, and squirrel regulations at its June 12 meeting in North Platte.

The Marias River Wildlife Management Area in Hunting District 406 near Shelby is accepting online applications for deer hunting access permits throughout June 2026. Hunters can apply for archery or rifle hunt periods, with allocations including 10 archery hunters per two-week period and 10 rifle hunters for general season weeks, plus 5 permit holders for antlered buck hunts.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opened a pilot program enabling landowners to enroll properties with alligators for regulated public hunts through a drawing system. AGFC Herpetologist Amanda Bryant noted the program offers an alternative to private hunting leases, with the 2026 alligator season scheduled for September 18-21 and 26-29.

Afton Safari Lodge, owned by Richard Lendrum, has expanded with a new sister property in Cape Town to complement its Johannesburg location near O.R. Tambo International Airport. Both lodges provide comprehensive travel services including airport assistance, firearm permits, accommodations, and transfers for hunters, anglers, and adventure travelers.

Pennsylvania's Game Commission has established 2026-27 migratory game bird seasons selected from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service frameworks. Significant changes include increased Canada goose seasons in the Atlantic Population Zone and shifted light goose season dates. Hunters are encouraged to report banded birds at www.reportband.gov to support population management efforts.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission closed Black Bear Management Units 300, 301, 319, and 580 to all black bear hunting effective June 3, 2026, after these districts exceeded 37% female bears in the harvest.

Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources opens applications June 9 for 2026 antlerless hunts including deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. The application period closes June 23, with drawing results available by July 8. Antlerless permits help manage wildlife populations and provide locally sourced meat for hunters.

Ohio's wild turkey hunters harvested 15,887 birds during the spring 2026 season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. The Ohio State University collaborated with the Division of Wildlife on research studying hen turkey nesting and survival, as well as male turkey gobbling patterns to inform future management decisions.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has opened applications for permit-only white-tailed deer hunts on wildlife management areas through July 1. Hunters can apply online at www.agfc.com for youth, archery, alternative firearms, and modern gun hunts, with a $5 nonrefundable processing fee per application.

The application deadline for the 2026 deer gun season in North Dakota is June 3. Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth, and muzzleloader permits can apply online through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website at gf.nd.gov.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that applications for 2026 fall hunt permit-tags for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, and sandhill crane are due by Tuesday, June 2 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants must have a valid hunting license and their Customer ID ready when applying at draw.azgfd.com.

By order of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission, Black Bear Management Unit 440 is closed to all black bear hunting effective one-half hour after sunset on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Open Fields and Waters Program offers annual per-acre payments to landowners allowing public hunting and fishing access on private lands. Since 2016, over 235,000 acres have been enrolled with more than 940 participating landowners providing access across 471,000+ acres, ponds, and stream miles.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation and private landowners in the Flathead Valley to host Montana's first mentored youth turkey hunt. Five young hunters ages 10-15 participated in the inaugural event in May, with three successfully harvesting four turkeys while learning essential hunting skills and bear safety from NWTF volunteers.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters that the application deadline for swan, sandhill crane, elk B, deer B, antelope, and antelope 399 and 900 series is Monday, June 1. Applications must be completed online, at a License Ambassador location, or at an FWP office. FWP provides instructional videos and the MyFWP mobile app to assist hunters.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Christy Clark has requested the Private Land/Public Wildlife committee prioritize corner crossing solutions at its June 1-2 meeting in Glasgow. The PLPW advisory committee will develop recommendations to increase landowner participation in FWP access programs.

Idaho hunters can apply for fall 2026 controlled hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, swan, black bear, and turkey from May 1 through June 5 via GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, license vendors, Fish and Game offices, or by phone. The first Super Hunt drawing closes May 31, offering additional tag opportunities across multiple species.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting draw permit applications June 1-12 for deer, antelope, and elk across multiple management units. Residents and nonresidents can apply online at OutdoorNebraska.gov or in person, with draw results available by June 19.