Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering a Hunter Education field day for online students in Ekalaka on July 31 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Ekalaka Public School. The free in-person event is open to ages 12 and older and focuses on firearm safety and hunting ethics instruction using inert firearms.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources' black bear hunt lottery opens July 15 through August 31 for the 2026 season occurring October 26-31 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. A total of 1,050 permits will be issued through primary and secondary lotteries to manage Maryland's expanding bear population and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
Antlerless deer hunting access permits will not be available for the Upper Peninsula in 2026. Universal antlerless licenses may only be used in designated low-snowfall deer management units with specific use limits per unit. Hunters can purchase up to 10 universal antlerless licenses but are restricted by individual DMU harvest limits.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department held a lottery drawing on July 15 to determine winners of 2026 moose hunting permits. The department will issue 65 either-sex and 20 antlerless permits for Wildlife Management Unit E, with a special priority drawing for Vermont resident veterans. Unsuccessful applicants receive bonus points for future lotteries.
Michigan is accepting applications for 2026 reserved deer hunts and youth hunts from July 15 through August 15 at Shiawassee River State Game Area, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, and Sharonville State Game Area. Drawing results will be available August 31, with leftover licenses available September 3.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is accepting applications for public land-controlled hunts until July 31 for the 2026-27 season. Hunts for deer, waterfowl, doves, pheasants, and other species are available on select areas, with new ruffed grouse and raccoon hunting permits introduced this year.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife's volunteer hunter education instructors are scheduling courses beginning in August and September. Taught by passionate volunteers, these free in-person courses in basic hunter education, bowhunter education, and trapper education are required before purchasing a first hunting license. Registration is required, and courses are listed on Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website.
Michigan's DNR Hunt Fish app now offers digital kill tags for deer, bear, turkey, and furbearing species as a convenient alternative to traditional paper tags. Digital tags provide immediate access, easy harvest reporting, and work without cellular service, while paper licenses and tags remain available.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering an online lottery for waterfowl offshore blind site licenses through MD Outdoors from July 15-28. Lottery winners will be selected randomly and notified by July 31 for virtual blind site selection meetings beginning August 4. Maryland residents must hold a valid hunting license to participate.
The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is offering 16-hour free trapping and fur hunting classes in August and October, plus a cable device training seminar in October at the Velva Wildlife Club. Successful completion provides certification recognized by other states.
Nebraska's Deer Exchange program, available annually from September 1 through March 1, connects hunters with surplus deer to recipients seeking venison. Participants can register for free on OutdoorNebraska.gov to find local parties and arrange transfers, with recipients able to pay for processing services.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering hunter and bowhunter education in-person classes and field days for online students across central and eastern Montana this summer. Classes begin in July and August at locations including Lodge Pole, Sidney, Glasgow, and Great Falls, with all in-person courses offered free to students aged 10 and up.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that antlerless deer permit applications are due by July 22. Antlerless permits are available for 19 of Vermont's 21 Wildlife Management Units, with a lottery drawing scheduled for August 19. Permit allocations are reduced this year due to new regulations taking effect this fall.
Applications for the 2026 Arkansas alligator hunting season are now available through www.agfc.com until July 31. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is offering permits across nine public hunting locations in three management zones, with seasons scheduled for September 18-21 and September 25-28. Private land hunters can also purchase tags to hunt during the season.
Montana's Fish and Wildlife Commission approved mountain lion quotas for fall 2026 through winter 2027, including quota reductions in southwest Montana and amendments from commissioners in regions 2 and 3. The commission also approved hound hunting on Charles M. Russell and UL Bend national wildlife refuges, effective for the 2027-2028 season if adopted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Nebraska hunters can purchase over-the-counter big game permits for 2026 seasons starting July 8 for residents, with nonresidents eligible July 22. Deer, antelope, and elk permits are available through OutdoorNebraska.gov with sales continuing until quotas sell out or seasons close.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that all existing crossbow permits and Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permits (CHAMPs) expired June 30, 2026. Hunters needing these permits for July 1, 2026 and beyond must complete new medical evaluations and submit applications to AZGFD offices, using only current forms signed by qualified physicians.
Montana hunters who did not apply in 2026 can purchase preference points and bonus points beginning July 1 through FWP's Online Licensing Service, License Ambassador locations, or FWP offices. Preference points improve odds for Nonresident Combination Licenses, while bonus points increase chances in first-choice drawings.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will begin selling remaining 2026 big game permits starting July 7 on a first-come, first-served basis. Available permits include general-season and youth elk, deer, and bison permits for various hunting units across Utah, with sales occurring at different dates throughout July.
Idaho Fish and Game will sell capped elk zone tags starting July 8 at 10 a.m. MDT through GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, license vendors, regional offices, and by phone. Sawtooth Elk Zone tags go on sale July 10. Eligible Idaho residents with valid 2026 hunting licenses can purchase tags on a first-come, first-served basis.