Bear harvest permit applications for Florida's 2026 regulated bear hunting season open September 11 at 10 a.m. EDT through September 21. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, pay $5 per application, and permits cost $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents. Applications are submitted online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or through license agents.
Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources provides guidance on 2026 upland game hunting opportunities including doves, band-tailed pigeons, and grouse species. Upland Game Coordinator Heather Talley offers tips on locating game, required permits, and season dates for hunters of all experience levels.
Ohio's fall hunting seasons for squirrel, dove, Canada goose, and teal open September 1, with white-tailed deer archery season beginning September 26. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to review current regulations, new waterfowl hunting zones, and utilize resources like wildohio.gov and the HuntFish OH app.
Pheasant hunt reservations open Sept. 9 at GoOutdoorsIN.com for hunts Nov. 21-29 at Glendale, Tri-County, JE Roush, Atterbury, Pigeon River, and Winamac Fish & Wildlife Areas. A $30 fee applies per reservation, with a 20-hunt limit per customer per sales phase.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that the 2026-27 hunting seasons begin September 1, 2026, with Canada goose and mourning dove seasons opening statewide. The agency has upgraded its digital mapping tool for enhanced user experience and will launch a new "HuntFishPA" mobile app in 2027 in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon and Ottawa counties will close November 20-23 for a managed deer hunt via special lottery managed by Ottawa County. The science-based wildlife management tool aims to reduce deer populations to sustainable levels. Applications for the 2026 lottery are accepted through August 31.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is preparing hunters for the early dove season opening September 1 with inspiration, regulatory updates, and a season outlook. The daily bag limit remains 15 doves with no restriction on white-winged dove composition, and statewide small game program manager Larisa Harding expects an average year for mourning doves and above-average for white-winged doves.
Whitetails Unlimited has launched a Sight-In Target Initiative providing free shooting range kits to help hunters and enthusiasts safely and accurately sight-in firearms before deer season. Each complimentary kit includes three 100-yard targets with grids and a firearm safety poster. Contact Whitetails Unlimited at 920.743.6777 or nh@whitetailsunlimited.com to order.
The 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Digest clarifies hunter orange requirements for bowhunters. When archery and firearms seasons overlap, bowhunters in tree stands are encouraged to wear hunter orange, except when it becomes required during the six-day firearm season.
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.