Hunting

Utah's big game hunting permit application period opens March 19 and closes April 23, 2026. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is accepting applications for deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bison, mountain goat, and pronghorn hunts. Drawing results will be released by May 31, with several updates including chronic wasting disease testing requirements and a new application system.

Indiana hunters can now apply for reserved turkey hunts through the DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves Activity Hub at GoOutdoorsIN.com. Applications close March 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with hunts available at multiple Fish & Wildlife Areas, parks, reservoirs, and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department reported 2025 harvest statistics with 100% success for bighorn sheep, 87% for moose, and 62% for elk. The Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife also issued licenses, contributing to overall successful hunting seasons across multiple units.

Mark V. Peterson became the 277th person to complete the North American Super Slam and received the Slam Quest Pinnacle Award No. 106 at the 2026 Grand Slam Club/Ovis Convention in Nashville. His 30-year journey, documented in his film "The 29," culminated with the harvest of a Yukon moose, with support from his family, guides, and Worldwide Trophy Adventures.

MassWildlife's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program offers adult women new to turkey hunting an in-person seminar on March 28 at Shirley Rod & Gun Club and a mentored hunt on May 4 at Devens South Post Military Area. Participants learn turkey biology, regulations, and hunting techniques, with applications due by March 10.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has opened online applications for elk, moose, and bighorn sheep licenses with a March 25 deadline. A total of 1,062 elk licenses and 296 moose licenses are available, while bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2026 pending population surveys.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering hunter education in-person classes and field days for online students across central and eastern Montana this spring and summer. Students can become certified before big game application deadlines in April, May, and June. Classes are available for ages 10 and older, with volunteer instructors teaching firearm safety, ethics, and outdoor skills.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications from March 2-5 to convert 2026 Pine Ridge Unit mountain lion permits to Auxiliary Season permits. Two permits will be drawn for the March 14-31 Auxiliary Season after Season 1 did not reach harvest limits.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal hunting incident in Fulton County where Andrew Boots, 31, of North Judson was struck by a ricocheted bullet during a raccoon hunt near County Road 500 West. Boots was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold public hearings on March 16, 18, and 19 to discuss 2025 deer season results, 2026 deer hunting prospects, and 2025 moose hunting season reviews. Public feedback on deer herd status and moose permit recommendations is welcome.

Michigan's Natural Resources Commission approved a statewide coyote management season running March 2 through October 14 to address interspecies conflict and animal overabundance. The season permits hunting on private and public lands with specific restrictions, requires appropriate licenses, and mandates proper carcass disposal.

Conservation First USA is hosting a Big Game Super Draw with tickets to hunt pronghorn and elk for 365 days at $10 per species with unlimited purchase options. Seventeen Arizona Special Big Game Tags are available this year, with proceeds benefiting the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee.

Russ Befort completed the Nebraska Upland Slam four times in four seasons, winning a Winchester SX4 Upland Field 12-gauge shotgun. The eighth year of the slam, a partnership between Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever of Nebraska, attracted 143 hunters from 10 states pursuing four upland game bird species.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is expanding its eHarvest digital tagging system beginning with the 2026 license year, allowing hunters to digitally tag deer, turkey, bear, bobcat, otter, fisher, and marten through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. The expansion follows successful pilot programs and offers hunters convenience while reducing administrative costs.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks opens online vehicle registration April 1-19 for shed antler hunters accessing the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area on May 15. A new 2025 law prohibits nonresidents from shed hunting on WMAs during their first seven days open, requiring a $50 Nonresident Shed Hunting License.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife proposed 2026-27 hunting and trapping season dates to the Ohio Wildlife Council, including white-tailed deer, waterfowl, and small game seasons. Public comments are accepted online through April 1, with a statewide hearing scheduled for April 8. If approved, the proposed rules take effect June 30, 2026.

By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, bobcat hunting and trapping will close in Region 6 on February 28th at midnight. Hunters can check current quota status on FWP's website.

Montana FWP encourages hunters to thank landowners for providing private land access through the Thank a Landowner web portal, which closes March 15. Hunters can submit thank-you notes and photos that FWP will mail to landowners in spring, with over 600 submissions received last year.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has closed LMU 280 to all hunting of male mountain lions effective one-half hour after sunset on Friday, February 27th, 2026.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife's volunteer instructors are offering limited hunter education courses this spring, including basic hunter education, bowhunter education, and combination courses. Hunter Education Coordinator Nicole Meier emphasizes that passing the course is required before purchasing a first hunting license, with classes available at a grade 6 reading level for all ages.