Hunting

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2027 mountain lion hunting season at its August 14 meeting in Blair. Staff will recommend expanding the Niobrara Unit and increasing harvest limits while reducing limits in Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills units. The commission will also address bighorn sheep seasons, fee increases, and sportfishing regulation changes.

North Dakota's 2026 small game, waterfowl, and furbearer regulations include several changes: duck and goose seasons open Sept. 26 for residents, American marten hunting allowed for the first time, and river otter harvest reduced to a three-week season. Additionally, 2,200 tundra swan licenses are available by lottery with an Aug. 19 deadline, and early Canada goose season opens Aug. 15 across three zones.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is accepting applications for 2026 controlled waterfowl hunts at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison and Mud Creek Wildlife Management Area in Alburgh. Applications for Mud Creek hunts on October 13 and 15 must be submitted by August 28, 2026, with a permit lottery drawing scheduled for September 4.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has completed drawings for antelope licenses and nonresident winter hound licenses. Results are available through fwp.mt.gov, MyFWP Login, or by calling FWP regional offices at 406-444-2950.

Turkeys for Tomorrow announces its second annual New Zealand turkey hunt, with winner Steve Schultz joining Ben O'Brien of the Roost podcast. Hosted by Dink Watson with New Zealand Turkey Adventures, the August 27-30, 2026 hunt offers TFT members special discounts to harvest Merriam's turkeys on the South Island.

Idaho's second big game controlled hunt drawing application period runs Aug. 5-15, with results posted by Aug. 25. Available tags include deer, elk, pronghorn, and black bear not claimed in the first drawing. Hunters with valid 2026 Idaho licenses may apply through Fish and Game offices, vendors, the mobile app, or GoOutdoorsIdaho.com.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering removing a bear hunting prohibition on Bois Blanc Island in Mackinac County, established in 1985. The DNR is seeking public comments on the proposal, which would allow bear hunting on state-owned land with landowner permission required for private land. Contact Cody Norton at nortonc3@michigan.gov to submit feedback.

Idaho Fish and Game will sell returned nonresident big game tags starting Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. MDT through GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, Fish and Game offices, and license vendors. Residents can purchase nonresident tags as second tags with varying eligibility restrictions by zone and unit.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Copper State Draw closes today, August 4 at 5 p.m. AZ time. New this year is a dual-tag hunt offering one application fee for chances to hunt mule deer and elk in Game Management Units 22 and 23, plus opportunities for white-tailed deer, elk, and Gould's turkey across multiple units.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission opened its second public comment period for proposed bobcat season rule changes, including adding hunting to trapping and increasing the season quota to 400 bobcats. Comments are due by August 27, with a public hearing scheduled for that date at the Fort Harrison Inn in Indianapolis.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced updated reservation dates for 2026 at six Type 2 Block Management Areas in south-central Montana: Griffith-Shawmut BMA 169, Miller/Jackstone BMA 163, Robuck Ranch BMA 220, Schulz Ranch BMA 214, Basin Ranch BMA 226, and Diamond X Farms BMA 63. Reservations open in August at the Region 5 office in Billings.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is reducing hours at Fish Point, Nayanquing Point, Shiawassee River, and Harsens Island Unit at St. Clair Flats due to declining revenues and increased costs. Draw opportunities will be limited to five days per week starting fall 2026, with reserved hunts continuing as planned.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the 2026-27 waterfowl hunting schedule for Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Areas. Permits for regular duck season will be issued by lottery in mid-September, with hunting allowed on specific days across three seasonal segments. Youth, Veteran, and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days remain permit-free.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted 2026-2027 hunting regulations for dove, band-tailed pigeon, waterfowl, snipe, and trapping on its website. Hunters 18 and older must possess a valid Arizona hunting license and migratory bird stamp, with youth combination licenses available for $5.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering more than 50 in-person hunter safety education classes during Hunter Safety Education Week, Aug. 10-16. Registration is open for courses providing convenient certification required for hunting license purchases. Lt. Tom Wanless encourages early registration to avoid full classes closer to hunting season.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation and Kalkomey Inc. launched the Today's Hunter and Today's Bowhunter Combo Manual, a 130-page resource for Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education classes. The color-coded manual covers wildlife identification, stand usage, shot placement, and hunting ethics, with an Instructor version available in October 2026.

Taxidermy and Trophy Solutions (TTS), founded by Richard Lendrum, offers full-service trophy management for African safari hunters, handling everything from collection and export documentation to taxidermy, shipping, and final delivery as a single point of contact.

Idaho hunters must claim deer, elk, pronghorn, or fall black bear controlled hunt tags by Aug. 1 or forfeit them. The deadline to exchange general season tags is July 31. New residency requirements for Lifetime License Certificates take effect July 1, requiring five years of Idaho residency.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opens applications Aug. 1-15 for permit-based dove fields across multiple WMAs including Shirey Bay Rainey Brake, Dave Donaldson Black River, Lake Conway, and Frog Bayou. Brett Leach, AGFC Waterfowl Program coordinator, notes sunflower fields attract doves more effectively than top-sown wheat, especially if rain causes germination before hunts.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering hunters the opportunity to draw permit-tags for mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, and Gould's turkey. New this year is a dual-tag hunt allowing one application fee for both mule deer and elk in Game Management Units 22 and 23. The draw closes August 4 at 5 p.m. AZ time.