25
Aug
It’s that time of year when the leaves are changing colors, and people are starting to think of bow hunting season. Although official opening dates vary from state to state, here is a list of dates from the federal government:
| Hunt Area | 2011 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) Deer Areas Note: See page 73 for Firearm Restricted Areas |
Legal Deer |
| Early Archery General Deer Seasons | |||
| Black-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-23 | 407, 410, 418, 426, 448, 450, 454, 466, 501, 504, 505, 510, 513, 520, 554, 564a, 568, 572, 621, 624, 627, 633, 642, 648, 651, 652, 658, 660, 663, 666, 667, 672, 684d, 699d | Any deer |
| 460, 503, 574, 601, 603, 615, 673 | Any buck | ||
| 437, 636, 654, 681 | 2 pt. min. or antlerless | ||
| 578 | 3 pt. min. | ||
| Sept. 1-18 | 516, 524, 556, 560, 638, 653 | Any deer | |
| 506a, 530ad, 550, 602, 607, 612, 618 | Any buck | ||
| White-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-23 | 101, 105, 108, 111, 113 | Any buck |
| 117,121 | 4 pt. min. | ||
| Sept. 1-23 | 124, 204-250, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 373d, 379, 381 | Any deer | |
| 127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 145, 162, 163, 166, 169, 175, 178, 181, 186 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | ||
| Sept. 1-18 | 154, 172 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | |
| 149d | 3 pt. min. | ||
| Mule Deer | Sept. 1-23 | 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 124, 127, 145, 162, 163, 166, 169, 243, 334 | 3 pt. min. |
| 142, 175, 178, 181, 186, Deer Area 1010, 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 260, 372d, 373d, 379d, 381, 388 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | ||
| Sept. 1-18 | 149d, 154, 172, 251, 328, 335, 336, 340, 342, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 | 3 pt. min. | |
| Sept. 1-15 | 101, 130, 133, 136, 139, 204-242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 382 | 3 pt. min. | |
| Sept. 16-23 | 101, 130, 133, 136, 139, 204-242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 382 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | |
| Late Archery General Deer Seasons | |||
| Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 23-Dec. 8 | 437, 636, 654, 681 | 2 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Nov. 23-Dec. 15 | 466, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524, 556, 638, 648, 699d | Any deer | |
| 460, 506a, 530ad, 560, 572, 601, 607, 612, 615, 618 | Any buck | ||
| Nov. 23-Dec. 31 | 407, 410, 454, 505, 564a, 627, 642, 660, 663, 666, 667, 672 | Any deer | |
| 603, 624, 652 | Any buck | ||
| White-tailed Deer | Nov. 10-Dec. 15 | 101 | Any deer |
| Nov. 24-Dec. 9 | 117, 121 | 4 pt. min. | |
| Nov. 24-Dec. 15 | 105, 108, 124 | Any deer | |
| 127 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | ||
| Nov. 23-Dec. 8 | 145, 163, 178 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | |
| Nov. 23-Dec. 15 | 204, 209, 215, 233, 243, 272, 278d, 373d | Any deer | |
| Dec. 2-8 | 133, 136 | Antlerless | |
| Dec. 10-15 | 117, 121 | 4 pt. min. or antlerless | |
| Mule Deer | Nov. 21-30 | 209, 215, 233, 243, 250 | 3 pt. min. |
| Nov. 23-Dec. 8 | 346, 352, 364, 388, Deer Area 3682 | 3 pt. min. | |
| 145, 163, 178, 272, 278d, 373d | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | ||
| Dec. 2-8 | 133, 136 | Antlerless | |
| Dec. 9-31 | Deer Area 1021 | Antlerless | |
Be sure to check guidelines in your own state before you adhere to any dates listed above. State guidelines must conform with these federal ones in so far as they might fall within them, but exact dates in your state may fall anywhere inside of these dates. Also, be sure to obtain any permits for doe hunting.
Here are a few more useful points to consider:
The following are things that are legal during bow hunting season.
- to be afield with both gun and bow or with a gun and any arrows, except that persons who have a concealed weapon permit may carry a concealed handgun for self-defense only.
- to hunt with a crossbow and/or have a crossbow afield except for the holders of Class Y or YY permits during designated archery seasons. Crossbows must have:
- a draw weight of at least 125 pounds.
- a working safety.
- bolts at least 18 inches long.
- broadheads with at least two cutting edges at least ¾ inch in width.
- to hunt deer with arrows having less than two sharp cutting edges, measuring less than ¾ inch in width.
- to use a bow-locking device, except with a modified bow permit issued by the Director.
- to use an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head or shaft.
