A state’s deer calendar is several seasons laid over one another. Each season has its own dates, allowed equipment and sometimes its own license.
Season types you will see
- Archery. The longest season in most states. In our three starting states it runs from late September (Minnesota Sept. 19, Ohio Sept. 26) or early October (Texas Oct. 3) into winter. Texas requires an archery endorsement for the archery-only season.
- Youth seasons. Short windows when only young hunters may take deer, such as Ohio’s Nov. 21–22 weekend and Texas’s Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 early youth season.
- Firearms (general) season. Ohio’s is a handful of days in late fall and early winter, and Minnesota’s runs Nov. 7–22 in the 100-series permit areas and Nov. 7–15 in the 200-series ones, while Texas runs a long general season that splits into North and South zones.
- Muzzleloader. A separate season (or window) for muzzleloading rifles, as in Minnesota in late November and early December, and in Ohio’s early January days.
Limits depend on where you hunt
Bag limits are not one number in most states. Texas sets limits by county within a yearly cap of five deer (no more than three bucks). Ohio has a statewide limit of six deer, only one antlered, with county limits varying. Minnesota’s limits vary by permit area, so you check your area before you buy a license.
Before you buy a license
- Find your county, zone or permit area on the agency page.
- Match the season to your equipment.
- Check whether you need an endorsement, permit or tag in addition to the base license.
- Check reporting rules after harvest. Some Texas counties require it.
Our deer seasons hub shows dates and base fees for each state we have verified, with the source and verification date. Always confirm with the agency, because season dates and zones are updated every year.