2025 Archery Big-Game Hunting Seasons by State (U.S.)
Planning a bowhunt in 2025? Use this state-by-state guide to find archery season windows for big game (whitetail, mule deer, elk, etc.). Because many states split seasons by WMU/GMU, region, species, or weapon type, always confirm details on the official agency page linked in the table before you hunt.
How to Read This Table
- Species/Game: Primary big-game covered (deer, elk, etc.).
- Archery Start/End: Either statewide dates or representative windows. If a state publishes only unit-specific dates, we note “varies by unit.”
- Notes: Split seasons, metro/urban programs, late archery, or special segments.
- Official Source: Direct link to the state wildlife agency’s 2025–26 season/regulations page.
2025 Archery Big-Game Seasons (State by State)
| State | Species / Game | Archery Start | Archery End | Notes / Zones / Segments | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Whitetail deer | Oct 15, 2025 | Feb 10, 2026 | Varies by zone; CMZ & A/C shown | Outdoor Alabama – Deer Season |
| Alaska | Deer/elk/caribou (unit-specific) | Varies | Varies | See GMU regs; many bow-only segments by unit | ADFG 2025–26 Regulations PDF |
| Arizona | Deer/elk (unit-specific) | Varies | Varies | All dates by hunt code & unit | AZGFD 2025–26 Regulations |
| Arkansas | Whitetail deer | Sept 27, 2025 | Feb 28, 2026 | Early Buck Archery Sept 6–8 in some zones | AGFC – Deer Seasons & Limits |
| California | Deer (by zone) | Varies (many open mid-July) | Varies | AO/archery-only & zone hunts differ | CDFW – Deer Hunting |
| Colorado | Deer/elk (archery) | Sept 2, 2025 | Sept 30, 2025 | Statewide window; unit/permit specific | Colorado Parks & Wildlife |
| Connecticut | Deer (by zone) | Varies | Varies | Different dates for private vs state lands | CT DEEP – Hunting |
| Delaware | Whitetail deer | Sept 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2026 | Statewide archery & crossbow | DNREC eRegs – Deer Seasons |
| Florida | Whitetail deer | Zone-based | Zone-based | Dates vary by Zone A–D & WMA | Florida eRegs – Deer |
| Georgia | Whitetail deer | Sep 13, 2025 | Oct 10, 2025 | Northern Zone example; South differs | GA DNR – Hunting |
| Hawaii | Axis/other (island specific) | Varies | Varies | By island permit & unit | DLNR – Hunting |
| Idaho | Mule/whitetail deer | Unit-specific | Unit-specific | See Big Game brochure | IDFG – Big Game |
| Illinois | Whitetail deer | Oct 1, 2025 | Jan 18, 2026 | Split around firearm season; Chicago-area dates differ | IDNR – Archery Deer |
| Indiana | Whitetail deer | Oct 1, 2025 | Jan 4, 2026 | Statewide archery window | Indiana DNR – Deer |
| Iowa | Whitetail deer | Oct 1, 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 | Late split: Dec 22, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026 | Iowa DNR – Seasons |
| Kansas | Whitetail/mule deer | Sept 15, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Youth/disabled & muzzleloader precede archery | KDWPT – Seasons |
| Kentucky | Whitetail deer | Sept 6, 2025 | Jan 19, 2026 | Crossbow overlaps | KY F&W – Deer |
| Louisiana | Whitetail deer | Area-based (some open Sept 20) | Varies | By Deer Area; some archery begin Sept 20 | LDWF – 2025–26 Notice |
| Maine | Whitetail deer | Expanded Archery: Sept 6, 2025 | Expanded: Dec 13, 2025 | Regular Archery & any-deer permits vary by WMD | ME IFW – Season Dates |
| Maryland | Whitetail & sika deer | Sept 5, 2025 | Jan 31, 2026 | Multiple Sunday openings; primitive Feb 2–4, 2026 | MD DNR – Seasons Calendar |
| Massachusetts | Whitetail deer | Oct 6, 2025 | Nov 29, 2025 | All zones archery window | MassWildlife – Deer Regs |
| Michigan | Whitetail deer | Oct 1, 2025 | Nov 14, 2025 | Second archery split Dec 1 – Jan 1, 2026 (some to Jan 31) | Michigan DNR – Calendar |
| Minnesota | Whitetail deer | Sep 13, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Check metro/CWD designations | MN DNR – Seasons |
| Mississippi | Whitetail deer | Oct 15, 2025 | Nov 21, 2025 | Additional archery windows & special Aug segment; zone-specific | MDWFP – Seasons |
| Missouri | Whitetail deer | Sept 15, 2025 | Nov 14, 2025 | Second archery: Nov 26, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026 | MDC – Seasons |
| Montana | Deer & elk (archery) | Sept 6, 2025 | Oct 19, 2025 | Shoulder seasons vary; see species guides | Montana FWP – Seasons |
| Nebraska | Whitetail/mule deer | Sept 1, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Antlerless/landowner programs vary | NE Game & Parks – Seasons |
| Nevada | Deer/elk (draw, unit-specific) | Varies | Varies | All archery dates by hunt/unit | NDOW Big Game Regs |
| New Hampshire | Whitetail deer | Sept 15, 2025 | Dec 15, 2025 | WMU A ends Dec 8; others Dec 15 | NHFG – Dates & Seasons |
| New Jersey | Whitetail deer | Zone-specific | Zone-specific | Archery spans fall–winter by Regulation Set | NJ Fish & Wildlife – Deer |
| New Mexico | Deer/elk (draw, unit-specific) | Varies | Varies | Archery by unit & hunt code | NMDGF – Hunting Calendar |
| New York | Deer | Northern Zone Early Bow: Sept 27, 2025 | Varies | Ends day before regular season in each zone | NY DEC – Deer & Bear Seasons |
| North Carolina | Whitetail deer | Sept 13, 2025 | Varies by zone | Western/Central/NW/NE zone archery splits | NCWRC – 2025–26 Dates (PDF) |
| North Dakota | Mule & whitetail deer | Aug 29, 2025 | Jan 4, 2026 | Statewide bow season | NDGF – Deer |
| Ohio | Whitetail deer | Sept 27, 2025 | Feb 1, 2026 | County bag limits apply | Ohio DNR – 2025–26 News |
| Oklahoma | Deer & elk (archery) | Oct 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 | Applies statewide; see regs | ODWC – Seasons |
| Oregon | Deer (western) archery | Aug 30, 2025 | Sept 28, 2025 | Late archery in some units Nov–Dec; east is controlled | ODFW – Big Game Seasons |
| Pennsylvania | Whitetail deer | WMU-based | WMU-based | Many archery units open early Oct | PA Game Commission – Seasons |
| Rhode Island | Deer (zones) | Varies | Varies | Multiple zones & refuge-specific dates | RI DEM – Hunting |
| South Carolina | Whitetail deer | Game-zone based | Game-zone based | Private-land archery windows mid-Sept; see zones | SCDNR eRegs – Deer (Private Lands) |
| South Dakota | Whitetail deer (archery) | Sept 1, 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 | Municipal/archery and unit seasons listed | SD GFP – Deer |
| Tennessee | Whitetail deer | Sept 27, 2025 | Nov 7, 2025 (split) | Early archery 9/27–10/24; resumes 10/27–11/7; August velvet archery 8/22–8/24 (select WMAs/private) | TWRA – Deer |
| Texas | Whitetail deer | Sept 27, 2025 | Oct 31, 2025 | Most counties; see county exceptions | TPWD – 2025–26 Seasons |
| Utah | Deer/elk (general & LE) | Varies | Varies | General deer archery late Aug–Sept (tentative); unit-specific | UDWR – Tentative 2025–26 Dates |
| Vermont | Whitetail deer (archery) | Oct 1, 2025 | Nov 14, 2025 | Reopens Dec 1–15 (split archery) | VT eRegs – Quick Guide |
| Virginia | Whitetail deer | Urban Archery: Sept 6, 2025 | Oct 3, 2025 (early segment) | Early & late archery seasons by county; NOVA late urban through Mar 2026 in some areas | VA DWR – Deer Regs |
| Washington | Deer (archery) | Sept 1, 2025 | Late Sept (early archery) | GMU-based early/late archery windows | WDFW – 2025 Big Game Pamphlet |
| West Virginia | Whitetail deer | Sept 27, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Archery & crossbow | WV DNR – Seasons |
| Wisconsin | Whitetail deer (archery/x-bow) | Sept 13, 2025 | Jan 4, 2026 | Metro & select counties to Jan 31 | WI DNR – Dates |
| Wyoming | Elk/deer (area-specific) | Sept 1, 2025 (many elk archery) | Sept 30, 2025 (typical) | All dates by hunt area | WGFD – Regulations |
Tips & Notes
- Many states run split archery seasons (fall + late December/January). Check both segments.
- Crossbow rules differ by state—sometimes included under archery, sometimes restricted.
- Unit/WMU/GMU frameworks (common out West) mean dates differ even within a state.
- Some areas offer urban/suburban programs or extended late archery to control deer numbers—great options if you meet local requirements.
Disclaimer
Always verify: This guide links to official sources for the 2025 season, but seasons and rules can change by unit/WMU, county, weapon type, and species. Before you hunt, confirm dates, bag limits, and all legal requirements on your state’s website. We’re not responsible for changes after publication.