Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season ends today, marking a significant year for hunters due to the introduction of a new Sunday hunting law that allowed hunting on 13 Sundays, enhancing participation without any reported safety incidents. While Sunday hunting will be limited to specific species for the remainder of the license year, the Game Commission plans to explore expanding Sunday hunting opportunities for future seasons.
Wisconsin deer hunters can continue their pursuit of antlerless deer with several upcoming late-season events, including the Muzzleloader season from December 1-10, the Statewide Antlerless-Only Hunt from December 11-14, and the Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt from December 24 to January 1, 2026. Hunters must register their harvested deer electronically by the following day and adhere to safety regulations, including wearing blaze orange. Additionally, the DNR encourages participation in the Deer Donation program and the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey to support wildlife management and community needs.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved significant reductions to nonresident deer licenses and tightened harvest limits in an effort to relieve hunting pressure on public land and help mule deer populations recover. Commissioners cited overwhelming public concern about overcrowding and declining deer numbers, while acknowledging the financial and economic impacts of the changes. Additional limits on antlerless tags were also adopted to further support mule deer conservation.
Starting in 2026, non-residents seeking elk and deer licenses in Idaho will need to enter a drawing to obtain a tag, replacing the previous first-come, first-served system. This change aims to address the high demand and fairness issues faced by out-of-state hunters, who previously waited in long lines to purchase tags. Non-residents must also pay a non-refundable $200 general hunting license fee, which allows participation in other hunting activities if they do not secure an elk or deer tag.
Starting in 2026, non-residents seeking elk and deer licenses in Idaho will need to enter a drawing to obtain a tag, replacing the previous first-come, first-served system. This change aims to address the high demand and fairness issues faced by out-of-state hunters, who previously waited in long lines to purchase tags. Non-residents must also pay a non-refundable $200 general hunting license fee, which allows participation in other hunting activities if they do not secure an elk or deer tag.
Starting in 2026, non-residents seeking elk and deer licenses in Idaho will need to enter a drawing to obtain a tag, replacing the previous first-come, first-served system. This change aims to address the high demand and fairness issues faced by out-of-state hunters, who previously waited in long lines to purchase tags. Non-residents must also pay a non-refundable $200 general hunting license fee, which allows participation in other hunting activities if they do not secure an elk or deer tag.
A Waco man, William Strasser, was arrested for hunting without permission on Baylor University property after being caught on a game camera. Texas Game Wardens, aided by local law enforcement, located him and found a loaded rifle hidden in an abandoned vehicle. Strasser was charged with hunting without landowner consent and criminal trespass with a firearm.
Wisconsin hunters saw a slight decline in buck harvests during the recent nine-day gun deer season, with a total of 182,468 deer registered, marking a nearly 1 percent decrease from last year. Contributing factors included a late season start after the peak rut and significant snowfall that affected deer movement, although some northern hunters reported success. Overall, the buck harvest dropped by 2.6 percent, while antlerless harvests increased by nearly 1 percent, and hunting incidents remained low, with only two reported, one of which was fatal.
A tragic incident occurred during a deer drive in Juniata County when a 26-year-old hunter was accidentally shot in the hip by a fellow hunter while trying to push deer toward waiting hunters. Despite being transported to the hospital, the victim did not survive his injuries. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating the incident, and no charges have been filed as of yet.
During Wisconsin’s deer hunting season opening weekend, two gun-related incidents occurred, including a fatal self-inflicted shooting in Fond du Lac County. Despite these incidents, hunters reported a successful start with 48,748 antlered deer and 41,923 antlerless deer harvested, both numbers showing increases from the previous year. The total number of registered hunters remained steady at 777,843.