The nine-day gun deer hunt may be over, but hunters can still participate in the muzzleloader season, archery and crossbow seasons and two antlerless-only gun hunts.
The muzzleloader deer season runs from Nov. 27 – Dec. 6 and gives hunters the opportunity to fill any unused deer tag and extend their gun deer season. Thousands of hunters participate in this hunt every year using both primitive and modern muzzleloaders.
The annual statewide four-day, antlerless-only hunt will take place Dec. 7-10. Hunters may fill any unused antlerless tags while hunting in the proper deer management zone, unit and land type specified on the tag.
In addition, the antlerless-only holiday hunt will be offered in 17 farmland units from Dec. 24 – Jan. 1, 2018. These seasons are used at the request of County Deer Advisory Councils and utilized in units with high deer numbers in need of antlerless harvest to slow overall herd growth. Hunters may fill any unused antlerless tags in their proper deer management zone, county and land type. Any unit where the holiday hunt is not offered will be open for archery and crossbow hunting, and bucks may be taken.
Any legal firearm, crossbow or archery equipment may be used during the statewide antlerless-only and holiday hunts.
Additional opportunities are also available for U.S. Armed Forces members and Class A and C disability permit holders. More information is available in the 2017 regulations [PDF].
The archery and crossbow seasons will remain open through Jan. 7, 2018 statewide.
Metro sub-units have special deer seasons that include the gun deer season to remain open through Dec. 6, while archery and crossbow seasons remains open through Jan. 31, 2018. All hunters except waterfowl hunters are required to wear blaze orange or blaze pink clothing during any open firearm deer hunt. Other outdoor enthusiasts recreating on public lands are encouraged to wear bright colors for their own safety during these periods.
For more information regarding which hunts may be offered in each county, check out the interactive deer map at keyword “DMU.“