Hunting

Viral disease reduces deer hunt licenses in North Dakota

May 10, 2022 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The number of licenses for this year's deer hunt in North Dakota has been reduced because of an outbreak of a viral disease last year.

The state Game and Fish Department is making 64,200 licenses available, down 8,000 from last year.

Hunters sue to allow Sunday hunting in Maine

April 27, 2022 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A hunting group is suing the state of Maine to overturn the state's longstanding ban on Sunday hunting.

Hunting bear, moose, wild turkey and deer is popular in Maine, but the state has barred Sunday hunting for generations.

South Dakota proposal would increase bighorn sheep licenses

April 2, 2022 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota wildlife officials are looking to increase the number of bighorn sheep hunting licenses for the next two years.

The bighorn sheep hunting season proposal for the 2022 and 2023 seasons increases the ram bighorn sheep licenses from eight to 10, with an additional license being made available for auction.

Bighorn sheep numbers continue to grow in North Dakota

April 2, 2022 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota wildlife officials say bighorn sheep are making a comeback in the state following a crippling disease outbreak in the Badlands.

There are almost 450 bighorns among populations managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the National Park Service and the Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Division, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

Alligator hunts possible next year in Mississippi

March 27, 2022 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The number of alligators in Pelahatchie Bay is becoming a problem so the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has proposed a hunting season to help reduce the population.

Latest attempt to allow Sunday hunting in Maine shot down

March 17, 2022 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An attempt to open up Sunday hunting in Maine has been shot down in committee.

Hunting big game animals such as bears and moose is a popular activity in Maine, but the state is home to a law that bars hunting on Sunday.

Officials investigate after 300 dead snow geese left on road

March 12, 2022 GMT

OMAHA, Neb (AP) — Nebraska Game and Parks officials are investigating after about 300 dead snow geese were found recently on a road west of Falls City in Richardson County.

Thousands of the birds are migrating through Nebraska and there is no hunting limits during conservation season.

Hunting licenses for elk up, moose licenses down in ND

March 8, 2022 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More hunting licenses for elk will be offered by North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department this year, but there will be fewer moose licenses.

A bighorn sheep hunting season could also take place, depending on the pending results of summer sheep population surveys.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife holds hearings on moose, deer

March 6, 2022 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is holding public hearings this month on next fall's proposed moose hunt in the northeastern part of the state and the health status of the deer herd.

Nebraska-born mountain lion killed in Montana

March 5, 2022 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A mountain lion that was born in Nebraska has been killed in Montana, a first for both states.

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that the mountain lion was just a kitten in 2018 when state biologists found it and a sibling in a den in the Pine Ridge area near Chadron and attached yellow ear tags.

Hearings on migratory game bird populations, hunting seasons

February 27, 2022 GMT

ESSEX, Vt. (AP) — Public hearings will be held this month on the status of the migratory game bird populations and this year's proposed hunting seasons for them in areas of Vermont and New York, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department said.

Hunter education courses being offered around the state

February 21, 2022 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is offering hunter education classes around the state for hunters who wish to purchase licenses.

Moose hunt proposed in northeastern Vermont

February 21, 2022 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is proposing a fall moose hunt in the northeastern part of the state to reduce the effects of winter ticks on the animal's population.

Wolf hunting, trapping ends in southwestern Montana

February 17, 2022 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wolf hunting and trapping has ended for the season in southwestern Montana after hunters killed 82 wolves in the region, the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Thursday.

Maine’s small game hunting seasons ending for the spring

February 12, 2022 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A handful of Maine's winter hunting seasons for small game animals are ending for the spring.

The bobcat season ends on Feb. 21, while the fox season lasts until Feb. 28.

Committee kills bill to give tribes free parks access

February 7, 2022 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota House committee on Monday killed a proposal to grant tribal members free access to the state's parks and recreation areas and to provide free licenses to hunt and fish on non-tribal land.

Montana curbs wolf hunt after 23 from Yellowstone killed

By MATTHEW BROWNJanuary 29, 2022 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife commissioners on Friday moved to shut down gray wolf hunting in a portion of the state around Yellowstone National Park, amid mounting criticism over a record number of the animals shot or trapped after roaming across the park boundary this winter.

Idaho wolf population holding steady, wildlife officials say

By KEITH RIDLERJanuary 27, 2022 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's wolf population remained steady at about 1,500 last year, state wildlife managers said Thursday.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game made the population estimate public during an Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting.

West Virginia DNR director Steve McDaniel retiring

January 20, 2022 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Steve McDaniel is retiring after five years as director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Gov. Jim Justice said McDaniel will take on an advisory role to the DNR when he retires at the end of the month.

Maine moose hunters had less success than normal in 2021

January 18, 2022 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine moose hunters had less success than usual during last year's hunt despite an increase in hunting permits.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said 68% of hunters harvested a moose during the fall hunt, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Swine fever in wild boars worries Italy’s pork industry

January 15, 2022 GMT

ROME (AP) — The discovery of African swine fever in northern Italy has Italian pork producers fearing significant economic damage to a major agricultural export and has forced curtailing of the official seasons to hunt for game and to gather prized truffles.

Preliminary numbers show drop in Vermont deer hunt harvest

December 30, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Hunters in Vermont took more than 15,000 deer in this year's seasons, several thousand less than in 2020, based on preliminary reports, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Maine’s hunting seasons for winter game birds in high gear

December 25, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's hunting seasons for winter game birds are in full swing.

Maine is home to numerous seasons for game birds such as ducks and quails. The seasons for ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail and pheasant all run until Dec.

Tribes: Oklahoma governor ending hunting license agreement

By KEN MILLERDecember 13, 2021 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma tribal leaders said Monday that Gov. Kevin Stitt's decision to not renew hunting and fishing license compacts with the Cherokee and Choctaw nations is part of an ongoing dispute between the tribes and the Republican governor.

Vermont’s muzzleloader deer hunting season ends on Sunday

December 11, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's deer hunting season is coming to a close.

The muzzleloader season, which started a week ago, ends on Sunday.

Final stretch of Maine’s deer hunt ends for 2021

December 11, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The final stretch of Maine's annual deer hunt is ending for the year on Saturday.

The last two weeks of the deer hunt are reserved for people who hunt using muzzleloaders and some archers.

Official: Commission may ‘step back’ from hunting buffer

December 10, 2021 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A member of Mississippi's wildlife, fisheries and parks commission says the commission may step back from a proposal to reduce the area for duck hunting at a popular wildlife management site.

Deer kills during WVa gun hunting season up over 2020

December 10, 2021 GMT

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The number of antlered white-tailed deer killed in West Virginia during the two-week firearms season went up 10% compared with a year ago, wildlife officials said.

Maine deer hunt enters final days for muzzleloaders

December 6, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's annual deer hunt is entering its final few days of the year with the season for hunters who use muzzleloaders.

Muzzleloaders are firearms that are loaded through the front end.

DNR: Nine-day gun season deer kill drops 8% from 2020

By TODD RICHMONDNovember 30, 2021 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Hunters killed thousands fewer deer during Wisconsin's nine-day gun season this year than in 2020, according to preliminary state Department of Natural Resources data released Monday.

Maine’s fall hunting seasons ending for the year

November 28, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's big fall hunting seasons ended for the year on Saturday.

The state's “big four” game animals are black bears, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and moose. The seasons for bears, deer and moose all ended on Saturday, and the turkey season ended earlier in the month.

Vermont’s rifle deer hunting season ends on Sunday

November 28, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's 16-day rifle deer hunting season is wind downing.

The season started on Nov. 13 and ends Sunday.

Deer hunters still have other opportunities this year.

Utah again proposes hunting-season ban on trail cameras

BY CARTER WILLIAMSNovember 28, 2021 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — State wildlife biologists are again proposing a ban on the use of trail cameras in hunting a few months after they pulled the proposal to further survey hunters after some initial backlash.

New Hampshire, Vermont asked to test deer for COVID-19

November 26, 2021 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — With hunting season underway, wildlife agencies in New Hampshire and Vermont have started testing for COVID-19 in white-tailed deer, as antibodies for the virus have been found in deer in other states, according to a government study.

Missing hunter found in North Carolina’s Green Swamp

November 25, 2021 GMT

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina hunter who disappeared this week in North Carolina’s Green Swamp has reunited with his family after searchers found him “cold, hungry, and dehydrated,” a sheriff's office said.

Maine muzzleloaders to take to the woods soon

November 22, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine hunters who harvest deer with the use of muzzleloaders will start their season soon.

Muzzleloaders are firearms that use projectiles that are loaded from the front end of the gun.

West Virginia’s buck gun hunting season starts Monday

November 22, 2021 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The annual buck firearms season is expected to bring thousands of hunters to West Virginia's woodlands.

The season traditionally opens on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Buck takes shelter inside church on hunting season’s 1st day

November 16, 2021 GMT

STURGIS, Mich. (AP) — A 10-point buck sought sanctuary inside a southern Michigan church on opening day of the state's firearm deer hunting season.

Pastors at Grace Sturgis encountered the buck inside the church's auditorium on Monday before it leapt through a window and back into the wild.

Maine’s big fall hunting seasons coming to a close

November 15, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's big four hunting seasons are coming to a close for the year.

The seasons for moose, white-tailed deer and black bears all end on Nov. 27. The season for wild turkey has already ended.

Modern gun deer season opens in Kentucky

November 15, 2021 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's modern gun deer season has opened.

The season opened statewide on Nov. 13 and continues through Nov. 28, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said in a statement.

Commissioners asked to end deer bow hunting program in Fargo

November 14, 2021 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Commissioners in North Dakota's largest city will be asked Monday to consider ending a wildlife management program that allows bow hunters to kill deer within city limits.

Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibloski said a recent study shows that harvest rates are low, the plan is no longer effective and it has created a public safety threat.

Maine’s moose hunters not having much luck this fall

November 7, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's moose hunters have not had a lot of success this fall.

The state is home to an annual fall moose hunt that attracts tens of thousands of applicants for a limited number of permits.

Walz takes to field for deer opener; visits CWD testing site

November 6, 2021 GMT

PINE CITY, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz was among the thousands of hunters who took to the field Saturday for Minnesota’s firearms deer hunting season opener.

Walz hunted with Brady Crocker and Kevin Hinze on the Hinze family’s private property in Pine County.

Rhode Island deer hunting season opens this weekend

November 6, 2021 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — With Rhode Island's deer hunting season underway, state wildlife officials are reminding hunters that deer taken during the first two days of the muzzleloader season Saturday and Sunday must be physically checked at one of five state-operated sites.

Maine turkey hunt ending for the fall

November 6, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's annual fall turkey hunt is ending for the year.

The state is home to spring and fall turkey hunts. The fall hunt, which allows hunters to take turkeys of either sex, closed on Saturday.

Electronic land posting map should help hunters, landowners

November 5, 2021 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Hunters and landowners in North Dakota had a new tool at their disposal during the opening day of deer gun season on Friday.

An electronic land posting map meant to keep people from hunting without permission is getting its first use in the field this fall.

Vermont’s regular deer hunting season starts Nov. 13

November 1, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's 16-day regular deer hunting season is approaching.

The season starts on Nov. 13 and ends on Nov. 28.

A hunter may take one legal buck if they did not already get one during the archery deer season, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department said.

Hunters harvest 30 moose in New Hampshire this season

November 1, 2021 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Hunters harvested 30 moose this hunting season in New Hampshire — a 73% percent success rate, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said.

Forty-one hunters took part in the nine-day hunt, which ended Oct.

Expanded Maine deer hunt gets started with Youth Deer Day

October 23, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's expanded deer hunt got started on Saturday with a special day for young hunters.

The state's Youth Deer Day allows hunters who hold a valid junior hunting license to pursue deer on Saturday.

Vermont’s youth novice hunting weekend Saturday and Sunday

October 23, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's annual youth and novice deer hunting weekend is underway.

Both young and novice hunters on Saturday and Sunday must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years old who has Vermont hunting license.