Today is the opening day of hunting season. And if it isn’t, just wait a few days. Maybe a week at most. Either way, get ready.
It’s funny. We tend to think of opening day as a single date on the calendar, when in fact, more than 2,000 different hunting seasons—early seasons, late seasons, youth, bow, and gun seasons for dozens of critters in scores of zones—will open in 2018. And more than 700 of them will open in August and September. That means that on almost any given day now, someone’s favorite hunt, the one they’ve been waiting for all summer, is either opening or will very soon. Two archery deer seasons have opened already, in July. One of them is a rut hunt.
It also means that the excitement of opening day—the anticipation, the packing and fussing, the calling up of buds, the making of plans, the running around the house at midnight looking for that one thing you need but can’t find—doesn’t have to end, all season. You can ride that high from the dove opener to the first day of bow season right on through to the gun deer hunt, the traditional mid-November opener.
But that’s months away. In the meantime, there are teal buzzing, giant Canadas winging, and big fuzzy-horned bucks feeding in the beanfields. And today is opening day. Here’s your guide.
Opening Day in the West
Dreaming of elk? Wake up and go get one. Plus, tactics for the pronghorn rut and learn how to call in a bobcat. Read our guide to opening day in the West here.
Opening Day in the Midwest
Nothing beats the bow opener for patterning a giant buck. Plus, grouse, bears, and a mixed-bag waterfowl spread. Read our guide to opening day in the Midwest here.
Opening Day in the South
The healing power of an opening-day dove hunt. Plus, expert tips for hunting whitetail deer and early teal. Read our guide to opening day in the South here.
Opening Day in the East
How to still-hunt a big-woods bruin. Plus, squirrels, geese, and a buddy bowhunt. Read our guide to opening day in the East here.