Every species, one table
All 178 game species we cover, in one sortable place: what it is, when the seasons generally run, and how it is usually hunted. Every line is generated from the full profile behind it, so the table stays in step with the guides. Not sure where to start? Try the game picker instead, or browse by category.
Season notes are broad-brush: exact dates, bag limits and legal methods are set state by state, every year - always check your state agency via the regulations directory.
| Seasons (typical) | How it's hunted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Addax | Big Game | Because the addax is an exotic rather than a native game animal, there is no draw and no closed season in… | Spot-and-stalk across open ranch country is the defining method for addax and a genuinely engaging one. |
| American Alligator | Big Game | Alligator seasons are typically short and fall in the late summer to early fall warm-water period - for… | Alligator hunting uses specialized, regulated methods that differ from any other big-game hunt. |
| American Badger | Predators & Varmints | Often taken during furbearer and predator seasons in fall and winter when pelts are prime, frequently while… | Predator calling with rodent-in-distress sounds, spot-and-stalk in open rodent country, and shots at badgers… |
| American Black Duck | Waterfowl | Black duck hunting follows the federal migratory bird framework | Success on black ducks is a study in restraint. |
| American Crow | Upland Birds | Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, states set crow seasons that may not exceed 124 days per year and may… | Decoy-and-call hunting dominates: set crow decoys, often with an owl decoy, then call to imitate a fight, a… |
| American Wigeon | Waterfowl | Wigeon are hunted during the regular fall and winter duck seasons set within the federal migratory bird… | The classic approach is decoying over water: set a spread in shallow feeding areas or along the edge of a… |
| American Woodcock | Upland Birds | The American woodcock is a migratory game bird managed under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the… | The classic and most rewarding method for woodcock is hunting over a pointing dog in young, dense cover. |
| Antelope Jackrabbit | Small Game | Often huntable year-round as small game or lightly regulated where locally abundant | Spot-and-stalk across open desert and walking them up from forms, with fast running shots the rule. |
| Aoudad | Big Game | Because the aoudad is a free-range exotic, hunting rules are relaxed compared with native game. | - Spot-and-stalk is the premier method and the heart of aoudad hunting. |
| Arctic Fox | Predators & Varmints | Taken during the northern furbearer and trapping seasons of the deep winter when pelts are prime. | Predator calling on the tundra, spot-and-stalk over snow, and regulated trapping are the main methods in the… |
| Argali | Big Game | Hunted in the cold months under permit, involving long horseback and foot travel across remote high country. | Extreme high-altitude spot-and-stalk with local guides and horses, glassing enormous country for a mature ram… |
| Asian Water Buffalo | Big Game | In Australia buffalo are hunted through the dry season | The method is spot-and-stalk on foot across open floodplain or brush, closing carefully on a mature bull. |
| Axis Deer | Big Game | As a free-range exotic, the axis deer is generally subject to relaxed rules. | - Spot-and-stalk is highly effective in the open oak-savanna and brush country axis deer favor. |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Upland Birds | Band-tailed pigeons are migratory game birds, and their seasons are short and tightly regulated under the… | The classic way to hunt band-tailed pigeons is pass-shooting birds as they move along their daily travel… |
| Banteng | Big Game | Hunted during the dry season | Spot-and-stalk and tracking on foot through forest and floodplain edge, guided by outfitters holding access… |
| Barasingha | Big Game | Because the barasingha in the United States exists as a ranch-raised exotic outside the state game-season… | Spot-and-stalk is the primary method for barasingha, well suited to their open, grassy habitat: glass to… |
| Barrow's Goldeneye | Waterfowl | Hunted in the regular duck seasons of late fall and winter over open water and rivers. | Diver decoy spreads on open water and rivers, layout or shoreline blinds, and pass-shooting fast birds… |
| Bison | Big Game | Wild bison seasons vary widely by state and herd, but generally fall in autumn and into winter, often running… | Bison hunting is primarily a spot-and-stalk pursuit, though it is shaped less by the difficulty of getting… |
| Black Bear | Big Game | Black bear seasons vary widely by state and fall into spring and fall windows. | The legal methods depend entirely on the state. |
| Black Scoter | Waterfowl | Hunted through the sea-duck season of late fall and winter, from layout boats and from shoreline points. | Long lines of scoter and eider decoys off points, hunted from anchored layout boats in the surf zone. |
| Black Wildebeest | Big Game | Hunted year-round on many ranches, with cooler months best for the open walking. | Open-country spot-and-stalk into grazing herds, picking a mature bull as the herd mills and circles. |
| Black-Bellied Whistling Duck | Waterfowl | They are hunted under the federal migratory bird framework during each state's regular duck season, and they… | Pass-shooting and decoying over flooded fields, rice, or small ponds both work well, since the birds commit… |
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit | Small Game | In many western states the black-tailed jackrabbit is classified as a nongame or unprotected species, often… | Two approaches dominate. |
| Blackbuck | Big Game | As a non-native exotic on Texas private land, blackbuck generally may be hunted year-round with a valid Texas… | Spot-and-stalk is the defining method for blackbuck and the heart of the hunt's appeal. |
| Blesbok | Big Game | Hunted year-round on many properties | Spot-and-stalk across open plains, closing through folds in the ground and picking a ram from the edge of the… |
| Blue Duiker | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Still-hunting and patient waiting in forest, and shooting over trails and feeding spots; close, quick shots… |
| Blue-winged Teal | Waterfowl | The blue-wing's early migration is the reason many states hold a special early September teal season… | Early teal hunting is classic warm-weather waterfowling over shallow water. |
| Bobcat | Predators & Varmints | Bobcat seasons are set by each state and typically fall in late fall and winter, when pelts are prime and… | Two main legal methods dominate where they are permitted. |
| Bobwhite Quail | Upland Birds | Quail seasons generally run from fall into late winter | Quail hunting is built around pointing dogs - English pointers, English setters, Brittanys, and German… |
| Bontebok | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar, most active feeding in the open early and late in the day. | Open-country spot-and-stalk, using the sparse cover of the fynbos to close within range of a wary ram. |
| Brant | Waterfowl | Hunted in the coastal waterfowl seasons of late fall and winter, on the tides when birds trade between rafts… | Layout boats, shoreline blinds and floating spreads over open bays; a realistic brant decoy spread and a low… |
| Bufflehead | Waterfowl | Buffleheads are hunted during the regular duck season | Bufflehead hunting is classic diver hunting on a small scale. |
| Burchell's Zebra | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar | Spot-and-stalk into grazing herds is the norm, picking a lone or edge animal and waiting for a clear… |
| Bushbuck | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar with the best odds in the first and last light of the dry season, when… | Still-hunting and glassing thicket edges at first and last light, or ambushing feeding lanes near water. |
| Bushpig | Big Game | Hunted year-round on many properties, most often at night over bait or with hounds when they move to feed. | Baiting and night hunting from blinds where legal, hound hunting through the thickets, and ambushing… |
| Cackling Goose | Waterfowl | Hunted in the regular goose seasons of fall and winter, over fields and roost water, sometimes with separate… | Field spreads of goose decoys, layout blinds and calling under the flight lines; they respond to the same… |
| California Quail | Upland Birds | California quail are hunted in the fall and winter under each state's small-game framework | The classic way to hunt California quail is to walk them up, ideally behind a good bird dog. |
| Canada Goose | Waterfowl | Canada goose seasons are set within the federal framework and vary by flyway and state, but the structure is… | Field hunting over decoys is the signature method. |
| Canvasback | Waterfowl | Canvasbacks are migratory birds managed federally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and their season falls… | Canvasbacks are hunted on big open water, and the classic method is the open-water diver setup: large spreads… |
| Cape Buffalo | Big Game | Buffalo are hunted on the dry-season safari calendar | The standard method is tracking on foot behind a professional hunter and trackers, closing to bow or rifle… |
| Cape Grysbok | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Still-hunting and glassing thick cover at dawn and dusk, and ambushing feeding edges; quick close shots are… |
| Caribou | Big Game | Caribou seasons in Alaska vary by herd and unit, but generally run from roughly August into September and… | Caribou hunting blends spot-and-stalk with the art of intercepting a moving herd. |
| Chamois | Big Game | In New Zealand, chamois may be hunted year-round on public land, but the timing that matters most is the… | Chamois hunting is spot-and-stalk in its purest and most physical form. |
| Chukar | Upland Birds | Chukars are an introduced upland game bird managed by state wildlife agencies, and seasons typically run… | Chukar hunting is primarily a walk-up hunt over a dog. |
| Cinnamon Teal | Waterfowl | Cinnamon teal migrate early, but the special early teal season is not a western institution: the federal… | This is warm-weather western waterfowling over shallow water. |
| Clapper Rail | Upland Birds | Rail seasons fall under federal migratory-bird frameworks and typically open around September 1 in coastal… | The classic method is poling a shallow skiff or pirogue through flooded marsh on a high spring or wind-driven… |
| Columbia Blacktail Deer | Big Game | Oregon, Washington, and California manage blacktail deer with a mix of general and limited-entry tags across… | Blacktail hunting demands methods suited to thick cover. |
| Common Eider | Waterfowl | Hunted in the sea-duck seasons of late fall and winter, from rocks, islands and layout boats in cold, often… | Long lines of sea-duck decoys off points and ledges, hunted from anchored layout boats or rock blinds. |
| Common Goldeneye | Waterfowl | Goldeneyes are hunted within the general migratory duck season, and they shine in the late season - the… | Goldeneyes are hunted over open water on big lakes and rivers, using a diving-duck decoy rig - often long… |
| Common Merganser | Waterfowl | Merganser hunting falls under the federal migratory bird framework | Because mergansers decoy less readily than dabblers, hunters most often take them by pass-shooting along… |
| Common Porcupine | Small Game | Seasons vary enormously by state | Spot-and-stalk works well because porcupines are slow and often visible feeding in trees or crossing openings. |
| Common Reedbuck | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Still-hunting and glassing the grass and reed edges, and walking up rams from cover, with quick shots as they… |
| Corsican Ram (Ovis aries (feral hybrid)) | Big Game | As ranch exotics they are available year-round, with fall and winter offering cooler, more comfortable… | Spot-and-stalk through brushy hill country, glassing for a heavy-horned ram and closing through cover; some… |
| Coues Deer | Big Game | Coues deer are hunted through state draw tag systems in Arizona and New Mexico | Coues deer hunting is, above all, a glassing game - arguably the most glassing-intensive deer hunt in North… |
| Coyote | Predators & Varmints | Coyote regulations vary widely by state. | Calling is the signature coyote-hunting method. |
| Dall Sheep | Big Game | Dall sheep seasons in Alaska generally run from August 10 through mid-September, one of the most consistent… | Dall sheep hunting is classic spot-and-stalk, backpack-style mountain hunting. |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep | Big Game | Desert bighorn seasons typically run from roughly October into December | Desert bighorn hunting is glassing-intensive spot-and-stalk, much like mountain sheep hunting but shaped by… |
| Desert Cottontail | Small Game | Often huntable with long fall-winter seasons and generous limits | Walk-up hunting through brush and washes, jump-shooting rabbits from cover, and still-hunting the edges early… |
| Dusky Grouse | Upland Birds | Dusky grouse seasons typically open in early fall | The dominant method is a simple walk-up hunt in good habitat. |
| Eastern Cottontail | Small Game | Rabbit seasons are generous, typically running from fall through late winter | The classic method is hunting behind beagles: the hounds strike a scent trail, jump the rabbit, and run it in… |
| Eland | Big Game | On African safaris, eland are hunted during the southern-hemisphere hunting season, broadly April through… | Spot-and-stalk and tracking are the classic eland methods. |
| Elk | Big Game | Western states manage elk through a mix of draw-only and over-the-counter tags depending on the state, unit… | Two methods dominate. |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Upland Birds | In many states the Eurasian collared-dove, as a non-native invasive species, has no closed season, no daily… | Two simple approaches account for most collared-dove hunting: pass-shooting and hunting over decoys. |
| Fallow Deer | Big Game | As a non-native exotic on Texas private land, fallow deer generally may be hunted year-round with a valid… | Spot-and-stalk and ambush hunting both work well for fallow deer thanks to their use of open and semi-open… |
| Feral Hog | Big Game | Because feral hogs are a non-native, destructive species, most states impose few or no seasonal restrictions… | Hog hunting accommodates many approaches. |
| Fox Squirrel | Small Game | Squirrel seasons are typically long and generous | There are two classic methods. |
| Fulvous Whistling Duck | Waterfowl | There is no special season | Most are taken incidentally over decoys in rice fields, marshes, and flooded pastures during general duck… |
| Gadwall | Waterfowl | Gadwall are hunted during the regular waterfowl seasons | Gadwall decoy readily, which makes a classic decoy-and-call setup the bread-and-butter method. |
| Gambel's Quail | Upland Birds | Gambel's quail seasons run from fall into winter | Hunting Gambel's quail is a walking, covey-busting pursuit. |
| Gemsbok | Big Game | In New Mexico, free-ranging gemsbok are managed as a game animal and hunted through a limited draw with a set… | Spot-and-stalk across open desert is the defining method for gemsbok and a physically demanding one. |
| Gray Fox | Predators & Varmints | Gray fox hunting is primarily a fall-and-winter pursuit, timed to prime fur and cold-weather activity, though… | Calling is the dominant method, and the gray fox's habits make it a thrilling one. |
| Gray Partridge | Upland Birds | Gray partridge are an introduced upland game bird managed by state wildlife agencies, and seasons generally… | Gray partridge are hunted as a classic walk-up upland bird, and a dog is a major asset. |
| Gray Squirrel | Small Game | Squirrel seasons are among the longest and most generous of any game animal | There are two classic methods. |
| Gray Wolf | Predators & Varmints | Where legal, wolves are hunted in fall and winter seasons, often incidental to other big-game hunts or by… | Calling with prey-in-distress and howl sequences, tracking in snow, and glassing big country; in some areas… |
| Greater Kudu | Big Game | Because greater kudu are an introduced exotic on private land in Texas, they may generally be hunted… | Free-range spot-and-stalk in thick cover is the classic and most rewarding way to hunt greater kudu, and it… |
| Greater Prairie-Chicken | Upland Birds | This is the most important point about the greater prairie-chicken | Where legal, the greater prairie-chicken is hunted primarily by walking up birds across native prairie and by… |
| Greater Sage-Grouse | Upland Birds | This is the most important section to read honestly. | Where a legal season exists, the standard method is walking large blocks of sagebrush, often near water… |
| Greater White-fronted Goose | Waterfowl | White-fronted goose hunting follows the federal migratory bird framework | The classic approach is field hunting over decoys. |
| Green-winged Teal | Waterfowl | Because the green-winged teal lingers into and through the regular season, most hunters take them during the… | Green-winged teal hunting is small-water work over a modest decoy spread. |
| Grey Duiker | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Still-hunting and glassing bush edges at dawn and dusk, and ambushing feeding lanes; quick close shots are… |
| Grizzly Bear | Big Game | Where legal in Alaska, grizzly seasons fall in spring (roughly April-May, when bears emerge and hides are… | - Spot-and-stalk is the primary fair-chase method. |
| Harlequin Duck | Waterfowl | Where legal, harlequins fall under sea duck seasons, typically fall through winter along the coast. | Most harlequins are taken incidentally by sea duck hunters decoying or pass-shooting over rocky open water… |
| Himalayan Snowcock | Upland Birds | Hunted in a short fall season in Nevada, requiring a strenuous high-altitude backpack or day hike into the… | Climb high before dawn, glass the slopes for feeding birds, and stalk within range before they flush downhill… |
| Himalayan Tahr | Big Game | In New Zealand, tahr are managed as an introduced species and can be hunted year-round on much public… | Tahr hunting is spot-and-stalk mountain hunting in its purest, most demanding form. |
| Hog Deer | Big Game | Where hog deer are hunted as wild game - most notably Victoria, Australia - the season is short, tightly… | The dominant methods are glassing and spot-and-stalk along the edges of feeding lanes, and patient ambush… |
| Hooded Merganser | Waterfowl | The hooded merganser is hunted under the regular duck season in most states, though mergansers often carry… | There are two classic ways to hunt hoodies, and both suit small water. |
| Ibex | Big Game | Ibex seasons are set by each host country and region and vary widely by species, so there is no single… | Ibex hunting is spot-and-stalk mountain hunting at its most classic. |
| Impala | Big Game | On safari, impala can be hunted year-round in many areas, but the southern-hemisphere winter months of… | Spot-and-stalk is the classic impala method. |
| Javelina | Big Game | Javelina seasons vary by state and weapon. | - Spot-and-stalk is the classic and most effective method. |
| King Eider | Waterfowl | Hunted in the sea-duck seasons of late fall and winter from layout boats and rock blinds in the far north. | Long lines of eider decoys off points and ledges, hunted from anchored layout boats in cold, often rough seas. |
| Klipspringer | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Spot-and-stalk on foot through rocky terrain, glassing kopjes for a ram standing sentinel and closing for a… |
| Lesser Scaup | Waterfowl | Scaup are hunted during the regular duck season | Scaup hunting is big-water hunting, and the signature method is a long-line diver spread. |
| Lichtenstein's Hartebeest | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season safari calendar | Spot-and-stalk and tracking through open miombo woodland, glassing for a mature bull and closing in the cover. |
| Long-tailed Duck | Waterfowl | Hunted in sea-duck seasons of late fall and winter from layout boats in open water. | Sea-duck decoy lines off points and open water, hunted from layout boats; fast pass-shooting is common. |
| Mallard | Waterfowl | Duck seasons are set within a federal framework, so dates and limits vary by flyway and state, but most run… | The standard approach is hunting over decoys from a blind or layout. |
| Markhor | Big Game | Hunted in the cold months | Physical high-altitude spot-and-stalk with local guides, glassing for a mature buck and making a long, steep… |
| Marsh Rabbit | Small Game | Hunted in the fall and winter small-game seasons of the Southeast | Jump-shooting the marsh and swamp edges, and running them with beagles through the wet cover, taking shots as… |
| Montezuma Quail | Upland Birds | Hunted in the fall and winter quail seasons of the Southwest, best after good summer rains produce tall grass. | Walking the grassy slopes over close-working pointing dogs, which are almost essential given how tightly the… |
| Moose | Big Game | Moose hunting in the United States is tightly controlled. | Calling is the signature moose method during the rut, and it is a thrilling one: the hunter imitates the… |
| Mottled Duck | Waterfowl | Mottled duck seasons fall within the general duck framework but are managed conservatively because the birds… | The classic approach is a small decoy spread over shallow, grassy marsh water, worked from a well-hidden… |
| Mouflon | Big Game | As an exotic in Texas, the mouflon is not regulated by a state-set season, and on private land it may… | Spot-and-stalk is the classic and most rewarding method for mouflon, and it plays out like a scaled-down… |
| Mountain Goat | Big Game | Mountain goat seasons generally run from roughly September through November, varying by state and unit. | Mountain goat hunting is spot-and-stalk; their white bodies stand out against rock, so the defining challenge… |
| Mountain Lion | Big Game | Mountain lion seasons are set by each western state and most commonly run through the late fall and winter… | The dominant and most effective method of mountain lion hunting is hunting with trained hounds. |
| Mountain Quail | Upland Birds | Mountain quail seasons generally open in the fall and can run into winter where regulations allow… | Hunting mountain quail is a walk-up affair on steep ground, and locating birds by their call is often the key. |
| Mountain Reedbuck | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Spot-and-stalk on foot up rocky slopes, glassing for a ram and closing across broken ground for a shot. |
| Mourning Dove | Upland Birds | Dove season is set within the federal migratory-bird framework | The standard method is the field shoot: hunters position themselves around a harvested grain field, sunflower… |
| Mule Deer | Big Game | Western states set mule deer seasons through a draw-based tag system in most units | Spot-and-stalk is the signature mule deer method and the one most worth mastering. |
| Muskox | Big Game | Muskox in Alaska are managed under a tightly controlled, draw-based permit system | Spot-and-stalk across open tundra is the defining method for muskox, though the stalk is short and the… |
| Nilgai | Big Game | Because nilgai are a non-native exotic species in Texas, they are not protected by a state-set game season… | Spot-and-stalk is the classic and most rewarding method for nilgai. |
| Nine-Banded Armadillo | Small Game | Rules vary sharply by state, so verify locally. | Spot-and-stalk at dusk and after dark is standard: walk field edges and creek bottoms slowly with a light and… |
| Northern Pintail | Waterfowl | Northern pintails are migratory birds managed federally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. | Pintails are hunted primarily over decoy spreads on open shallow water and in flooded fields. |
| Northern Shoveler | Waterfowl | Shovelers are hunted within the general migratory duck season under the standard flyway frameworks, and they… | Decoying over shallow, marshy water is the go-to method. |
| Nutria | Small Game | In many states nutria are classified as invasive or nuisance and can be hunted year-round with no bag limit… | Common approaches are spot-and-stalk along banks, ambush at active feeding areas or crossings, and boat-based… |
| Nyala | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar, roughly April through September | Spot-and-stalk along thicket edges and ambushes near feeding openings or water are both effective. |
| Oribi | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar, most visible feeding on the open grassland early and late. | Open-country spot-and-stalk and walking them up from the grass, with quick shots as they flush and bound away. |
| Plain Chachalaca | Upland Birds | Texas manages the chachalaca as a game bird with a limited fall-winter season in the four-county Valley area… | The usual approach is to still-hunt or walk up dense brush, using the dawn chorus to locate a flock, then… |
| Prairie Dog | Predators & Varmints | Often huntable year-round as an unprotected or lightly regulated varmint | Long-range precision shooting from a rest at the edge of a town, ranging targets and reading the wind across… |
| Pronghorn | Big Game | Western states manage pronghorn through draw-based tag systems, and in many units the draw odds are… | Spot-and-stalk is the defining pronghorn method and a true challenge in such open country. |
| Puku | Big Game | Hunted in the dry season when floodplains are accessible and animals concentrate on the remaining water. | Spot-and-stalk across floodplains and along river valleys, glassing for a heavy-horned ram and closing… |
| Raccoon | Predators & Varmints | Raccoon seasons are set by each state and are often long, frequently running through fall and winter, with… | The traditional and dominant method is night hunting with trained coonhounds - breeds such as the Black and… |
| Red Fox | Predators & Varmints | Red fox seasons vary widely by state | The signature method is calling. |
| Red Hartebeest | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar | Open-country spot-and-stalk using terrain folds to close the gap, often ending in a longer shot across the… |
| Red Lechwe | Big Game | Hunted in the dry season when floodplains are accessible and herds concentrate on the remaining water. | Spot-and-stalk across floodplains, often ending in a longer shot as the wary herd runs to water; some hunting… |
| Red Squirrel | Small Game | Often huntable with long fall-winter small-game seasons | Still-hunting and stalking in the conifers, listening for their chatter, and taking sitting shots as they… |
| Red Stag | Big Game | Because red stag are classified as an exotic in Texas and most states, they may generally be hunted… | Spot-and-stalk and calling during the roar are the classic methods for red stag, and the rut makes both… |
| Redhead | Waterfowl | Redheads are hunted during the regular duck season | Redhead hunting is big-water diver hunting. |
| Ring-necked Duck | Waterfowl | Ring-necked ducks are hunted during the regular duck season under each state's framework | Hunting ringbills is small-water diver hunting that borrows heavily from puddle-duck tactics. |
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Upland Birds | Pheasant seasons run through fall and into winter | The classic method is walking cover behind a flushing or pointing dog. |
| Roan Antelope | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar | Spot-and-stalk and tracking through wooded savanna, glassing for a heavy-horned bull and closing carefully in… |
| Rock Ptarmigan | Upland Birds | Hunted in the northern upland seasons of fall and winter, reached by climbing into alpine terrain. | Walk-up hunting on foot across high ridges and scree, over dogs or by spotting and stalking sitting birds. |
| Rock Squirrel | Small Game | In most range states they are nongame or unprotected with no closed season, huntable year-round with a valid… | Spot-and-stalk and stand-and-wait over an active rock colony both work well; glass sunny rock faces and set… |
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | Big Game | Bighorn seasons vary widely by state and hunt unit but generally fall between late August and December. | Bighorn hunting is overwhelmingly a spot-and-stalk pursuit built on glassing. |
| Roe Deer | Big Game | Roe seasons are set by each European country and region and differ for bucks and does, so the framework… | Two methods dominate roe hunting. |
| Roosevelt Elk | Big Game | Seasons are set by state and unit and typically include an archery season in September | - Still-hunting thick timber - moving a few quiet steps at a time, into the wind, glassing every opening. |
| Ross's Goose | Waterfowl | Hunted in regular and special white-goose (light goose) seasons, including spring conservation orders in many… | Large spreads of white-goose decoys, e-callers where legal in the conservation season, and field layouts… |
| Ruddy Duck | Waterfowl | Ruddy ducks are migratory waterfowl, hunted within the federally framed duck seasons each state sets under… | Ruddies are taken with the standard open-water diver approach: a spread of decoys, often a long line or raft… |
| Ruffed Grouse | Upland Birds | Grouse seasons typically open in September or early October and run into winter | Most grouse hunting is done by walking thick cover, with or without a dog. |
| Rusa Deer | Big Game | On US exotic ranches, rusa deer can generally be hunted year-round because exotics fall outside state game… | Spot-and-stalk is the classic rusa method: glass open hillsides and ridgetops at dawn and dusk, locate… |
| Sable Antelope | Big Game | On African safaris, sable are hunted through the southern-hemisphere season, broadly April to September, when… | Spot-and-stalk is the primary method for sable. |
| Sambar Deer | Big Game | As a non-native exotic on Texas private land, sambar generally may be hunted year-round with a valid Texas… | Because sambar bed in heavy cover and move mostly at night, the most effective approach is to hunt the edges… |
| Sandhill Crane | Waterfowl | Sandhill crane seasons fall within the federal migratory bird framework and are set state by state under… | The dominant method is decoying cranes in feeding fields, similar to goose hunting. |
| Scaled Quail | Upland Birds | Scaled quail hunting generally runs from fall into winter | Hunting scaled quail is a fast, ground-covering walking pursuit, and the running habit shapes everything. |
| Scimitar-horned Oryx | Big Game | Because the scimitar-horned oryx is an exotic on private land in Texas, it is not governed by a public draw… | Free-range spot-and-stalk across open and semi-open ranch country is the defining and most rewarding method… |
| Sharp-tailed Grouse | Upland Birds | Sharp-tailed grouse seasons typically open in mid-September and run into late December or January, depending… | The classic method is walking native prairie and brushy edges behind a pointing or flushing dog. |
| Sika Deer | Big Game | In Maryland, sika share the deer season framework with whitetails, spanning archery, muzzleloader, and… | Ambush hunting from a blind or stand over marsh trails, crossings, and the edges between water and higher… |
| Sitatunga | Big Game | Hunted in the dry season when swamps are more accessible | The classic method is ambush from a raised machan or hide overlooking swamp openings and trails, waiting for… |
| Sitka Blacktail Deer | Big Game | Seasons vary by Game Management Unit but generally run from early August through December, one of the longest… | Alpine glassing: The classic early-season approach. |
| Snow Goose | Waterfowl | Snow geese are migratory birds protected and managed federally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, with… | The dominant method is hunting over a large decoy spread. |
| Snowshoe Hare | Small Game | Snowshoe hare seasons are generally long and generous | The traditional and most popular method is hunting with beagles or other small hounds. |
| Sooty Grouse | Upland Birds | Hunted in the fall mountain seasons, from early-season birds on logging roads and slopes to later birds… | Walk-up hunting through mountain forest and along roads and ridges, flushing birds from the ground and trees… |
| Sora | Waterfowl | Rail seasons, including the season for sora, open early | The classic method for hunting sora is poling, or push-poling, a small flat boat through a stand of wild rice… |
| Springbok | Big Game | Hunted year-round on many properties | Open-country spot-and-stalk, using terrain folds to close within range, and occasionally longer shots across… |
| Spruce Grouse | Upland Birds | Spruce grouse, where they may be hunted, are generally an upland bird taken in the fall, and seasons are set… | This is a walk-up hunt, plain and simple. |
| Steenbok | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar, most visible feeding in the open early and late in the day. | Spot-and-stalk and walk-up hunting across open ground, with quick shots as they flush from cover. |
| Stone Sheep | Big Game | Stone sheep seasons in British Columbia and the Yukon generally run from early August into late September or… | - Spot-and-stalk is the only practical method. |
| Suni | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Still-hunting and patient waiting in dense forest, and ambushing trails and feeding spots; shots are close… |
| Surf Scoter | Waterfowl | The season falls in late fall and winter, when the birds are on salt water | Long lines of scoter and eider decoys off points, hunted from anchored layout boats or rock blinds in the… |
| Swamp Rabbit | Small Game | Hunted in the fall and winter small-game seasons of the South | The traditional method is running them with beagles through the bottoms and taking the shot as they circle… |
| Teal | Waterfowl | Teal are migratory birds managed federally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. | Teal hunting is refreshingly simple, which is part of its appeal. |
| Tsessebe | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar | Open-country spot-and-stalk, using every fold of ground to close for a shot before the herd bolts. |
| Tule Elk | Big Game | Tule elk hunts in California run roughly from August into autumn | - Spot-and-stalk is the primary method. |
| Tundra Swan | Waterfowl | Hunted only in specific states under a limited swan permit during the fall and winter waterfowl seasons, over… | Large goose or swan decoy spreads in feeding fields and over water, with patient concealment; identifying the… |
| Vaal Rhebok | Big Game | Hunted on the plains-game calendar | Physical spot-and-stalk high in the mountains, glassing for a ram and closing carefully across open, steep… |
| Virginia Opossum | Predators & Varmints | Opossum is generally classified as a furbearer or nuisance species, and many states allow year-round or very… | The classic method is night hunting with hounds, the same tradition as raccoon hunting. |
| Virginia Rail | Upland Birds | Rail seasons typically fall in September and October under the federal migratory bird framework, often… | The classic method is wading or slowly pushing a shallow-draft boat through marsh cover to flush birds… |
| Warthog | Big Game | As plains game they are hunted on the dry-season safari calendar, roughly April through October, with midday… | Spot-and-stalk and waterhole or wallow ambushes both work well; boars are also commonly taken from blinds… |
| Waterbuck | Big Game | Hunted on the dry-season plains-game calendar, roughly April through October | Spot-and-stalk along rivers and floodplains, glassing for a heavy-horned bull and closing through cover to… |
| White-tailed Jackrabbit | Small Game | Often huntable year-round as small game or unprotected where locally abundant | Spot-and-stalk across open country and walking them up out of forms, with fast running shots common. |
| White-tailed Ptarmigan | Upland Birds | Hunted in the fall high-country seasons of the alpine states, reached by climbing above treeline before snow… | Walk-up hunting on foot across alpine basins and ridges, spotting sitting birds against the rock and snow. |
| White-winged Scoter | Waterfowl | Sea-duck season runs through late fall and winter | Long lines of scoter and eider decoys off points, hunted from anchored layout boats in open water. |
| Whitetail Deer | Big Game | Whitetail seasons are set state by state and typically span September through January, divided among archery… | Treestand and ground-blind hunting over funnels, food sources, and trail intersections is the dominant… |
| Wild Turkey | Upland Birds | Most turkey hunting occurs in spring, timed to the breeding season | The signature method is run-and-gun calling: locate a gobbling tom, move within 100-150 yards, set up against… |
| Wildebeest | Big Game | On African plains-game safaris, wildebeest are typically hunted during the local hunting season, often in the… | Spot-and-stalk is the classic wildebeest method: glass the open plains to locate a herd and the bull worth… |
| Willow Ptarmigan | Upland Birds | Hunted in generous fall and winter upland seasons in the north, from early-season mottled birds to white… | Walk-up hunting over pointing or flushing dogs through willow flats and tundra, and pass-shooting winter… |
| Wilson's Snipe | Upland Birds | Wilson's snipe are hunted under the federal migratory bird framework, so seasons generally run fall through… | Snipe hunting is a walking, jump-shooting pursuit. |
| Wood Duck | Waterfowl | Wood ducks are migratory birds managed federally under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act | Wood duck hunting is typically a close-range, small-water affair. |
| Woodchuck | Small Game | Groundhogs are typically classified as unprotected nuisance or nongame animals, and many states allow… | Groundhog hunting is fundamentally long-range varmint shooting with a rifle. |
| Yellow-Bellied Marmot | Small Game | In some states they carry varmint or unprotected status with liberal or no closed season, but this is not… | Spot-and-stalk and long-range shooting suit the open, rocky terrain best. |
Each species links to its full profile: identification, range and habitat, sign, season timing, methods, gear, shot placement and field care, and eating quality. For meat comparisons see the wild game nutrition table; for deer specifics start with the Advanced Whitetail Track.
Season and method notes are editorial summaries, not legal information.
Field basics for any hunt
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