Season countdown
How many days until you are back in the woods? Pick your state and pursuit, confirm the exact opener with your state agency (dates are set fresh every year), and this page turns into a countdown with a prep timeline - every step dated off your opening day, saved in your browser.
Your prep timeline
Tick things off as you go - progress is saved on this device. Dates are simply your opener minus the usual lead time; shift them to suit your ground and schedule.
Season dates, zones and legal methods are set by your state agency every year and often differ by county or unit. The windows shown here are broad national patterns, not your dates - always confirm the current regulations before you plan, and again before you hunt. Find your agency in our regulations directory.
Preseason countdown gear
The clock above is ticking - these are the classic between-now-and-opening-day purchases.
Links go to Amazon or a partner store (such as OpticsPlanet) and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We link gear types, not sponsors' picks: you choose the exact product.