Year-Round Hunting Calendar: What to Hunt and When

If you’re the kind of hunter who feels restless when the season closes, here’s some good news—there’s always something in season somewhere. With a little planning and the right tags, you can keep the fire burning from January through December.

This guide breaks down the hunting year by season, helping you chase game across North America and make the most of every month in the field.

Winter (January – February): Cold Mornings, Hot Action

The woods may look lifeless, but the hunt is far from over. Winter offers prime opportunities for predators and small game.

What to Hunt:

• Coyotes & Bobcats – Peak breeding season means they respond aggressively to calls.

• Rabbits & Squirrels – Great for introducing new hunters or honing your stalking skills.

• Late-Season Whitetail or Muzzleloader Deer – Some states offer bonus winter hunts.

• Waterfowl – Southern flyway states explode with ducks and geese before migration ends.

Tips:
Bundle up, stay mobile, and focus on food sources. Winter game concentrates where there’s leftover grain, berries, or carcasses.

Spring (March – May): Renewal and Roost Gobbles

When frost fades and birds start singing again, it’s time for turkey season and black bear hunts.

What to Hunt:

• Wild Turkey – From Easterns in the Appalachians to Rios in Texas, spring gobblers steal the show.

• Black Bear – Western and northern states open baiting or spot-and-stalk hunts.

• Snow Geese – Conservation seasons allow liberal limits and unplugged shotguns.

• Hogs – Year-round nuisance species, but spring crops pull them out of cover.

Tips:
Scout early mornings for gobbling activity, and don’t underestimate patience—silent toms often show up late. Bears key on green shoots and carcasses; glass south-facing slopes.

Summer (June – August): Off-Season? Not for Everyone

While many hunters trade rifles for fishing rods, summer offers underrated action—especially for varmints and exotics.

What to Hunt:

• Feral Hogs – Night hunts with thermal optics are booming in the South.

• Coyotes – Great target practice and population control between big-game seasons.

• Exotics – Axis, blackbuck, and aoudad hunts peak in Texas and parts of the Southwest.

• Groundhogs & Prairie Dogs – Classic long-range shooting fun.

Tips:
Beat the heat—hunt dawn, dusk, or after dark where legal. Hydration and snake boots are non-negotiable.

Fall (September – November): The Hunter’s High Season

The golden leaves, crisp air, and bugling elk—this is what we live for. Fall is prime time for nearly every major game species.

What to Hunt:

• Whitetail Deer & Mule Deer – Archery kicks off early, firearms peak in November.

• Elk – Rut hunts in September offer screaming bulls and unforgettable encounters.

• Antelope – Early-season stalks across Western prairies.

• Upland Birds – Pheasant, grouse, and quail flush across the Midwest and West.

• Waterfowl – Teal, ducks, and geese return south with the first cold fronts.

Tips:
Plan your vacations around the rut or migration timing. Scout food sources, trails, and bedding areas in late summer to stay ahead of the crowd.

Late Fall to Early Winter (December): The Finale

The big-game rush may fade, but December keeps giving. Migrating birds, post-rut bucks, and small-game hunts make it one of the most rewarding months.

What to Hunt:

• Late-Season Whitetail – Bucks hit food plots hard to recover from the rut.

• Ducks & Geese – Cold weather concentrates flocks in southern zones.

• Predators – Use distress calls near livestock or crop fields.

• Small Game – A perfect reset before the new year.

Tips:
Dress for silence and warmth. Focus on shelter and high-energy food sources. For waterfowlers, pack extra decoys—big flocks are wary late in the season.

Putting It All Together: Your Year in the Field