Deer

Species Description

In summer, they are reddish-brown to tan above; the winter the colors are grayish to grayish brown. Fawns are reddish, brown or reddish-yellow spotted with white; they lose their spots and acquire uniform coloration at 3–5 months of age. Antlers normally occur only in males and are formed and shed each year. Antler growth starts in April or May. During the growth period, the soft skin and short hair covering the antlers have a plush quality, giving this stage the name of "velvet." The white-tailed deer is aptly named because the white undersurface of its flaglike tail is about all that we see in the fleeting glimpse we get as it bounds across an opening in the woods.

Topic Category
Hunting / Fishing Guide
Regulations
Seasons
Biological Information
Management Information
Title
Seasons
Season Dates Hours Limits/Notes
Deer: Archery -

-

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • Archer's Hunting Permit: two deer of either sex. Only one antlered deer may be taken before the November firearms portion.
  • Hunters may purchase and fill any number of archery antlerless deer hunting permits.
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
Deer: Firearms: Antlerless Portions -

-

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the Antlerless. 
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See antlerless regulations.
Deer: Firearms: Youth Portions -

-

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • Only one deer (of either sex) may be taken during the early youth portion. If you have more than one permit, you must use them in another portion.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.
  • To participate, you must be at least 6 and no older than 15 on the opening day of the early youth portion.
  • Hunters who are 15 years or younger on Sept. 15 of the current year are exempt from the antler-point restriction during the archery deer season and all portions of the firearms deer season.
Deer: Firearms: November Portion -

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.
Deer: Firearms: CWD Portion -

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map.
Deer: Firearms: Alternative Methods -

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map.