Hunting draw and application deadlines by state

Many hunts, especially for elk, moose, sheep, pronghorn and public-land deer, turkey and waterfowl, need a tag or permit won in a draw or lottery, and every state runs its own calendar. This page links straight to the agency page for 44 states, alphabetical by state. We opened every link on October 24, 2026 and list a date only when we read it on the agency's own page that day; 9 states show upcoming dates right now. Dates drop off this page once they pass.

Always confirm on the agency site. Agencies change dates, rules and fees, and many have several draws a year. The agency's page is the official word; check it before you apply.

• Alabama

  Special Opportunity Area limited-quota hunts (random draw) (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division)

  • Adult waterfowl hunts (Crow Creek, Uchee Creek, Portland Landing) and the Cedar Creek woodcock and quail hunt: Applications close Oct. 26, 1:00 p.m.. Source: outdooralabama.com, checked October 24, 2026.
  • Youth waterfowl hunt at Crow Creek, plus small game, turkey and feral swine hunts: Applications Dec. 1, 8:00 a.m. to Dec. 14, 1:00 p.m.. Source: outdooralabama.com, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Alabama outfitters and licensing.

• Alaska

  Drawing hunt information and application period (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

  • Draw hunt applications: Each year: Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to Dec. 15, 5 p.m. (AKST). Source: adfg.alaska.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Alaska outfitters and licensing.

• Arizona

  Big game draw (Arizona Game and Fish Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Arizona outfitters and licensing.

• Arkansas

  Special waterfowl permit hunts (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Arkansas outfitters and licensing.

• California

  Big game drawing (California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also California outfitters and licensing.

• Colorado

  Big game primary draw (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Colorado outfitters and licensing.

• Connecticut

  Deer hunting, including the state land and controlled hunt deer lottery (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Connecticut outfitters and licensing.

• Florida

  Limited entry and quota hunt permits (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Florida outfitters and licensing.

• Georgia

  Quota hunts (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Georgia outfitters and licensing.

• Hawaii

  Go Hunt Hawaii: hunt applications (Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife)

  • 2027 Lanai axis deer season hunts (archery, youth, muzzleloader and general rifle): Applications 10/12/2026 to 11/13/2026. Source: gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Hawaii outfitters and licensing.

• Illinois

  Spring turkey lottery (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)

  • 2027 spring turkey, Lottery 1 (Illinois residents): Oct. 6, 2026 through Dec. 1, 2026. Source: dnr.illinois.gov, checked October 24, 2026.
  • 2027 spring turkey, Lottery 2 (all hunters): Dec. 11, 2026 through Jan. 11, 2027. Source: dnr.illinois.gov, checked October 24, 2026.
  • 2027 spring turkey, Lottery 3 (all hunters): Jan. 22, 2027 through Feb. 9, 2027. Source: dnr.illinois.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Illinois outfitters and licensing.

• Indiana

  Reserved hunts (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Indiana outfitters and licensing.

• Iowa

  Nonresident licenses and the nonresident deer and turkey lottery (Iowa Department of Natural Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Iowa outfitters and licensing.

• Kentucky

  Quota hunts (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Kentucky outfitters and licensing.

• Louisiana

  Lottery hunts (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Louisiana outfitters and licensing.

• Maine

  Moose permit lottery (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Maine outfitters and licensing.

• Maryland

  Wye Island NRMA hunting lotteries (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service)

  • Wye Island general firearms deer hunt and goose blind lotteries: Apply by 4 p.m., Oct. 29, 2026. Source: dnr.maryland.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Maryland outfitters and licensing.

• Massachusetts

  Antlerless deer permit application (MassWildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Massachusetts outfitters and licensing.

• Michigan

  Reserved deer hunts (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Michigan outfitters and licensing.

• Minnesota

  Hunting license lotteries (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Minnesota outfitters and licensing.

• Mississippi

  WMA draw hunts (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks)

  • WMA turkey draw hunts: Each year: Jan. 15 to Jan. 31. Source: mdwfp.com, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Mississippi outfitters and licensing.

• Missouri

  Special hunting permits (Missouri Department of Conservation)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Missouri outfitters and licensing.

• Montana

  Applications, drawings and bonus points (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Montana outfitters and licensing.

• Nebraska

  Big game permits and applications (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)

  • Mountain lion lottery permit applications: Nov. 2 to Dec. 4, 2026 (online until 11:59 p.m. CST). Source: outdoornebraska.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Nebraska outfitters and licensing.

• Nevada

  Apply and buy: hunting (Nevada Department of Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Nevada outfitters and licensing.

• New Hampshire

  Moose hunt lottery (New Hampshire Fish and Game Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also New Hampshire outfitters and licensing.

• New Mexico

  Big game and draw hunts (New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW))

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also New Mexico outfitters and licensing.

• New York

  Deer management permits (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also New York outfitters and licensing.

• North Carolina

  Permit hunting opportunities (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also North Carolina outfitters and licensing.

• North Dakota

  Hunting lotteries (North Dakota Game and Fish Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also North Dakota outfitters and licensing.

• Oklahoma

  Controlled hunts (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Oklahoma outfitters and licensing.

• Oregon

  Controlled hunt applications (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Oregon outfitters and licensing.

• Pennsylvania

  Special hunt applications (Pennsylvania Game Commission)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Pennsylvania outfitters and licensing.

• South Carolina

  Public lottery hunts (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also South Carolina outfitters and licensing.

• South Dakota

  Key dates, including license application dates (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also South Dakota outfitters and licensing.

• Tennessee

  Quota hunts (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Tennessee outfitters and licensing.

• Texas

  Public hunt drawings (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Texas outfitters and licensing.

• Utah

  Utah draw system for permit applications (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)

  • 2027 sportsman permits (Utah residents): Applications due by Nov. 10, 11 p.m. MST. Source: wildlife.utah.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Utah outfitters and licensing.

• Vermont

  Licenses and lotteries (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Vermont outfitters and licensing.

• Virginia

  Quota hunts (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Virginia outfitters and licensing.

• Washington

  Special hunt permits and raffles (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Washington outfitters and licensing.

• West Virginia

  Limited permit deer hunts (lottery) (West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also West Virginia outfitters and licensing.

• Wisconsin

  Bear hunting, including the bear license drawing (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

  • Bear license or preference point applications: Each year: applications due Dec. 10. Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov, checked October 24, 2026.

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Wisconsin outfitters and licensing.

• Wyoming

  Application dates and deadlines (Wyoming Game and Fish Department)

  Checked October 24, 2026. See also Wyoming outfitters and licensing.

States not listed here are being added. Until then, check your state wildlife agency's website for draw and application dates; our state pages link every agency.

Know of a date we missed or one that changed? Send a correction.