Top 5 Early-Season States for Whitetail

by
posted on September 20, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
top_early_whitetail_f.jpg

Buck hunting is hot in the early season—in more ways than one. Here are five destinations that are primed for early-season action.

5. Maryland
Trust me, Maryland grows big-antlered deer. Hunt them with a bow starting Sept. 9. And public land isn’t that hard to find.

4. Kansas
Sept. 12 marks the opener for buck hunting with both archery equipment and muzzleloaders. Does the term “corn-fed” mean anything to you?

3. Washington
Need a place to bowhunt on Sept. 1? You can only take one buck, but you’ve got three species to choose from: whitetail, blacktail and mule deer.

2. Wyoming
You’ll need to draw a tag, but if you get lucky head to the state’s northeast corner for a big archery buck starting Sept. 10.

1. Kentucky
Lots of food and killer genetics has produced Booner bucks from every corner of the state, and starting Sept. 3 you can tag one.

Looking to book a September buck hunt? Check out the services offered by Worldwide Trophy Adventures. Providing professional consultation, the firm can handle the details from booking to tagging out, making sure the action on your early-season hunt is hot.

Latest

W H2026 07 Hardware W3832 TAH 1596Leadlayered
W H2026 07 Hardware W3832 TAH 1596Leadlayered

Hardware Review: Steiner ePredator LRF & ePredator 8 Riflescope

Looking for a surefire solution for long-range shooting? Look no further. Check out our review of the Steiner ePredator line.

Buckmasters’ New Record Book Reveals Hot Spots, Revamped Rankings

Deer hunters will have the rare opportunity to decipher the current state of whitetail deer when Buckmasters releases the ninth edition of its record book this fall. The 600-page tome shows where, when and by what means these world-class whitetails—25,000 in total—came to be included.

Clean 'em Up—Gun Cleaning 101 for Hunters

Ever wonder how often to clean your gun? How about what to clean it with? How about what to clean it with if you're hunting at 40-below? Phil Massaro answers all these questions and more, in this clean-freaks primer.

Hunting Show Attendance Shattering Records

Attendance records have been shattered at this year’s major hunting shows. The latest, Ducks Unlimited’s DUX (Ducks Unlimited Expo), set a new high-water mark in Memphis, Tenn. According to the Commercial Appeal, the July to Aug. 2 event attracted roughly 30,000 attendees. The 2025 event, also held in Memphis, drew a crowd that numbered nearly 20,000.

The Colonel’s Caliber in an Interesting Rifle—.35 Whelen

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.” Townsend Whelen

New for 2026: Beretta A400 Solo

Beretta USA has launched the A400 Solo, a new semi-automatic shotgun engineered for hunters who demand performance in the harshest conditions. Built on Beretta's A400 platform and packed with the company's latest advancements, the A400 Solo combines Beretta's B-Link Pro gas-operating system, Steelium barrel technology and Kick-Off Plus recoil reduction system into one dependable platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.