Hunting Deer in Your State

Before you decide to start hunting deer in your home state, it is important to know which species of deer are available to hunt. Hunting tactics vary between the different species of deer and it is essential that you match your tactics to the species being pursued. The best place to find out for sure which deer inhabit your state is your Department of Wildlife or Department of Natural Resources. They can not only tell you which species are available, but they can also provide you with the necessary information regarding season dates and bag limits. Generally, if you live in the eastern portion of the U.S. you will be hunting whitetails and if you live in the west you will be hunting mule deer. There are exceptions however especially in the central and western states, so it is always a good idea to double check.

A typical mule deer buck. Note the white facemask, white rump, and thin black-tipped tail.

Mule Deer

The Mule deer’s range extends over the entire western half of the United States. The eastern boundary is always in flux, but it generally reaches from the eastern slope of the Rockies out into the plains states. There are no mule deer east of the Mississippi river. Almost all of the states that contain mule deer also have populations of whitetail, so you will have to do your homework. In general the further west you get, the smaller the whitetail populations. Check your states hunting regulations closely to see if there are separate hunts for whitetail and mule deer or if it is just a general deer hunt.

If mule deer is your state’s primary deer species, you will want to focus on spot-and-stalk and still hunting as these are the hunting methods that typically work the best for mule deer.

Whitetail Deer

When you say “deer”, most people in America assume that you are talking about whitetail deer. Whitetails are the most common deer in America with a population that far outnumbers all other deer species combined. As the whitetail population continues to grow, their range continues to expand westward. If you are going to be hunting anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains, the primary deer species is going to be whitetail. West of the Rockies there are many whitetails too, but this is where their range begins to overlap with that of mule deer. If you are going to be hunting anywhere from the western plains states to the pacific coast you will need to check the regulations carefully for species specific seasons and rules. Alaska and Hawaii are the only states that have no whitetail deer.

If whitetail deer are your main quarry, there are literally dozens of books written on the various methods for hunting whitetails. Check your state regulations for which hunting methods are legal. For example, some states allow baiting while others do not. The primary methods of whitetail hunting are stand and still hunting. Hunting out of tree stands or ground blinds is very effective for whitetails and a good method for new hunters who are beginning to learn how to hunt.

Blacktail Deer

Columbian blacktail deer only live in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California west of the Cascade Mountains. Blacktail look similar to mule deer, but they are different. Sitka blacktails are only found in Alaska. Compared to the other deer species, the range of the blacktails is relatively small. Usually, state regulations don’t make a distinction between blacktail and mule deer as their ranges overlap somewhat. There are some limited whitetail hunts within blacktail range, so be sure to check regulations carefully.

Spot-and-stalk or still hunting are popular blacktail hunting methods, but many whitetail hunting techniques seem to work well for hunting blacktails as well. Rattling and grunting work well for blacktails as does hunting from tree stands and ground blinds.

Axis Buck taken in TX

Hawaii

Hawaii doesn’t have any native deer species, but the islands do have a variety of very good hunting for exotic introduced species. The only deer hunting in Hawaii is for Axis deer. Axis deer were introduced to Hawaii from India in the 1800’s. Axis deer are very beautiful and extremely good eating. They are very striking as the adults have white spots like fawns. The bucks make fantastic trophies as their antlers are very large in relation to their body size. If you live in Hawaii or are planning a trip there, you owe it to yourself to check out the opportunities for Axis deer hunting.

Fortunately for us hunters, any state you live in has some deer hunting available. Just be sure to check your state’s regulations to be sure of which species you will be hunting. Once you know which species you are after, you can tailor your hunting methods to the species accordingly. That way, you won’t study everything you can find about hunting whitetails only to find out your state mostly has mule deer.