Bag Limits by State: 2026–27 Hunting Seasons Reference
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Bag limits are the most-checked, least-understood part of state hunting regulations. They differ by species, season type (archery vs rifle), zone, license tier, and harvest method. This guide consolidates the 2026–27 season bag limits across the most-hunted species, organized by state, with notes on the federal vs state regulatory layer.
This guide is reference. Always confirm with the state agency before hunting — wildlife code amendments take effect every July 1 in most states, and emergency closures (drought, disease, fire) can override standing limits at any time.
Whitetail Deer Bag Limits by State (2026–27)
The most-asked-about bag limit category. Antlered (buck) and antlerless (doe) caps are listed separately because they almost always differ.
| State | Antlered limit | Antlerless limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 bucks/season | Unlimited (with permits) | One bow, one any-weapon, one rifle |
| Arkansas | 2 bucks/season | 2–4 does/zone | Zone-based |
| Florida | 2 bucks/season | 1–2 antlerless | Zone-based; $5 antlerless permit |
| Georgia | 2 bucks/season | 10 does/season | Among the most generous in the SE |
| Illinois | 1 buck/season | Unlimited (with tags) | Premier trophy state, draw-tag focus |
| Indiana | 1 buck/season | 8 deer/season any | County-quota antlerless |
| Iowa | 1 buck/season (residents) | Unlimited (with tags) | OOS draw odds 5–10% |
| Kansas | 1 buck/season | Unlimited (with $25 doe tags) | Premier OOS trophy state |
| Kentucky | 1 buck/season | 4 deer total | Liberal; one-buck rule |
| Maine | 1 buck/season | Permit-by-draw | Small herd, big bucks |
| Maryland | 2 bucks (1 archery + 1 firearm) | 10 does/season | Very liberal antlerless |
| Michigan | 2 bucks/season | Unlimited (private/DMU) | Antler-point restrictions |
| Minnesota | 1 buck/season | Lottery + bonus | Zone-based |
| Mississippi | 3 bucks/season | 5 does/season | Antler restrictions in many DMUs |
| Missouri | 1 buck/season | Unlimited bonus | Most liberal antlerless |
| New York | 1 buck/season | 2 antlerless/season | Zone-dependent |
| North Carolina | 4 bucks/season | 2 deer/day | One of the most generous |
| Ohio | 1 buck/season | 6 deer/season aggregate | Strict one-buck rule |
| Oklahoma | 2 bucks/season | 4 does/season | One bow + one firearm |
| Pennsylvania | 1 buck/season | Allocation-based by WMU | One of the largest hunter pools |
| South Carolina | 5 bucks/season | Unlimited | Among the highest in US |
| Tennessee | 2 bucks/season | 3 does/season | Antler restrictions in some DMUs |
| Texas | 5 deer (sex-specific by tag) | 5 deer (combined sex) | County-by-county; trophy focus N/S |
| Virginia | 2 bucks/season | 6 does/season | Liberal; shifting to QDM in some zones |
| Wisconsin | 1 buck/season | Allocation by WMU | Strict one-buck rule |
| West Virginia | 3 bucks/season | 4 deer/season aggregate | Liberal limits |
Key takeaway: Northern and Midwest states cap bucks at 1/season. SE states (NC, SC, MS, AL, GA) allow 2–5 bucks. Texas and Florida are county-customized.
Elk Bag Limits by State
Elk is more uniform than whitetail — almost every state caps at one elk per hunter per year, regardless of weapon or season.
| State | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1/year | OTC bull tags some units, draw for others |
| Wyoming | 1/year | Draw + leftover tags |
| Montana | 1/year | Draw heavy, some OTC for residents |
| Idaho | 1/year | OTC zones for residents and nonresidents |
| Utah | 1/year | Almost entirely draw-only |
| Arizona | 1/year | Draw-only, low odds |
| New Mexico | 1/year | Draw + landowner programs |
| Nevada | 1/year | Draw-only, very low odds |
| Oregon | 1/year (Roosevelt or Rocky) | OTC general season |
| Washington | 1/year | OTC general; modern, archery, muzzleloader split |
The exception: residents in Montana and Idaho can earn additional cow/antlerless permits via draw or special hunts.
Waterfowl Bag Limits (Federal Framework)
Waterfowl is governed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. States may be more restrictive, never less.
Ducks (Federal Daily Limit: 6)
| Species | Daily limit | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallards (max hens) | 4 (max 2 hens) | 12 |
| Wood ducks | 3 | 9 |
| Pintails | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Scaup (lesser/greater) | 2 (Mid-Continent) | 6 |
| Black ducks | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled ducks (FL/TX/LA) | 1 | 3 |
| Other species (combined) | up to 6 daily aggregate | 18 |
Geese
| Species | Daily limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canada geese | 3–8 | Zone- and flyway-specific |
| Snow geese (light geese) | 25–50 | Conservation Order — no possession limit |
| White-fronted (specklebelly) | 2–3 | Pacific & Central flyways |
| Ross's geese | Combined with snows | No daily limit during conservation order |
| Brant | 2 | Atlantic flyway |
Doves
| Type | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning + white-winged combined | 15 | 45 |
| Eurasian collared (most states) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
For waterfowl strategy, see waterfowl hunting.
Turkey Bag Limits by State
Turkey limits split spring (gobblers only) vs fall (either sex in some states).
| State | Spring | Fall | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 (1/day) | 1 | Bearded only, spring |
| Arkansas | 2 | None | Spring-only |
| Florida | 2 (1/day) | 1 | Osceola subspecies |
| Georgia | 2 | None | Spring-only |
| Kentucky | 2 | 1 | Bearded |
| Mississippi | 3 | None | Bearded only |
| Missouri | 2 | 2 | Among most liberal |
| North Carolina | 2 | None | Spring-only |
| Ohio | 2 | 1 | Bearded only |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Strict spring single-tag |
| South Carolina | 3 | None | Spring-only |
| Tennessee | 4 | None | Hen-take prohibited |
| Texas | 4 (varies by zone) | 4 (Eastern: 1) | Rio + Merriam + Eastern |
| Virginia | 3 (1/day) | 2 | Bearded gobbler in spring |
| Wisconsin | 1/zone (up to 5 zones) | 1 | Zone-permit system |
For turkey hunting fundamentals, see turkey hunting.
Small Game and Predator Bag Limits
Most states set generous or unlimited bag limits for non-game and varmint species.
| Species | Typical daily | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | Unlimited | No closed season in most states |
| Squirrel (gray + fox) | 6–10/day | Combined or separate by state |
| Cottontail rabbit | 4–8/day | Closed season in some states |
| Snowshoe hare | 4/day | Northern states only |
| Bobcat | 1–6/season | Tag-based; harvest report mandatory |
| Fox (red/gray) | Unlimited | Predator status in most states |
| Raccoon | Unlimited (night season) | License/permit may apply |
| Mink, muskrat, weasel | Unlimited | Trapping season rules |
For state-by-state season opening dates see hunting seasons by state.
Reading Bag Limits Correctly
A bag limit isn't a single number. Always work through this stack:
- Federal limit (waterfowl, doves, woodcock, sandhill cranes only)
- State limit (overrides federal if more restrictive)
- Zone / WMU / DMU limit (further reduction)
- Season-type limit (archery-only, muzzleloader-only)
- License-tier limit (resident vs nonresident; landowner)
- Daily limit (within a single calendar day)
- Possession limit (in your physical possession, anywhere)
- Season aggregate (cumulative for the year)
When two layers conflict, the most restrictive always governs.
Where Bag Limits Are Trending
Three multi-year trends:
- Antlerless harvest expansion in the Midwest and SE: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri are increasing antlerless tag allocations to reduce CWD spread and crop damage.
- Antler-point restrictions in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Indiana, and Michigan are spreading and tightening — three-on-one-side or four-on-one-side rules apply in most DMUs.
- Crossbow inclusion in archery seasons has expanded almost universally; archery bag limits now apply to crossbow harvest in 48 states.
Related Guides
- Hunting Seasons by State
- Fishing Regulations by State
- Waterfowl Hunting
- Turkey Hunting
- Deer Hunting
- Bowhunting
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between daily, possession, and season bag limits?
Daily limit is what you can harvest in a single day. Possession limit is how many you can have in your freezer/vehicle at any time (typically 2× or 3× daily). Season limit is the cumulative total you can take in a regulated season. For example, federal duck regs allow 6/day, 18 in possession, no season cap; whereas Texas turkey is 1/day with a 4-bird season limit. Always check the most restrictive applicable layer (federal, state, county/zone).
Are bag limits the same for residents and nonresidents?
For most species, yes. The license, tag, or stamp is what differs in price between residents and nonresidents — not the harvest cap. Exceptions: a few states (e.g., Alaska, Montana for elk/deer) restrict nonresidents to fewer either-sex tags. Always read the state's specific 'nonresident hunter' regulation page; never assume.
Do federal and state bag limits stack or override?
Federal limits set the ceiling for migratory birds (waterfowl, doves, woodcock, snipe, sandhill cranes). States may set MORE restrictive limits but never less. For all other species — deer, elk, turkey, small game, predators, fish — state regulations are authoritative and federal law generally only applies to enforcement (e.g., Lacey Act), not bag size.
How are zone or unit bag limits different?
Many states subdivide their bag limits by zone (waterfowl) or game management unit (GMU/HMU/WMA). Example: Pennsylvania has 23 wildlife management units, each with separate antlerless deer allocations. California breaks waterfowl into 8 zones with different daily limits. Texas separates deer into North/South zones with different season lengths. Always identify your hunt zone first, then apply zone-specific limits.
What are 'either-sex' versus 'antlerless-only' tags?
Either-sex tags allow harvest of any deer (buck or doe). Antlerless-only restricts the tag to a doe or button buck (no antlered animal). 'Antlered-only' tags require visible antlers (typically 3+ inches). Many states issue limited either-sex tags via draw and unlimited antlerless tags over-the-counter to manage population balance — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Iowa are the largest examples.
Are bag limits enforced electronically?
Increasingly yes. 'E-tagging' or 'e-check' is now mandatory or available in 30+ states for big game (Texas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado, etc.). Hunters log in via a state app or web portal within hours of harvest. Federal HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration is required for migratory birds. Carry a printed copy of your tag/permit even when e-checking — cell signal isn't guaranteed in the field.
What happens if I exceed a bag limit?
Penalties scale with the species, intent, and number over. Misdemeanor over-bag (1 over) typically draws a $200–$1,000 fine plus the overlimit animal forfeited. Repeat or commercial over-bagging escalates to felony charges, license revocation (often multi-state via Wildlife Violator Compact), gear forfeiture, and jail time. Lacey Act violations for interstate transport of illegally-taken game are felonies with $250,000+ fines.
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