Whitetail Deer

The motivations are as varied as the participants. For hardcore deer hunters, shed antlers are valuable clues in off-season scouting – they mark a buck’s winter territory and habits, informing strategies for the upcoming fall hunt. Picking up antlers is a way to stay engaged with deer and their environment year-round. For others, shed hunting is simply a fun treasure hunt in nature.

As we enter 2026, the 2025-2026 whitetail deer hunting season is in full swing across many states, blending preliminary data with final reports from the prior year. Wildlife agency insights reveal key trends in harvests, population management, and hunter success. While some states share early numbers for the current season, others benchmark against the complete 2024-2025 data. Below, we detail reports from selected states, emphasizing total harvests, buck/doe ratios, and nota