Velvet Season- Fuzzy Antlered Bucks Present a Special Challenge

Renowned whitetail deer artist Ryan Kirby captures the essence of whitetail antler growth in this unique drawing. “Fuzzy horns” are becoming increasingly popular as hunters recognize the challenge of taking a buck with its velvet still attached. Thanks to states with multiple deer tags, hunters can take a deer early in the season and still enjoy the whole fall season. Or, choose to hunt a state that offers velvet opportunities.

Western Adventure

Several states offer deer hunting seasons opening before September 10th, primarily for archery hunters. While some states have very limited or restricted firearm seasons during this time, archery provides the most opportunities for early deer hunting.

Here’s a breakdown by month and weapon type:

August Openers:

California: Archery season in Zone A can begin as early as mid-July, followed by firearm season on August 10th for mule deer. Other zones open later in September and October.
Florida: Archery season in Zone A opens August 3rd, making it one of the earliest whitetail seasons in the country.
Arizona: Archery season (over-the-counter or draw) for Coues whitetail runs from August 25th to September 14th.
Idaho: Offers archery deer hunting opportunities in August.
South Carolina: Archery season in Zone 4 (private lands only) typically starts around August 15th, with rifle season opening on September 1st. The youth deer hunting day is August 10th.
Tennessee: An early August archery season is available on private lands, sometimes referred to as the “velvet hunt.”

Early September Openers (before September 10th):

Delaware: Archery season starts September 1st, offering a chance to harvest velvet bucks.
Kansas: Opens September 6th for archery and muzzleloader hunting.
Maryland: Archery season begins on September 6th and runs until January 31st, offering the longest season in the state.
Montana: Archery season for whitetails starts the first week of September.
Nebraska: Archery season begins on September 1st.
New Mexico: Archery season is open September 1st to 24th, with the general season running from September 1st to January 31st.
North Carolina: Archery season opens on September 7th in all five hunting zones, offering an opportunity to hunt velvet bucks.
North Dakota: Archery season opens on September 1st.
Wyoming: Archery season opens on September 1st, providing opportunities for velvet whitetails.
Arkansas: Archery season opens from September 7th to 9th in much of the state, with the regular archery season reopening later in September.

Remember to always consult the current year’s hunting regulations and season dates for the specific state and zone you plan to hunt, as dates and rules can change annually.

Velvet Buck Challenges

Early-season hunting for whitetail deer requires some special preparation. First, temperatures will be warm to downright hot, so plan to preserve your venison and follow up shots for a quick retrieval. Secondly, warm temperatures often mean that insects, mosquitoes, and ticks can be a menace. You will want to apply permethrin to your clothing to repel insects and use a headnet or spray to keep them at bay. Deer frequently travel early and late in warm weather, so you may need to be at your stand extra early for each hunt. Hunting in Montana or North Dakota often means spending a day or two patterning deer movement before you go hunting. It can be frustrating just watching deer, but your patience can be well rewarded with this intel, plus you will probably see plenty of deer feeding in hayfields and other agricultural products. The velvet challenge can be quite an adventure.

Special thanks to Ryan Kirby for allowing us to use his drawings. To see more of his amazing work, visit www.ryankirby.com