What to Hunt in What Season?

Many of the common questions that hunters askhunting habitats to check licenses and - if they catch
have to do with what types of birds, animals, orsomeone hunting without a license - issue citations.
other prey to hunt during a particular hunting seasonSo what you hunt - and when you hunt it - will be
or time of year. This is especially true for those whodictated in large part by the wildlife officials in your
may be interested in hunting a type of prey thatlocale.
they have never hunted before - or for those whoSo official wildlife department licenses are the first
may be completely new to the sport of hunting andthing to investigate in regard to what type of hunting
not know what to hunt during which seasons.is best to do during a particular season. These
The choice of what to hunt - and when to hunt it -licenses allow you to hunt for a particular period of
will usually depend upon a variety of factors. Buttime, so by knowing what is "in season" or legal to
there is a very easy and practical way to figure outhunt, you will automatically learn what to hunt during
what to hunt during a particular time of year. Justa particular time of the year. If it is deer season, for
check with the local wildlife authorities that are inexample, that means two important things. First of all
charge of issuing hunting permits and they will knowit means that it is the time of year when hunting for
exactly what to hunt and when to hunt for it in yourdeer is legal. Second it means that it is the ideal time
area.of year to hunt for deer based on their own growth,
That is because in most places in the world - andbreeding, feeding, and maturation cycles.
certainly in the United States - government agenciesThe wildlife officials in your particular region will
regulate hunting and require hunters to apply fordesignate hunting seasons for certain kinds of prey
hunting licenses that state when it is legal to hunt andonly after considering what is the optimum time to
what kinds of prey the hunter is allowed to kill.hunt for those animals or birds. So if you hunt during
Despite the fact that some less responsible huntersthe designated season you will find the most
may want to hunt certain animals that may beabundant hunting and you will also be hunting during
endangered or limited in number, for example, doingthe time of year when the prey is largest and can
so can result in fines, penalties, and other legal actionsprovide you with the most food if you plan to eat
if the killing of that particular type of prey isthe game you kill. Most hunting of the more popular
prohibited. Even for those kinds of birds and animalstype of game happens during the autumn season, so
that it is okay to kill, a hunting license is still usuallyyou can count on spending most of your hunting
mandated. Not having one can subject the hunter totime in the fall - when the variety of game and the
fines and penalties, and wildlife inspectors or agentsopportunities to hunt are generally the most plentiful.
from the Fish and Game Commission regularly patrol