6 States to Target Velvet Bucks

You’ll have to wade through the creepy crawly critters and brutal temps, but that’s a tradeoff for the lack of competition. Velvet seasons have grown in popularity, but they’re nothing like the crowds of November. If you can grind out the mosquitos and sweat fests, you have a legitimate shot at arrowing a fuzzy antlered buck.

Not every state has an early archery season. Some, like my home state of Mississippi, only offer brief (two- to three-day) seasons and limit tags to residents only on private land. Depending on their draw application dates, some of these destinations might be off your list this year. However, a few states offer OTC or quota tags, so make sure you do your homework before considering these five states for killing a velvet buck.

Kentucky

The Bluegrass state offers one of the earliest archery openers with affordable license and tag fees for non-resident hunters. For $335 ($150 license and $185 deer permit), you can harvest one buck and, depending on your zone, multiple does.

This year, the season kicks off September 7, 2024. Some bucks might have shed their velvet by this point, but you should still have a solid chance to kill a whitetail buck on opening day if you put in the work. The western part of the state probably gives you the best chance, given the numbers and habitat conditions, but make sure you prep for 90+ degree temps.

Montana

If you’ve got your sights set west, Montana’s archery season opens the same day as Kentucky’s. Non-residents will have to submit for the lottery draw before April 1. If you are drawn, be prepared to spend $709 for your general deer hunting license and permit. That’s a steep price for a whitetail tag, but with most folks chasing bugles this time of year, you could find yourself hunting relatively unpressured whitetails in Big Sky country.

Wyoming

Wyoming is known for its muleys, but it’s kind of a sleeper state for whitetail junkies. Unlike the Midwest or East, whitetails aren’t exactly at the top of the totem pole in Wyoming or most western states, for that matter. For this reason, access to public and even private hunting opportunities abound.

You’ll have to draw Wyoming, and their application deadline closes May 31. However, if you are successful, their archery season opens on September 1, which leaves you plenty of time to try and bag a western velvet buck. At around $400 for licenses and fees, the cost shouldn’t put too big of a dent in your hunting budget.

North Dakota

It’s no secret that North Dakota is an early-season destination for whitetail hunters. With almost four million acres of public lands and limited tags, there’s plenty of elbow room. While it’s a lottery draw for non-residents, the state allows hunters to purchase any remaining tags on a first-come-first-serve basis. This year, the season opens on August 30, and with license and permit fees, you can book yourself an out-of-state hunt for around $300.

South Carolina

The Iodine State might not seem like a whitetail destination, but with a booming herd and unique lowland hunting opportunities, non-residents can hunt as early as Aug 15. However, these dates only apply to Zone 4 and on private land, so while the acreage might be limited, the deer numbers aren’t. South Carolina offers a variety of tag and license options that are all fairly affordable, and non-residents can even purchase up to four buck tags.

Nebraska

Nebraska is another state known for its early (September 1) archery season. The state offers OTC tags at a reasonable $335, and you’ll need to purchase the $25 habitat stamp as well. It doesn’t boast the public acreage of other states, but it does offer plenty of walk-in opportunities on private lands.

You’ll need to do your homework and e-scout ahead of time to have multiple options when you inevitably run into other hunters. As is the case with most western or prairie destinations, you’ll benefit from one of the best spotting scopes to cover all that open country.

The Draw

Summer-like temps might not draw you to the deer stand like cool mornings in October. Then again, most folks would rather stay at home than sweat it out. And some early-season clothes, like FirstLite’s Yuma or Trace gear, can help you stay hidden and cool while you’re chasing velvet bucks.

For more information on targeting velvet bucks, check out these articles: The Best Setups for Killing a Velvet Buck, How to Care for Vension in Hot Weather, and How to Kill a Whitetail Buck on Opening Day.

Feature image via Matt Hansen.