Taxidermy Shop Hunting Season Calendar: All Species All States

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

This calendar covers 50 states and 12+ species, the most comprehensive intake prediction resource available for taxidermy shops. Shops that use a hunting season calendar prepare 60 days earlier than shops that don't, and that preparation window is the difference between a smooth peak intake and a chaotic one.

Use this calendar to anticipate intake waves, schedule tannery shipments, order supplies, and prepare staffing before volume arrives.

TL;DR

Then work backward 60 days from each peak: that's when you need supplies, tannery confirmation, and staffing in place.
Shops that use a hunting season calendar prepare 60 days earlier than shops that don't, and that preparation window is the difference between a smooth peak intake and a chaotic one.
Step 2: Work back 60 days from each season opener.
Most taxidermists see 60-80% of their annual intake in a 2-4 week window around their primary deer firearms season.
Most elk drop-offs occur within 2-3 weeks of the firearms opener.
9-day Wisconsin firearm season (mid-November) and Pennsylvania's two-week season are among the most concentrated intake windows in the country.

How to Use This Calendar

Step 1: Identify your state's major seasons. The tables below give approximate date ranges. Exact dates vary year to year, check your state wildlife agency for the current season proclamation.

Step 2: Work back 60 days from each season opener. That's your preparation deadline. Supplies ordered, tannery relationships confirmed, intake system set up.

Step 3: Identify your peak intake windows. Most taxidermists see 60-80% of their annual intake in a 2-4 week window around their primary deer firearms season.

Step 4: Identify your secondary intake windows. Turkey, elk, bear, and fish seasons generate smaller but significant intake pulses that can overwhelm shops that aren't expecting them.

Whitetail Deer Season Dates by Region

|--------|--------|--------------|----------------|-----------------|

| Mid-Atlantic | MD, DE, VA, WV, NC, SC | Oct 1-15 | Nov 5-20 | Jan 1-31 |

Key intake prediction: Whitetail firearms season opener plus 3-7 days is when intake surges. Opening weekend generates 30-50% of the entire firearms season volume for most shops.

Elk Season Dates by Region

|--------|--------|---------|---------|

Elk intake note: Elk season volume arrives in a narrower window than deer. Most elk drop-offs occur within 2-3 weeks of the firearms opener. Elk cape handling requires specific preparation, see the elk cape guide for pre-season checklist.

Turkey Season Dates

| Season | Region | Typical Dates |

|--------|--------|--------------|

| Spring Turkey | Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South | March 15-May 15 |

| Spring Turkey | Northeast, Mountain West | April 15-June 1 |

| Fall Turkey | Most states | Sep 1-Dec 15 (where open) |

Turkey intake note: Spring turkey season generates a secondary intake wave for most shops. Shops near turkey-dense areas (parts of TX, KS, MO, PA, WI) see meaningful turkey volume in April and May. Spring intake requires federal hunter documentation for MBTA compliance.

Waterfowl Season Dates

| Species | Region | Typical Dates |

|---------|--------|--------------|

| Early Teal | Gulf States, Mississippi Flyway | Sep 1-Oct 1 |

| Duck - South | TX, LA, MS, AL | Late Oct-Jan 15 |

| Duck - Midwest | MN, WI, IL, MO, KS | Oct 1-Dec 20 |

| Duck - Atlantic Flyway | VA, MD, NC, DE | Oct 1-Jan 20 |

| Canada Goose | Nationwide (varies) | Oct 1-Feb 15 |

| Snow Goose Conservation Order | Most states | Jan 15-Mar 31 |

Waterfowl compliance note: Every waterfowl specimen requires hunter federal duck stamp and state waterfowl license documentation at intake. This is mandatory, not optional. Shops near major waterfowl flyways (Mississippi, Central, Atlantic, Pacific) should expect meaningful waterfowl volume and should have compliance documentation procedures in place before the season opens.

Bear Season Dates

| Region | States | Typical Dates |

|--------|--------|--------------|

| Northeast | ME, NH, VT, NY, PA | Sep 1-Dec 1 |

| Appalachia | WV, VA, NC, TN | Oct 1-Dec 15 |

| Southeast | GA, FL, AL | Oct 15-Jan 15 |

| Midwest | MN, WI, MI | Sep 1-Oct 31 |

| Mountain West | CO, WY, MT, ID, WA, OR | Aug 1-Nov 30 |

| South-Central | AR, OK | Sep 1-Oct 31 |

Bear intake note: Bear hides are the highest-value and most variable in condition of common taxidermy species. Pre-season preparation for bear processing (forms, freeze capacity, tannery relationships with bear experience) matters more than for deer.

Fish Season and Tournament Calendar

Fish intake doesn't follow the same geographic concentration patterns as big game. Key peaks:

Bass tournament season: March-September, national
Walleye ice fishing records: January-March, Upper Midwest
Muskie: September-November, Great Lakes states
Salmon/Steelhead: September-November (Pacific Coast), September-November (Great Lakes)
Trophy trout: March-June and September-November

Fish taxidermists in tournament-heavy areas should prepare for record-catch volume after major tournaments, particularly in bass-heavy markets (TX, FL, TN, AL, OK, AR).

Using the Calendar for Operational Planning

60 days before each major season opener:

Confirm tannery availability for the incoming species
Order forms and supplies for expected volume
Verify compliance documentation requirements for species
Set up or verify intake system fields for the species

30 days before opener:

Send pre-season email to relevant customer segment (deer hunters before deer season, turkey hunters before turkey season)
Open pre-season booking/reservation window
Final staffing confirmation for peak intake period

Week of opener:

QR tag printer loaded with label stock
Intake station supplied
Intake form verified and tested
Cold storage cleared and available

The deer season prep guide covers the full pre-season preparation checklist. The taxidermy shop annual planning guide covers season-to-season business planning across the full calendar year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does deer season start in my region?

Whitetail archery season typically opens in mid-September through early October across most of the country. Firearms season runs November 1-25 in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, with earlier openers in some Southern states (October in Louisiana, Texas, and parts of the Southeast). The 9-day Wisconsin firearm season (mid-November) and Pennsylvania's two-week season are among the most concentrated intake windows in the country. For exact current dates in your state, check your state wildlife agency's annual hunting guide, dates shift by a few days year to year. Plan your preparation window 60 days before your primary firearms season opener.

How do I predict my taxidermy intake calendar for next year?

Review your job records for the past 2-3 seasons and note when intake concentrated by species. The pattern will reflect your local hunting seasons with a lag of a few days to a week (most hunters drop off within a week of harvest). Overlay that history with the major season dates in your region and identify your peak intake windows. Then work backward 60 days from each peak: that's when you need supplies, tannery confirmation, and staffing in place. Shops that track intake by date in their management software can generate this analysis automatically. Shops on paper systems should start tracking digital records now to build the data set for future planning.

What months see the highest taxidermy intake volume nationally?

November is the highest-volume month nationally, driven by whitetail firearms season openers across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and South. December follows as late-season deer, bear, and elk volumes arrive. October is the third highest, driven by archery season deer and early firearms seasons in Southern states. April generates a secondary peak from spring turkey season. The six-month period from October through March captures 80-90% of annual intake volume for most taxidermists. Summer months (June-August) are the true off-season except for fish specialists and shops near bear-dense areas with summer bear seasons.

How does this apply to solo taxidermy shops?

The principles in this guide apply to solo shops just as they do to larger operations, though the scale differs. A single-person shop may have lower absolute volume but faces the same documentation, compliance, and customer communication requirements. The practical advice here scales down to any shop size.

What is the most common mistake taxidermists make with taxidermy shop hunting season calendar?

The most common mistake is treating taxidermy shop hunting season calendar as an afterthought rather than building it into the standard workflow from the start. Shops that encounter problems in this area typically did not establish clear processes before season, which means every situation becomes a one-off decision rather than a standard response.

Try These Free Tools

Put these insights into practice with our free calculators and planners:

Sources

National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Small Business Administration (SBA)

Get Started with MountChief

Pre-season preparation is what separates shops that handle peak volume smoothly from those that fall behind on day one. MountChief's intake, tracking, and communication tools are designed to handle the pace of your busiest weeks. Try MountChief before your next season opener.