The Trail Pro Intel Blog
Scouting guides, hunt forecasting strategy, gear breakdowns, and trail-cam workflow tips from the field — written for whitetail hunters who pattern their property year-round.
2026 Rut Predictions, State by State
Peak breeding dates and the exact week to hunt for every state — Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, and more. Start at the national hub and jump to your state.
- 01Georgia Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, County Rules & What to KnowField Manual
- 02New Jersey Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to KnowField Manual
- 032026 Whitetail Rut Predictions: State-by-State Peak DatesField Manual
- 042026 Rut Predictions by State: Your Whitetail Rut Map for Every StateField Manual
- 05North Carolina Deer Season 2026: Gun & Bow Opener Dates by ZoneField Manual
Trail-camera analysis now queues instead of running in your browser
Six status tiles replace one "Pending" label, and credits bill only when a photo is actually read — never when it's just queued.
How to Score a Buck From Trail Cam Photos (By Eye or With an App)
Field-score a buck from trail camera photos: ear-width and mass references, where photos mislead, and how AI antler scoring works — free to try.
Deer Movement Forecast: Are Deer Moving Today?
How deer movement forecasts work: the five conditions that score a day, a movement chart by season phase, and a free forecast for your exact spot.
Deer Feeding Times: The Chart, the Science, and Today's Windows
Deer feeding times explained: the daily feeding chart, what actually shifts the windows, and free today's-times lookups for all 50 states.
Best Hunting Apps 2026: The 6 Worth Putting on Your Phone
Six hunting apps compared: onX, HuntWise, HuntStand, Spartan Forge, DeerCast, Trail Pro Intel — prices verified August 2026 and the free-tier truth.
Deer Season Dates 2026-27: Every State's Opening Days
2026-27 deer season dates for every state: verified archery and firearms openers in one table, each linked to a full state guide.
New Jersey Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
NJ still hasn't adopted final 2026-27 deer dates as of Aug. 16 — and bow season is roughly a month out. What's confirmed, what's pending, and what to do now.
Louisiana Deer Season 2026-27: Area Dates & What to Know
Louisiana's 2026-27 deer regs are final. Area 1-10 dates, the new velvet-buck rule, drone recovery, CWD archery seasons, and Area 2's Aug. 26 velvet opener.
Maryland Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Regions & What to Know
Maryland's 2026-27 deer dates are official: archery Sept. 11, Region B firearms Nov. 28, Region A firearms Dec. 5. Full Region A vs B tables and bag limits.
Virginia Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Blue Ridge Zones & What to Know
Virginia's 2026-27 deer dates are official: archery Oct. 3, muzzleloader Oct. 31, general firearms Nov. 14. Urban archery and NOVA antlerless open Sept. 5.
New York Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & the New Antlerless Rules
NY's 2026-27 deer dates are final: Southern Zone firearms Nov. 21, bow Oct. 1, early antlerless Sept. 12. Plus the adopted antlerless and earn-a-buck changes.
Mississippi Deer Season 2026-27: Zone Dates & What to Know
MDWFP has posted its 2026-27 seasons PDF — but the MDWFP web page still serves old dates. Where to get the real Mississippi deer dates, by unit.
Wyoming Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Wyoming's 2026 deer seasons are set per hunt area. How the region system works, typical archery and general openers, and how to verify your area.
Montana Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Montana's 2026 deer seasons: archery Sept. 5-Oct. 18, the five-week general season Oct. 24-Nov. 29 covering the whitetail rut, muzzleloader Dec. 12-20.
Colorado Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Colorado's 2026 deer seasons: archery Sept. 2-30 west of I-25, muzzleloader Sept. 12-20, rifle in the 1st-4th seasons — all limited draw.
Idaho Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Idaho's 2026 deer seasons: general archery opens Aug. 30, any-weapon hunts Oct. 10 in most units — with the Panhandle's long whitetail rut hunting.
Oregon Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Oregon's 2026 deer seasons: western general rifle Oct. 3-Nov. 6 with OTC tags, western archery Aug. 29-Sept. 27, all eastern hunts controlled draw.
Arkansas Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What's Changing
AGFC posted the 2026-27 Arkansas deer dates: archery Sept. 26, modern gun opens Nov. 14, plus the new late-August velvet opener.
North Dakota Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Lottery & What to Know
North Dakota's 2026 deer gun season runs Nov. 6-22, archery Sept. 4-Jan. 3, muzzleloader Nov. 27-Dec. 13, youth Sept. 18-27. Lottery and license details.
Washington Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Units & What to Know
Washington's 2026 deer seasons: early archery opens Sept. 1, muzzleloader Sept. 26, modern firearm Oct. 17 statewide — from the WDFW pamphlet.
Nebraska Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Permits & What to Know
Nebraska's 2026 November firearm deer season runs Nov. 14-22, archery Sept. 1-Dec. 31, muzzleloader Dec. 1-31. Full dates plus 2026 permit changes.
Rhode Island Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
RI's 2026-27 deer seasons: Zone 1 archery Sept. 15-Jan. 31, muzzleloader Nov. 7-29, shotgun opens Dec. 5. Zone-by-zone dates, permits and rules.
South Dakota Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Draw Deadlines & What to Know
South Dakota's 2026 deer seasons: West River firearm Nov. 14-29, East River Nov. 21-Dec. 6, Black Hills Nov. 1-30, archery Sept. 1-Jan. 1. Draw info inside.
New Hampshire Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, WMUs & What to Know
NH's 2026-27 Hunting Digest hasn't posted yet. Expected dates under the state's standard framework, the WMU A exceptions, and where to verify.
Maine Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, WMDs & What to Know
Maine's 2026 firearms deer season runs Nov. 2-28, with resident-only day Oct. 31, archery Oct. 3-30 and muzzleloader Nov. 30-Dec. 12 in select WMDs.
Vermont Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Vermont's 2026 rifle season runs Nov. 14-29, archery Oct. 1-Dec. 15, and December muzzleloader Nov. 30-Dec. 13. Full dates, WMU basics and license info.
Connecticut Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Connecticut's 2026 deer dates: archery opens September 15, firearms November 18-December 8, muzzleloader December 9-31 on private land. Full tables inside.
Delaware Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Seasons & What to Know
Delaware's 2026-27 deer dates: archery September 1-January 31, general firearm November 13-22 and January 16-24, muzzleloader October 9-18.
Massachusetts Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Massachusetts 2026 deer dates: archery October 5-November 28, shotgun November 30-December 12, primitive firearms December 14-31. Full table inside.
Oklahoma Deer Season 2026: Gun Opener Nov 21, Bow Oct 1
Oklahoma's deer gun season runs Nov. 21-Dec. 6, 2026; archery opens Oct. 1, muzzleloader Oct. 24. Full 2026-27 dates, zones & holiday antlerless hunt.
West Virginia Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Splits & What to Know
West Virginia's 2026-27 deer seasons: archery/crossbow opens September 26, buck firearms November 23-December 6, muzzleloader December 14-20.
Tennessee Deer Season 2026: Gun Opener Nov 21, Bow Sept 26
TN deer season 2026: gun opens Nov. 21, bow Sept. 26, muzzleloader Nov. 7. Full TWRA dates, Unit 1-6 bag limits & the Aug. 28-30 velvet hunt schedule.
Alabama Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Alabama's 2026-27 deer seasons: archery opens Oct. 15 (Oct. 1 in Zones D/E), gun Nov. 21 (Nov. 7 in D/E), running to Feb. 10. Zone-by-zone dates inside.
Kentucky Deer Season 2026: Gun Opener Nov 14, Bow Sept 5
KY deer season 2026: gun opens Nov. 14, archery Sept. 5, CWD zone season Sept. 25-28. Full dates, the 23 CWD counties, and zone bag limits.
Florida Deer Season 2026-27: Zone A-D Dates & What to Know
Florida's 2026-27 deer dates from FWC: Zone A archery opens Aug. 1, Zone C Sept. 19, Zone B Oct. 17, Zone D Oct. 24. Zone-by-zone tables inside.
North Carolina Deer Season 2026: Gun & Bow Opener Dates by Zone
North Carolina's 2026-27 deer dates are final in the NCWRC digest: archery Sept. 12 statewide, gun Oct. 17 to Nov. 28 by zone, CWD early season Aug. 22-23.
How Much Does HuntWise Cost in 2026?
HuntWise Pro costs $59.99/yr ($19.99/mo) and Elite $119.99/yr ($39.99/mo) on the App Store; the site shows $4.99-$9.99/mo billed annually. 2026 breakdown.
Illinois Deer Season 2026: Firearm Nov 20-22 & Dec 3-6, Bow Oct 1
Illinois' first firearm deer season runs Nov. 20-22, 2026 (second: Dec. 3-6); archery opens Oct. 1. Full 2026-27 dates, permit lotteries & muzzleloader.
Minnesota Deer Opener 2026: Gun Season Nov 7, Bow Sept 19
MN deer opener 2026: gun season opens Saturday, Nov. 7; bow opens Sept. 19. Full 2026-27 Minnesota firearm, bow & muzzleloader dates by permit-area series.
Kansas Deer Season 2026: Firearm Dec 2-13, Bow Opens Sept 14
Kansas' firearm deer season runs Dec. 2-13, 2026; archery & early muzzleloader open Sept. 14. Full 2026-27 dates plus unit-by-unit antlerless windows.
Indiana Deer Season 2026: Firearm Opener Nov 14, Bow Oct 1
Indiana deer season 2026: firearms Nov. 14-29, bow opens Oct. 1, muzzleloader Dec. 5-20. Full 2026-27 archery dates & reduction-zone rules.
Missouri Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Portions & What to Know
Missouri's 2026-27 deer season opens Sept. 15 for archery; the firearms November portion runs Nov. 14-24. All portions, dates, and permit basics.
Iowa Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Seasons & What to Know
Iowa's 2026-27 deer season opens Oct. 1 for archery; Shotgun 1 runs Dec. 5-9 and Shotgun 2 Dec. 12-20. Full season table, license and tag basics.
Pennsylvania Deer Season 2026: Rifle Opener Nov 28, Bow Oct 3
PA's rifle deer season opens Nov. 28, 2026 and runs 16 days (Sundays included) to Dec. 13; archery opens Oct. 3. Full 2026-27 dates & WMU license notes.
Wisconsin Deer Opener 2026: Gun Season Nov 21, Bow Sept 12
Wisconsin's gun deer season runs Nov. 21-29, 2026; archery & crossbow open Sept. 12. Full 2026-27 dates incl. muzzleloader, metro units & Holiday Hunt.
How Much Does onX Hunt Cost in 2026?
onX Hunt costs $34.99/yr Premium (1 state), $49.99/yr two-state, $99.99/yr Elite ($14.99/mo). onX no longer markets a named free tier.
When to Hang Trail Cameras: Summer Buck Inventory Guide
July through late August is the trail camera window for summer buck inventory — velvet bucks on predictable bed-to-feed patterns. Where and how to set up.
South Carolina Deer Season 2026: Zone 3 Open Now, Zone 4 Guns Sept 1
SC's Zone 3 gun season opened Aug. 15, 2026 — the nation's earliest. Zone 4 guns Sept. 1, Zones 1-2 in October, all closing Jan. 1. Full zone dates.
Georgia Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, County Rules & What to Know
Georgia's 2026-27 deer dates are official: archery Sept. 12, primitive weapons Oct. 10, firearms Oct. 17 - Jan. 10. Zone and county rules inside.
Texas Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Texas' 2026-27 whitetail general season: Nov. 7-Jan. 3 (North Zone), Nov. 7-Jan. 17 (South Zone), archery Oct. 3-Nov. 6. TPWD-confirmed dates inside.
Ohio Deer Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones & What to Know
Ohio's 2026-27 deer season opens Sept. 26, 2026 with statewide archery; gun week runs Nov. 30-Dec. 6. Full dates, DSA rules, and license basics.
The free plan now includes unlimited locations
The 3-location cap is gone — map as many properties, spots, and trail cameras as you run, free.
New free tool: the best time to hunt today
A free, public page with today's solunar windows, moon phase, and a 0–100 hunt score for any state — no account needed.
Clubs: an events calendar, invite emails, and harvest photos
Three upgrades for hunting clubs — a shared events calendar, invitations that email your crew, and photos on the kill log.
Clubs are now free for up to 3 members
Run a small crew free — up to 3 members on the full club app, no trial clock. Upgrade to $349/yr or $39/mo with no member limit on a paid club.
Hunting Club Software: Run Your Whole Lease in One App
Hunting club software that runs your whole lease — stand signups, a shared kill log, dues, and an AI-tagged trail-cam feed. Free for clubs of 3 or fewer.
2026 Rut Predictions by State: Your Whitetail Rut Map for Every State
The 2026 whitetail rut map, state by state — every state's peak breeding dates and phase-by-phase timeline in one place.
Best Free Hunting App 2026: What's Actually Free in 6 Apps
Best free hunting app 2026: six apps ranked by what you actually get without paying. Free tiers and prices verified August 2026 — the honest cut.
Pick Your Species and Your Forecast Range
The hunt forecast now follows the animal you're after — switch between 7 species and set a 3, 7, or 10-day outlook (Pro) that sticks across the app.
Trail Pro Intel Clubs — One App for Your Whole Lease
Run your hunting club or lease in Trail Pro Intel: stand signups, a shared trail-cam feed, kill log, and dues. Free for 3 or fewer, then $349/yr.
Resources Hub, Product Docs & a Public Changelog
We launched a Resources menu, a /docs hub for how-to guides on every feature, and a /changelog that lists what shipped — without the bug-fix noise.
Trail Pro Intel vs Spartan Forge: Built for the Backcountry
Trail Pro Intel vs Spartan Forge as of August 2026 — the full hunting workflow vs a $79.99/yr AI deer-prediction specialist. Where each app wins.
Michigan Deer Season 2026: What Actually Changed (and What Doesn't Until 2027)
Michigan's biggest deer-regulation overhaul in years, plus the confirmed 2026 season dates - what hits this fall and what waits for 2027.
Best Wind for Deer Hunting (with a Free Wind Tool)
How to read wind direction for whitetail hunting — why speed and thermals matter as much as direction, plus a free tool to visualize your scent cone.
2026 Whitetail Rut Predictions: State-by-State Peak Dates
State-by-state 2026 whitetail rut predictions — peak breeding dates plus pre-rut, chasing, lockdown, and post-rut windows, with strategy for each phase.
How to Scout Deer Online: The E-Scouting Playbook
A complete e-scouting playbook for whitetail hunters — scout deer on public land using aerial imagery, terrain, wind, and pressure analysis.
Trail Pro Intel vs HuntWise: What HuntWise Really Costs in 2026
HuntWise pricing as of August 2026: Pro $59.99/yr, Elite $119.99/yr on the App Store. How that compares with Trail Pro Intel, the free hunting app.
Trail Pro Intel vs DeerCast: Forecast Plus the Full Workflow
How Trail Pro Intel compares with DeerCast as of August 2026 — Elite $29.99 to Unlimited $74.99, forecasting, trail cameras, and mapping.
Trail Pro Intel vs HuntStand: The Free Alternative
How Trail Pro Intel compares with HuntStand as of August 2026 — Pro $34.99/yr, Ultimate $99.99/yr, AI photo tagging, mapping, and offline use.
Trail Pro Intel vs onX Hunt: The Free onX Alternative in 2026
onX no longer markets a named free tier, and Premium starts at $34.99/yr. Trail Pro Intel's free plan is the full app. The 2026 head-to-head.