Texas Hunting Seasons & Regulations Guide 2026-2027
2026-2027 Texas hunting season dates, license costs, and regulations for whitetail deer, turkey, dove, quail, hogs, and exotics. A quick reference for ranch and recreational landowners.
Your Quick Reference for Hunting on Texas Ranch & Recreational Land
For hunters, landowners, and buyers looking at ranch or recreational property in Texas, understanding the state’s hunting seasons and regulations is key. Texas has some of the best private-land hunting in the country—whitetail deer, exotics, turkey, hogs, migratory birds and more—but each species has its own rules, county by county and season by season.
This guide covers the 2026-2027 license year (licenses went on sale August 15, 2026 and are valid through August 31, 2027). It is an easy-to-navigate overview of season dates, licensing requirements, and landowner considerations. Dates and rules can change mid-season. For complete and current information, always confirm with the official TPWD links below.
What Changed for 2026-2027
- Archery deer season opens Saturday, October 3, 2026 and runs through November 6. The general season opens November 7 statewide.
- Mandatory harvest reporting for white-tailed deer now applies in 24 counties (bucks and antlerless in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall; antlerless only in 20 others). Harvests must be reported within 24 hours through the Texas Hunt & Fish app. If you use a digital license, executing the digital tag counts as your report.
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) zones continue to require that the intact, unfrozen head of any harvested deer be presented at a TPWD check station within 48 hours. Check whether your county or lease falls inside a zone before opening day.
- License prices are unchanged: a Resident Hunting License is still $25 and the Super Combo is $68.
Quick Access to TPWD Official Resources
For real-time updates (highly recommended) use these direct links:
- 2026-2027 Hunting Season Dates
- Statewide Hunting Regulations
- Season Dates by Species
- County-Specific Regulations
- Licenses & Hunting Permits
- Hunter Education Requirements
- Public Hunting Land in Texas
2026-2027 Texas Hunting Season Dates
All dates below are from TPWD’s published 2026-2027 calendar. County exceptions apply, especially for deer; use the county listing link above for your property.
White-tailed Deer
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery (252 of 254 counties) | Oct. 3 – Nov. 6, 2026 |
| General, North Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
| General, South Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 |
| Youth-Only, Early | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 |
| Youth-Only, Late | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Special Late, North Zone | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Special Late, South Zone | Jan. 18 – 31, 2027 |
| Muzzleloader-Only (90 counties) | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
Most of the counties where Texas Land Brokerage sells (Edwards, Real, Sutton, Val Verde, Kinney, Coke, McCulloch) fall in the North Zone. Antler restrictions, doe days, and bag limits are set county by county.
Mule Deer
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery, Panhandle | Oct. 3 – Nov. 20, 2026 |
| Archery, Trans-Pecos | Oct. 3 – Nov. 26, 2026 |
| General, Panhandle | Nov. 21 – Dec. 6, 2026 |
| General, Trans-Pecos | Nov. 27 – Dec. 13, 2026 |
Wild Turkey (Rio Grande)
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery-Only | Oct. 3 – Nov. 6, 2026 |
| Fall, North Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Fall, South Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 |
| Fall Youth, North | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Fall Youth, South | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 18 – 31, 2027 |
| Spring, North Zone | Apr. 3 – May 16, 2027 |
| Spring, South Zone | Mar. 20 – May 2, 2027 |
| Spring, One-Turkey Counties | Apr. 1 – 30, 2027 |
| Spring, East Texas (Eastern turkey) | Apr. 22 – May 14, 2027 |
| Spring Youth, North | Mar. 27 – 28 & May 22 – 23, 2027 |
| Spring Youth, South | Mar. 13 – 14 & May 8 – 9, 2027 |
Dove
| Zone | Dates |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Sep. 1 – Nov. 8, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 – Jan. 7, 2027 |
| Central Zone | Sep. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 11, 2026 – Jan. 14, 2027 |
| South Zone | Sep. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 – Jan. 21, 2027 |
Upland Game & Small Game
| Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| Quail (statewide) | Nov. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Pheasant (Panhandle / South Plains) | Dec. 5, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Chachalaca (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy) | Nov. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Squirrel, East Texas | Oct. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 & May 1 – 31, 2027 |
| Squirrel, all other counties | Sep. 1, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2027 |
| Javelina, North | Oct. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Javelina, South | Sep. 1, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2027 |
| Pronghorn (41 counties) | Oct. 3 – 18, 2026 |
| Alligator, 22 core counties | Sep. 10 – 30, 2026 |
| Alligator, all other counties | Apr. 1 – June 30, 2027 |
Waterfowl & Other Migratory Birds
| Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| September Teal | Sep. 19 – 27, 2026 |
| Duck, High Plains Mallard Mgmt. Unit | Oct. 24 – 25 & Oct. 30, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Duck, North Zone | Nov. 14 – 29 & Dec. 5, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Duck, South Zone | Nov. 7 – 29 & Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Early Canada Goose, East | Sep. 12 – 27, 2026 |
| Dark & Light Geese, West Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Feb. 7, 2027 |
| Dark Geese, East Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Light Geese, East Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Feb. 19, 2027 |
| Sandhill Crane, Zone A / B / C | Oct. 31 / Nov. 27 / Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31 (A, B) or Jan. 17 (C), 2027 |
| Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens | Sep. 19 – 27 & Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027 |
| Woodcock | Dec. 18, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Snipe | Nov. 7, 2026 – Feb. 21, 2027 |
Species With No Closed Season on Private Land
This is one of the biggest reasons hunting land in Texas is so popular.
Exotic Species (Axis, Blackbuck, Aoudad, Fallow, etc.)
- No closed season and no bag limit on private land
- A hunting license is still required
- Common on Hill Country ranches, especially in Edwards, Real, and Kinney counties
Feral Hogs
- Hunt year-round, day or night
- No hunting license required on private property with landowner authorization
- Present on nearly every Texas ranch property
Predators & Varmints
- Coyotes, bobcats, and other non-game animals can be taken year-round on private land with a valid hunting license
Texas Hunting License Requirements & 2026-2027 Costs
Licenses are valid from the date of purchase through August 31, 2027. Buy online from TPWD or at any license retailer; digital licenses are available and let you tag deer and turkey from your phone.
| License | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License | $25 | Texas residents |
| Senior Resident Hunting License | $7 | Texas residents 65 and older |
| Youth Hunting License | $7 | Anyone under 17, resident or not |
| Super Combo (hunting + fishing + all endorsements except Federal Duck Stamp) | $68 | Texas residents |
| Senior Super Combo | $32 | Texas residents 65 and older |
| Non-Resident General Hunting License | $315 | Out-of-state hunters, all game |
| Non-Resident 5-Day Special Hunting License | $48 | Out-of-state hunters: exotics, small game, and birds only (no deer, pronghorn, alligator, or bighorn) |
| Hunting Lease License (1-499 / 500-999 / 1,000+ acres) | $79 / $147 / $252 | Landowners who lease hunting rights for a fee |
Endorsements (added to a basic license)
- Archery Endorsement, $7: required for any archery-only season
- Upland Game Bird Endorsement, $7: turkey, quail, pheasant, chachalaca
- Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, $7: dove, waterfowl, sandhill crane, rail, snipe, woodcock
- Federal Duck Stamp, $25: all waterfowl hunters 16 and older
- HIP Certification: free, required for all migratory bird hunters
Hunter Education
- Required for anyone born on or after September 2, 1971
- Minimum certification age is 9
- Classroom or field courses are $15; an online-only course is available through approved providers
- A one-time $10 Hunter Education Deferral lets hunters 17 and older postpone the course for one year while hunting with a certified or exempt adult
County-by-County Rules: What Landowners Need to Know
County regulations control the details that matter most on a ranch:
- Antler restrictions (inside spread and point rules)
- Doe days and antlerless harvest (full season, limited days, or permit-only)
- Legal weapon types and muzzleloader seasons
- Bag limits
- Mandatory harvest reporting and CWD zone rules
Buying a ranch in one county can mean very different hunting opportunities than a ranch just across the line. Before you make an offer, pull the county page from TPWD and, for larger properties, ask whether the ranch is enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP), which can extend the season and set property-specific harvest quotas.
Benefits of Owning Hunting Land in Texas
Owning recreational or hunting acreage in Texas offers advantages public hunting can’t:
- Hunt anytime during legal seasons—your land, your schedule
- Exotics and hogs year-round
- Wildlife improvement and habitat management on your own terms
- Multiple game species on one property
- Agricultural or wildlife tax valuations
- Long-term land value appreciation
- Family recreation, legacy, and generational enjoyment
These are also why many buyers choose ranches in Edwards, Sutton, Real, Kinney, or Val Verde counties—areas with high wildlife populations and flexible land use.
Pre-Season Checklist for Landowners
Before anyone hunts on your land this fall, review these:
- Current county regulations, including harvest reporting and CWD zone status
- Property boundaries and signage
- Blinds, feeders, and shooting lanes
- Guest permission rules and a written hunting agreement
- Every hunter has a valid license, endorsements, and hunter education
- A plan for reporting and tagging deer within 24 hours
Looking to Buy Hunting Land in Texas?
Texas Land Brokerage offers ranches, recreational land, and hunting properties with:
- Owner financing (5% down, no credit check, up to 30 years)
- Wildlife-rich areas
- Good investment and appreciation
- Remote tracts and turnkey ranch headquarters
Whether you want:
- A legacy ranch
- A weekend hunting retreat
- A long-term investment
- A raw land tract to improve
- A turnkey ranch with cabins and utilities
TXLB can match you to the right region, acreage, wildlife, and budget. Read our Texas hunting ranch buyer’s guide and first-year hunting property setup guide for next steps.