HUNTING SEASONS IN TEXAS 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 TX hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to turkey to duck. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck in South Texas brush country, slipping decoys for teal on Gulf Coast marshes, or tracking coyote year‑round on private ranchland, Texas delivers premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Texas? Texas’s vast landscapes support: Big Game: Whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk (Hill Country draw), black bear (Trans-Pecos draw), javelina (no closed season) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, cotton-tail, fox squirrel, bobwhite quail, scaled quail, Rio Grande turkey Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, gadwall), Canada geese, light geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, bobcat, raccoon, nutria From Panhandle plains to Piney Woods and coastal marshes, hunters pursue abundant state animals year‑round. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Texas? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may harvest unprotected or nuisance species such as javelina, coyote, nutria, and furbearers with no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator and invasive species control. Public WMAs enforce posted season and method restrictions. Texas Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail & Mule Deer Archery (Zone 1–15): Oct 1 – Nov 1, 2025 General Deer Season: Nov 10 – Dec 7, 2025 (whitetail); Nov 24 – Dec 31, 2025 (mule deer) Muzzleloader: Dec 15 – Dec 23, 2025 (select counties) Youth Deer Season: Oct 18–19, 2025 Late Antlerless: Jan 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (remaining tags) Tags allocate by draw or once OTC quota met; bag limit: one buck per license period plus antlerless via remaining tags. Pronghorn Antelope General Season: Sept 5 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units vary) Limited Draw: Oct 1 – Oct 15, 2025 (Units 3 & 4) Pronghorn tags follow statewide quota; bag limit one buck per tag. Elk & Black Bear Elk (Hill Country draw): Sept 20 – Oct 4, 2025 Bear (Trans-Pecos draw): Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Both hunts are draw‑only; one animal per hunter per lifetime for elk and per permit for bear. Texas Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Small Game & Upland Birds Cottontail Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (12 rabbit; 6 squirrel/day) Bobwhite & Scaled Quail: Nov 1 – Feb 15, 2026 (10 quail/day) Rio Grande Turkey (Fall Archery): Oct 15 – Nov 15, 2025 (WMAs only) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025 & Dec 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (15/day) Non‑toxic shot required for all upland and dove seasons; check WMA-specific dog and bait rules. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 5 – Sept 27, 2025 Regular Duck Season: Nov 14 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Goose Season: Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (Canada & white geese) Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb 1 – Mar 30, 2026 (unlimited) Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 11, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl stamp required Gulf Coast and Panhandle marshes host migrations; daily duck bag limit is 6 with species sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail & Mule Deer: 1 buck; antlerless by permit Pronghorn: 1 buck per tag Elk & Bear: 1 per permit Javelina: No limits (private lands) Ducks: 6/day; 2 teal, 2 gadwall sub‑limits Geese: 5/day; light geese unlimited during CO Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Quail: 10/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 12 & 6/day Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits reflect conservation goals and fair‑chase principles. License & Tags Information for Texas Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid Texas hunting license and required permits: Resident Hunting License: $48.50; Nonresident: $212.50 Deer & Elk Tags: $28 each; antlerless tags $11 Pronghorn & Bear Permits: $33–$418 (draw only) Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $25; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer Permit: $38; includes coyote, nutria, bobcat Hunter Education: Mandatory for hunters born after Sept 2, 1971 Licenses fund wildlife management, habitat enhancement, and enforcement; apply early for draw hunts. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader TPWD authorizes: Archery: Compound and recurve bows; crossbows in archery zones Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms in designated windows Dogs & Bait: Permitted for waterfowl retrievers; predator and hog dogs on private lands Comply with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources TPWD regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; waterfowl sunrise rule applies Hunt Zone Maps: Online GIS for all game units and WMAs Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, turkey, pronghorn via Game Check TX app Special Areas: Coastal refuges, wildlife management areas, CWD monitoring zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD): https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/2024_2025_hunting_seasons With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, Texas delivers world‑class hunting for whitetail deer, pronghorn, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and explore the Lone Star State’s vast wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.