Texas Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026

Texas archery-only deer season runs Oct 3–Nov 6 in the general season zone; any legal bow including compound, recurve, longbow, and crossbow is authorized. Hunters must possess a valid Texas hunting license and deer license. Texas deer management is heavily landowner-driven — most quality hunting occurs on private ranches with managed deer programs. The Texas Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) provides extended seasons for participating properties. Whitetail deer in the Edwards Plateau Hill Country, Post Oak Savannah, and South Texas brush country are the primary subspecies. Pre-rut scraping and rub activity is minimal until late October in most zones.

Texas general firearms deer season runs Nov 7–Jan 18 in the North, South, and East Texas zones; legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns, handguns, and muzzleloaders. Hunters must possess a valid Texas hunting license and deer license — separate tags for antlered and antlerless bucks are required. Texas has generous bag limits for antlerless deer in overpopulated zones; check county-specific regulations. The Texas rut peaks in mid-November in most zones — the Hill Country rut (Nov 5–20) is among the most predictable in the nation for mature buck movement during daylight hours. Most hunting access is through private landowner permission or lease.

North Zone

Texas duck season runs Oct 28–Jan 25 with High Plains Mallard Management Unit, North Zone, and South Zone having different dates aligned to the Central Flyway framework; hunters must possess a valid Texas hunting license, Texas Migratory Game Bird endorsement, and Federal Duck Stamp. HIP certification is required. Texas's coastal marshes, prairie potholes, and playa lakes host massive concentrations of pintails, mallards, teal, and diving ducks. Daily bag limits follow federal frameworks. Eastern Texas rice field hunting and the Gulf Coast marshes produce the most consistent duck hunting in the state. Steel or non-toxic shot is required.

No limit; year-round on private land

South Texas; year-round