TX · Deer
Texas white-tailed deer seasons start with archery in early October, run through a general season that splits into North and South zones, and finish with late muzzleloader and special late hunts. Bag limits are set county by county, within an annual cap of five deer per hunter (no more than three bucks).
Verified 2026-10-23Season calendar
Archery-onlyOct. 3 – Nov. 6, 2026
Youth-only early seasonOct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026
General season, North ZoneNov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
General season, South ZoneNov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027
Youth-only late seasonJan. 4 – 17, 2027
Muzzleloader-onlyJan. 4 – 17, 2027
Special late season, North ZoneJan. 4 – 17, 2027
Special late season, South ZoneJan. 18 – 31, 2027
Season dates
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery-only (252 of 254 counties; archery endorsement required) | Oct. 3 – Nov. 6, 2026 |
| Youth-only early season | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 |
| General season, North Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
| General season, South Zone | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 |
| Youth-only late season | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Muzzleloader-only (90 of 254 counties) | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Special late season, North Zone | Jan. 4 – 17, 2027 |
| Special late season, South Zone | Jan. 18 – 31, 2027 |
Bag limit
County-specific, with an annual cap of 5 white-tailed deer, no more than 3 of them bucks (the cap does not apply on MLDP properties).
License and permit fees
| Item | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting licenseNonresident figure is the General Hunting License, the only nonresident license valid for white-tailed deer. | $25 | $315 |
| Senior resident hunting license (65+) | $7 | — |
| Youth hunting license (under 17) | $7 | $7 |
| Archery endorsement (needed for archery-only season) | $7 | $7 |
Watch for
- Look up your county: seasons, antler restrictions and bag limits vary, and 2 of 254 counties have no deer season.
- Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties require an archery endorsement for any deer hunting, and some counties require harvest reporting.