Guide for Texas wild games season

Texas Hunting: Your 2025-2026 Essential Guide to New Seasons and Top Locations

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Texas is full of diffe­rent kinds of animals: that’s why hunters love it. The­ 2025-2026 season is close. Most hunters are­ probably deciding what animals they want to go after. Che­ck out this guide. It’s perfect for ne­w Texas hunters. It has important stuff about rules, lice­nses, and the best place­s to hunt different animals.

Season Schedule

Texas Hunting Seasons at a Glance

🦌 White-tailed Deer

  • Archery-Only: Sep 27 – Oct 31, 2025 (252 counties)
  • General Rifle:
    • North Zone: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
    • South Zone: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
  • Youth Hunts:
    • Early: Oct 24-26, 2025
    • Late: Jan 5-18, 2026 (North), Jan 19 – Feb 1, 2026 (South)
  • Muzzleloader: Jan 5-18, 2026 (90 counties)

🏜 Mule Deer

  • Panhandle Zone:
    • Archery: Sep 27 – Nov 21, 2025
    • General: Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025
  • Trans-Pecos Zone:
    • Archery: Sep 27 – Nov 27, 2025
    • General: Nov 28 – Dec 14, 2025

🏃 Pronghorn Antelope

  • Season: Oct 4-19, 2025 (41 counties)
  • Special permits required

🐗 Javelina

  • North Zone: Oct 1, 2025 – Feb 22, 2026
  • South Zone: Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026

🦃 Turkey Seasons

Fall Hunting

  • General:
    • North Zone: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
    • South Zone: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
  • Special Counties: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 22, 2026
  • Archery-Only: Sep 27 – Oct 31, 2025
  • Youth Hunts:
    • North: Oct 24-26, 2025 & Jan 5-18, 2026
    • South: Oct 24-26, 2025 & Jan 19 – Feb 1, 2026

Spring Hunting

  • General:
    • North Zone: Mar 28 – May 10, 2026
    • South Zone: Mar 14 – Apr 26, 2026
    • East Zone: Apr 22 – May 14, 2026
  • One-Turkey Counties: Apr 1-30, 2026
  • Youth Hunts:
    • North: Mar 21-22 & May 16-17, 2026
    • South: Mar 7-8 & May 2-3, 2026

🦝 Furbearers & Predators

  • Recreational: Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026 (no bag limits)
  • Commercial:
    • Nutria: Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026
    • Beaver: Oct 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
    • Others: Nov 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
  • Coyotes & bobcats: No closed season

🐦 Upland Birds

  • Quail: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
  • Pheasant: Dec 6, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 (Panhandle/South Plains)
  • Chachalaca: Oct 25, 2025 – Feb 22, 2026 (South Texas)

🐿️ Small Game

  • Squirrel (East Texas): Oct 1, 2025 – Feb 22, 2026 & May 1-31, 2026
  • Squirrel (Other): Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026
  • Youth Squirrel: Sep 26-28, 2025
  • Rabbits & Hares: No closed season

🕊️ Migratory Birds

  • Dove:
    • North Zone: Sep 1 – Nov 9, 2025 & Dec 19, 2025 – Jan 7, 2026
    • Central Zone: Sep 1 – Oct 26, 2025 & Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 14, 2026
    • South Zone: Sep 14 – Oct 26, 2025 & Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 22, 2026
  • White-winged Dove (South): Sep 5-7 & Sep 12-13, 2025
  • Sandhill Cranes:
    • Zone A: Oct 25, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
    • Zone B: Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
    • Zone C: Dec 13, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026

🦆 Waterfowl

  • Ducks:
    • High Plains: Oct 18-19 & Oct 24, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
    • North Zone: Nov 8-30 & Dec 6, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
    • South Zone: Nov 1-30 & Dec 13, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
  • Youth/Veteran Days:
    • High Plains: Oct 11-12, 2025
    • North Zone: Nov 1-2, 2025
    • South Zone: Oct 25-26, 2025
  • Geese:
    • Canada (East): Sep 13-28, 2025
    • Dark Geese: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 (West), Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026 (East)
    • Light Geese: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 (West), Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 15, 2026 (East)

🐊 Special Species

  • Alligator:
    • 22 Counties: Sep 10-30, 2025
    • Others: Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026
  • Always Open: Coyotes, rabbits, furbearers (recreational)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) License Cost

License/PermitResident CostNon-Resident Cost
Hunting License (Annual)$35$110
Super Combo Hunting License (Annual)$80$200
Archery Stamp (Annual)$10$10
Mule Deer Hunting License (Annual)$67$315
White-tailed Deer Hunting License (Annual)$67Not applicable

It’s always recommended to consult the TPWD website for the most current information and licensing requirements.

Additional Considerations:

  • Age Requirements: Minimum age requirements apply for hunting certain species. Hunters 17 years old or younger must generally be accompanied by a licensed adult.
  • Specific Hunt Permits: Certain hunts may require additional permits beyond a hunting license. These can be for specific wildlife management areas (WMAs) or controlled hunts with limited quotas.
  • Harvest Tags: Separate harvest tags are often required for specific species, such as deer or turkey.

Finding the Latest Regulations:

Understanding hunting laws can seem complex, but TPWD offers resources to help hunters navigate the regulations. The TPWD website (https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/licenses/online_sales/) provides a wealth of information, including:

Top Texas Hunting Locations by Species

Texas boasts a diverse landscape and a rich abundance of wildlife, making it a prime destination for hunters across the country. Whether you’re seeking big game trophies or upland birds, there’s a perfect hunting ground waiting to be explored in the Lone Star State.

Here’s a glimpse into some of the top Texas hunting locations for various popular game species:

White-tailed Deer:

  • Edwards Plateau: This central Texas region is renowned for its high deer densities, offering excellent opportunities for trophy whitetail bucks. The Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Hill Country are particularly popular destinations.
  • South Texas Plains: Known for its vast ranchlands and brush country, South Texas attracts hunters seeking mature whitetail deer with impressive antlers. Areas like Jim Hogg County and La Salle County are prime locations.
  • Pineywoods: East Texas’ pine forests provide habitat for a healthy deer population. While bucks may not reach the same size as those found further west, the Pineywoods offer a different kind of hunting experience with abundant deer herds. The Sam Houston National Forest is a popular public hunting option.

Rio Grande Turkey:

  • South Texas: The brush country of southern Texas is prime territory for Rio Grande turkeys. The Lower Rio Grande Valley and the Starr County region offer excellent hunting opportunities during the spring season.
  • Edwards Plateau: The rolling hills and canyons of the Edwards Plateau also provide suitable habitat for Rio Grande turkeys. Hunters can find good public hunting opportunities in WMAs like the Lost Maples WMA.
  • North Texas: While less renowned than southern regions, pockets of North Texas, particularly along river corridors, can offer decent Rio Grande turkey hunting opportunities.

Upland Game Birds:

  • Panhandle and South Plains: The arid grasslands of the Panhandle and South Plains regions are prime territory for pheasant hunting. Public hunting lands like the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge provide ample opportunities.
  • Statewide: Bobwhite quail can be found throughout Texas, with particularly good populations in the Hill Country and the Rolling Plains regions. Public hunting lands and private leases offer quail hunting opportunities.
  • Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr & Willacy Counties: The southernmost tip of Texas offers excellent habitat for chachalacas, a unique game bird related to the grouse family. These counties provide the best hunting opportunities for chachalacas.

Doves:

  • North Texas: The North Zone boasts longer dove seasons and offers excellent hunting opportunities for mourning doves and white-winged doves. Areas near agricultural fields and grain crops are prime locations.
  • Central Texas: The Central Zone offers a good balance of season length and dove populations. Hunters can find success in agricultural areas and along rivers and streams.
  • South Texas: The South Zone has the latest dove season closure, allowing hunters to extend their dove hunting experience. Similar to other zones, agricultural areas and riparian corridors are productive hunting grounds.

Eric Hale
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