Texas Porch

Outdoors / Hunting

Hunting in Texas.

Texas hunting comes with detailed rules because so much depends on which animal and which county you're in. The good news: once you know the handful of basics, the rest falls into place. This guide walks you through it, then points you to the official source.

Start here

New to hunting: get legal first.

The license, the add-ons for birds and archery, and the hunter-education rule. Most resident hunters want the Super Combo. Sort this before anything else.

Get legal -> Or open the full license guide ->

New this year

What changed for 2026-2027

  • Dove (South Zone): The season now opens Sept. 1, same as the rest of the state. The old Special White-winged Dove Days are gone, and limits and shooting hours match every other day of the South Zone season.
  • Turkey: Because turkey numbers are down, counties that used to allow either sex now allow only gobblers (males) and bearded hens. Matagorda and Wharton counties are closed this season.
  • Quail and chachalaca: Their seasons stay on the fixed statewide dates adopted last season (Nov. 1 - Feb. 28).
  • Deer doe days: Expanded to a 16-day window in a list of central Texas counties (see the rules page).
  • Muzzleloaders: The definition was updated to allow newer muzzleloader technology for deer.

The whole guide

Find your way around

Six short sections. Start anywhere - each one ends with the official TPWD link.

Get legal

The license, the add-ons, and the safety course you need first.

Get set up ->

What you can hunt

Game animals, birds, and other regulated species, with seasons and limits.

Browse species ->

Seasons at a glance

A quick what's-open-when view for the 2026-2027 season.

See seasons ->

How you can hunt

Guns, bows, baiting, night hunting, and what's off-limits.

Read the methods ->

Where you can hunt

Private land, public land, and how to get on it.

Find land ->

After the shot & special rules

Tagging, reporting, CWD zones, and county quirks.

Know the rules ->

Popular hunts

What most people are after

Browse huntable species ->

Big game

White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer are Texas's most popular game animal, and your county usually sets the real rules.

Where: All over the state.

Seasons, limits & official link ->

Upland birds

Wild turkey

Rio Grande turkey covers most of the state; the Eastern turkey in the far east is much more limited. Read this one closely.

Where: Rio Grande: central, southern, and western Texas. Eastern: far East Texas.

Seasons, limits & official link ->

Migratory birds

Dove

Texas's biggest opening-day tradition, split into three zones.

Where: Statewide, in three zones (North, Central, South).

Seasons, limits & official link ->

Other animals

Feral hogs (wild pigs)

Texas has millions of wild hogs, so the rules are built to make them easy to hunt.

Where: Statewide.

Seasons, limits & official link ->

Hunting words, translated

A few terms you'll see in the rules, in plain language.

Bag limit

The most of one animal you can legally take in a day or a season.

Quail: 15 per day.

Possession limit

The most you can have on hand at once, usually a multiple of the daily bag.

Often 3x the daily limit.

Endorsement

A small add-on you buy on top of your license for certain animals.

You need the Upland Game Bird Endorsement for turkey.

Furbearer

A fur-bearing animal like raccoon, fox, or beaver, with its own rules.

Selling pelts needs a Trapper's License.

Nongame

Unprotected animals with a license requirement but no season or limit on private land.

Coyotes and bobcats are nongame.

Antler restriction

A county rule protecting young bucks by inside spread or antler points.

A 13-inch inside spread is a common standard.

Doe days

The specific days a county lets you take antlerless deer.

Check the county listing.

MLDP

Managed Lands Deer Program — a ranch permit that sets its own deer limits.

MLDP limits replace the county limit.

APH permit

Annual Public Hunting permit — one purchase opens over a million acres of public land.

No lottery required.

CWD

Chronic Wasting Disease — a deer disease that triggers special zone rules.

Zones can require check-station testing.

HIP

Harvest Information Program — a free certification for migratory bird hunters.

Required for dove and duck hunters.

Quick answers

The questions people ask most

Do I need a hunting license?

Almost always yes. The main exception is feral hogs on private land with the owner's permission.

How much is a license?

About $25 for a Texas resident, $68 for the Super Combo bundle, and about $315 for non-residents. Confirm current prices on the official license page.

Do I need to take a hunter safety course?

Yes, if you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971. It costs about $15, with a minimum certification age of 9.

How many deer can I shoot?

The statewide cap is 5, no more than 3 bucks — but your county limit is often lower. Always check your county.

Is blaze orange required?

Not on private land. It is required on public hunting lands.

Can I bait deer?

Yes, on private land. Not for East Zone turkey, not for migratory birds, and usually not on public land.

Can I use a suppressor?

Yes, if you legally own it.

Can I hunt at night?

Yes for feral hogs, nongame animals, and furbearers on private land (with a light).

Do I need a license to hunt hogs?

Not on private land with permission. Yes on public land.

Can non-residents hunt deer in Texas?

Yes, with the roughly $315 Non-Resident General Hunting License.

When does deer season open?

For 2026-2027: archery Oct. 3, general (rifle) Nov. 7. Dates change yearly.

What can I hunt with no season and no limit?

Feral hogs, exotics, and most nongame animals (with a license and permission).

Official sources

Texas Parks & Wildlife is the authority on hunting rules. Texas Porch explains; TPWD decides. Confirm dates and limits on the official pages before you hunt.

Data vintage:
Built on the 2026-2027 season
Last reviewed:
July 10, 2026

Before you act: Seasons, bag limits, open counties, and license prices change every year. The Outdoor Annual and the county listing are the final word. How to use Texas Porch carefully.