TX Hunting Seasons & Public Land

Texas Hunting

Texas is the largest hunting state by land area, offering white-tailed deer, mule deer, feral hog, javelina, pronghorn, and exotic species across Hill Country, South Texas brush, and West Texas desert.

3,475 Seasons68 Species

Direct Answer

Texas hunting seasons cover 3,475 season dates across 277 hunt zones for White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Mule Deer and more. Most seasons are open to any licensed hunter within the posted dates. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and zone.

Season data sourced from the Texas wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.

Texas Hunting Seasons by Species

Dove

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Anderson CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 1Oct 26
Andrews CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 1Nov 9
Angelina CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 1Oct 26
Aransas CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 14Oct 26
Archer CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 1Nov 9
Armstrong CountyAny Legal WeaponSep 1Nov 9

+ 166 more Dove seasons

Coot

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone high-planesGeneralOct 17Oct 18
Zone high-planesGeneralOct 24Oct 25
Zone high-planesGeneralOct 30Jan 31
Zone northGeneralNov 7Nov 8
Zone northGeneralNov 14Nov 29
Zone northGeneralDec 5Jan 31

+ 5 more Coot seasons

Chachalaca

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Cameron CountyAny Legal WeaponOct 25Feb 22
Hidalgo CountyAny Legal WeaponOct 25Feb 22
Starr CountyAny Legal WeaponOct 25Feb 22
Willacy CountyAny Legal WeaponOct 25Feb 22
Zone can-huntGeneralNov 1Feb 28

Alligator

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Zone core-countiesGeneralSep 10Sep 30
Zone non-core-countiesGeneralApr 1Jun 30
Zone non-core-countiesGeneralApr 1Jun 30

Aoudad

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Armadillo

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Axis Deer

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Badger

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Beaver

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Blackbuck

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
StatewideGeneralSep 1Jun 30

Texas Hunting Season FAQ

When does hunting season start in Texas?

Texas season dates vary by species and zone. Archery seasons typically open first, followed by firearms and muzzleloader. This page lists 3,475 Texas season dates across 277 hunt zones—check the species tables above for exact opening and closing dates.

What can you hunt in Texas?

Texas offers hunting for 68 species, including White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Mule Deer and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.

How many hunting hunt zones does Texas have?

Texas is divided into 277 hunt zones. Season dates, harvest rates and public-land access differ by unit—use the tables above to compare units before you apply or buy a tag.

Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:

Texas Official Hunting Regulations →

View Texas on the map

See GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Texas on our interactive hunting map.

Hunting in Canada? Explore Crown Land Maps, Hunting Seasons, Licence Guide, and Regulations for Canadian provinces.