Texas 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Texas's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 7, 2026-Jan 3, 2027.
Archery Mule Deer opens Oct 3, 2026 and closes Nov 26, 2026.
Spring Youth-Only Wild Turkey opens Mar 13, 2027 and closes May 9, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Texas Parks & Wildlife.
- firearm deer
- Nov 7, 2026-Jan 3, 2027
- archery deer
- Oct 3-Nov 26, 2026
- spring turkey
- Mar 13-May 9, 2027
Free Texas wallpaper
Texas 2026-27
Save to Photos → set as your lock screen. See all 50 states →
Get Texas’s dates + next season’s wallpaper in your inbox
Key seasons by species
How to read Texas's seasons
County and species rules change the season fast
Texas is too large for a single date to tell the story. Whitetail, mule deer, turkey, and migratory bird seasons depend heavily on county, zone, and species.
Use this page to find the likely window, then confirm the county table and Outdoor Annual details with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Texas Parks & Wildlife before hunting.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in Texas
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 3 stations in Texas. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
Deer
Mule Deer
Archery
Zone: Trans-Pecos
Mule Deer
Archery
Zone: Panhandle
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: 252 of 254 counties
White-tailed Deer
Youth-Only Early Season
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Zone: North
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Zone: South
Mule Deer
Regular Firearm
Zone: Panhandle
Mule Deer
Regular Firearm
Zone: Trans-Pecos
White-tailed Deer
Youth-Only Late Season
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader-Only
Zone: 90 of 254 counties
White-tailed Deer
Special Late
Zone: North
White-tailed Deer
Special Late
Zone: South
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery-only
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Youth-only
Season includes Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 18-31, 2027
Zone: South
Wild Turkey
Fall Youth-only
Season includes Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 4-17, 2027
Zone: North
Wild Turkey
Fall General
Zone: North
Wild Turkey
Fall General
Zone: Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties
Wild Turkey
Fall General
Zone: South
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth-Only
Season includes Mar. 13-14, 2027 & May 8-9, 2027
Zone: South
Wild Turkey
Spring General
Zone: South
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth-Only
Season includes Mar. 27-28, 2027 & May 22-23, 2027
Zone: North
Wild Turkey
Spring General
Zone: One-turkey counties
Wild Turkey
Spring General
Zone: North
Wild Turkey
Spring General
Zone: East
Waterfowl
Duck
Youth/Veterans
Zone: High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Duck
Regular
Season includes Oct. 24-25, 2026 & Oct. 30, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Duck
Youth/Veterans
Zone: South
Duck
Youth/Veterans
Zone: North
Duck
Regular
Season includes Nov. 7-29, 2026 & Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: South
Goose - Dark Geese
Regular
Zone: West
Goose - Dark Geese
Regular
Zone: East
Goose - Light Geese
Regular
Zone: West
Goose - Light Geese
Regular
Zone: East
Duck
Regular
Season includes Nov. 14-29, 2026 & Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Zone: North
Goose - Early Canada Goose
Early Canada Goose
Zone: East
Teal
September Teal Only
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Dove
Regular
Season includes Sep. 1 - Nov. 8, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 7, 2027
Zone: North
Dove
Regular
Season includes Sep. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 11, 2026 - Jan. 14, 2027
Zone: Central
Dove
Regular
Season includes Sep. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 21, 2027
Zone: South
Pheasant
Pheasant
Regular
Zone: Panhandle/South Plains
Quail
Quail
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Rabbit and Hares
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No closed season
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Squirrel
General
Zone: Other open counties
Squirrel
General
Season also includes May 1-31, 2027
Zone: East Texas
Squirrel
Youth-only
Zone: East Texas
Migratory Birds
Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens
Regular
Season includes Sep. 19-27, 2026 & Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 6, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Zone: A
Snipe
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Zone: B
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Zone: C
Woodcock
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Pronghorn
Pronghorn
General
Zone: 41 of 254 counties
Javelina
Javelina
General
Zone: South
Javelina
General
Zone: North
Other
Chachalaca
Regular
Zone: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties
Alligator
General
Zone: All Other Counties
Alligator
General
Zone: 22 Counties & Special Properties
The Friday Hunting Briefing.
Gear deals worth grabbing, the week's hunting news, and field-tested picks — curated every Friday by a hunter, for hunters. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
🎯 While you wait for opening day
Practice in Hunting Homestead
Build a property, plant food plots, and take shots with real ballistics in our free browser game. No download — season's always open.
Texas Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Texas?
October 3, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Texas; it is archery mule deer Oct 3-Nov 26, 2026.
When is Texas's firearm deer season?
Nov 7, 2026-Jan 3, 2027 is the listed firearm deer window for Texas. Check zone and permit details with Texas Parks & Wildlife before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Texas?
March 13, 2027 is the first listed spring turkey opener for Texas; the listed window is Mar 13-May 9, 2027.
Do I need a license to hunt in Texas?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Texas hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Explore more hunting seasons
Nearby states