Texas Hunting Season Information 2024-2025

2024 - 2025 Hunting Season Dates

Game Animals

Javelina

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
General	North	Oct. 1, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025
	South	Sep. 1, 2024 - Aug. 31, 2025

Mule Deer

Season Dates

• A legal buck deer is defined as a buck with an outside antler spread of the main beams of 20 inches or greater.
• Any buck with at least one unbranched antler (e.g., spike) is not legal to harvest, unless the outside spread of the main beams is at least 20 inches in width.
• Mule deer antler restriction does not apply within any CWD zone.

Season	Zone	Dates
General	Panhandle	Nov. 23, 2024 - Dec. 8, 2024
	Trans-Pecos	Nov. 29, 2024 - Dec. 15, 2024
Archery	59 of 254 counties	Sep. 28, 2024 - Nov. 1, 2024

How To Measuring Outside Spread?

The average distance between the ear tips of mule deer bucks in an alert stance measures 21 inches, as illustrated. Similarly, the outside spread is determined by measuring the distance between the outer edges of the main beams, as indicated by the black arrows and dotted lines below.

 

Pronghorn

View the Landowner's Guide to Pronghorn-Friendly Fences

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
General	41 of 254 counties	Sep. 28 - Oct. 13, 2024

NOTE: It is the hunter’s responsibility to verify the permits are issued to the property where they are hunting.

Squirrel

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
General	East Texas	Oct. 1, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025 & May 1-31, 2025
	Other open counties	Sep. 1, 2024 - Aug. 31, 2025
Youth-only	East Texas	Sep. 27-29, 2024

Bag Limits:

General season counties (East Texas): 10
Youth-only season: 10
Counties with year-round season: No bag limit

White-tailed Deer

Antler restrictions apply in certain counties. In these counties, the bag limit is two legal bucks, but only one may have 2 branched antlers and an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. In these counties, a legal buck deer is defined as a buck deer with:

• At least one unbranched antler; or
• An inside spread of 13 inches or greater (unbranched antlered bucks may be of any width and do not count against the limit of ONE buck 13” or greater).

It is unlawful to take more than one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater or with two branched antlers in a single county. A person who takes a buck in violation of the antler restriction regulation is prohibited from harvesting any buck deer with branched antlers on both main beams in that county during that hunting season.

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
General	North	Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025
	South	Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 19, 2025
Special Late	North	Jan. 6-19, 2025
	South	Jan. 20, 2025 - Feb. 2, 2025
Youth-Only	North	Oct. 25-27, 2024 & Jan. 6-19, 2025
	South	Oct. 25-27, 2024 & Jan. 6-19, 2025
Archery	252 of 254 counties	Sep. 28, 2024 - Nov. 1, 2024
Muzzleloader	90 of 254 counties	Jan. 6-19, 2025

Determining Inside Spread

To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13 inches, look at the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip on a buck with ears in the "alert" position.

Upland Game Birds

Chachalaca

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties	Oct. 26, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

The following endorsements are included with the Lifetime Resident Combo Package and the Lifetime Resident Hunting License.

• Archery Endorsement (Item 135)
• Migratory Game Bird Endorsement (Item 168)
• Upland Game Bird Endorsement (Item 167)

Note: They are not required for any hunter (resident or non-resident) under 17 years of age.

Pheasant

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Panhandle/South Plains	Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025

Quail

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Statewide	Oct. 26, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

Turkey

Wild Turkey

It is unlawful to hunt roosting turkeys by any means at any time or to release turkeys without department authorization. Upland Game Bird Endorsement is required to hunt turkey.

All turkey must be tagged with a tag from the hunter’s license immediately upon harvest, and in a secure manner anywhere on the turkey. Hunters in possession of a digital license and tags should refer to Digital Licenses and Tagging for tagging instructions.

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Fall	North	Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025
	South	Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 19, 2025
	Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties	Nov. 2, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025
	Archery-only	Sep. 28, 2024 - Nov. 1, 2024
Fall Youth-only	North	Oct. 25-27, 2024 & Jan. 6-19, 2025
	South	Oct. 25-27, 2024 & Jan. 20, 2025 - Feb. 2, 2025
Spring	North	Mar. 29, 2025 - May 11, 2025
	South	Mar. 15, 2025 - Apr. 27, 2025
	One-turkey counties	Apr. 1-30, 2025
	East	Apr. 22, 2025 - May 14, 2025
Spring Youth-Only	North	Mar. 22-23, 2025 & May 17-18, 2025
	South	Mar. 8-9, 2025 & May 3-4, 2025

See how to properly tag a turkey.

Migratory Game Bird

Dove

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	North	Sep. 1, 2024 - Nov. 10, 2024 & Dec. 20, 2024 - Jan. 7, 2025
	Central	Sep. 1, 2024 - Oct. 27, 2024 & Dec. 13, 2024 - Jan. 14, 2025
	South	Sep. 14, 2024 - Oct. 27, 2024 & Dec. 13, 2024 - Jan. 21, 2025
Special White-winged Dove Days	South	Sep. 1-2, 2024; Sep. 6-8, 2024; & Sep. 13, 2024

Dove Hunting Zones

 

1. North Zone
That portion of the state north of a line beginning at the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; thence north along FM 1088 to State Highway 20; thence west along State Highway 20 to State Highway 148; thence north along State Highway 148 to Interstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to Interstate Highway 20; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 30 to the Texas-Arkansas state line.
2. Central Zone
That portion of the state between the North Zone and the South Zone.
3. South Zone
That portion of the state south of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge in Del Rio; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio; thence east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 1604; thence following Loop 1604 south and east, then north, to Interstate Highway 10; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to the Texas-Louisiana Line.

Duck

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	High Plains Mallard Management Unit	Oct. 26-27, 2024 & Nov. 1, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
	North	Nov. 9, 2024 - Dec. 1, 2024 & Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
	South	Nov. 2, 2024 - Dec. 1, 2024 & Dec. 14, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
Youth/Veterans	High Plains Mallard Management Unit	Oct. 19-20, 2024
	North	Nov. 2-3, 2024
	South	Oct. 26-27, 2024

Duck Hunting Zone Map

·High Plains Mallard Management Unit
West of a line from the International Toll Bridge at Del Rio, north along U.S. Hwy. 277 to Abilene, State Hwy. 351 and State Hwy. 6 to Albany, and U.S. Hwy. 283 to Vernon, east along U.S. Hwy. 183 to the Texas-Oklahoma state line.
·South Zone
South of a line from the International Bridge and U.S. 277 Spur at Del Rio, east along U.S. 90 to San Antonio, east along IH 10 to the Texas-Louisiana state line.
·North Zone
Remainder of the state.

Goose

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Early Canada Goose	East	Sep. 14-29, 2024
Dark Geese	West	Nov. 2, 2024 - Feb. 2, 2025
	East	Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
Light Geese	West	Nov. 2, 2024 - Feb. 2, 2025
	East	Nov. 2, 2024 - Feb. 14, 2025

Goose Hunting Zone Map

1. Western Zone
West of a line from the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, north following IH-35 and 35W to Fort Worth, northwest along U.S. Hwy. 81 and 287 to Bowie, north along U.S. Hwy. 81 to the Texas-Oklahoma state line.
2. Eastern Zone
Remainder of the state.

Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Statewide	Sep. 14-29, 2024 & Nov. 2, 2024 - Dec. 25, 2024

Bag Limits

Animal	Hunt Type	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
King and Clapper Rails	Regular	15 birds in the aggregate	45 birds in the aggregate
	Falconry	3 birds in the aggregate	9 birds in the aggregate
Sora and Virginia Rails	Regular	25 birds in the aggregate	75 birds in the aggregate
	Falconry	3 birds in the aggregate	9 birds in the aggregate
Moorhens (Common Gallinules) and Purple Gallinules	Regular	15 birds in the aggregate	45 birds in the aggregate
	Falconry	3 birds in the aggregate	9 birds in the aggregate

Hunting Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Sandhill Cranes

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	A	Oct. 26, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
	B	Nov. 22, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025
	C	Dec. 14, 2024 - Jan. 19, 2025

Zone Map

Zone C Closed Area: Everything to the Gulf of Mexico from a line beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces county line and the Gulf of Mexico, west along the county line to Park Road 22, to State Hwy. 358, to State Hwy. 286, north to IH 37, east to U.S. Hwy. 181, north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77 at Sinton, north and east along U.S. Hwy. 77 to U.S. Hwy. 87 at Victoria, east and south along U.S. Hwy. 87 to State Hwy. 35, north and east along State Hwy. 35 to the south end of Lavaca Bay Causeway, south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, south and east along the Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Snipe

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Statewide	Nov. 2, 2024 - Feb. 16, 2025

Teal

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
September Teal Only	Statewide	Sep. 14-29, 2024

Woodcock

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Statewide	Dec. 18, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025

Bag Limits

Hunt Type	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Regular Season	3 birds	9 birds
Falconry	3 birds in the aggregate	9 birds in the aggregate

 Other Animals

Alligator

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
General	22 Counties & Special Properties	Sep. 10-30, 2024
	All Other Counties	Apr. 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025

Rabbits and Hares

Season Dates

Season	Zone	Dates
Regular	Statewide	No closed season