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2026 - 2027 Drawn Hunt Deadlines

Application deadlines are on the 1st and 15th of each month. Drawings are held the following business day.

What Happens After the Deadline?
Login to the Texas Public Hunt System and check your application status or purchase a permit — more information is on the If You Are Drawn page.

2026 Hunt Application Deadlines

Hunts application deadlines
Hunt Category Application
Deadline		 Proposed Initial
Draw Date		 Anticipated Initial
Permit Deadline		 Secondary Permit
Deadline
Alligator August 1, 2026August 2, 2026August 12, 2026August 23, 2026
Alligator Management August 1, 2026August 2, 2026August 12, 2026August 23, 2026
Guided Exotic Hunt Package August 1, 2026August 2, 2026August 12, 2026August 23, 2026
Private Lands Dove August 1, 2026August 2, 2026August 12, 2026August 23, 2026
Youth Only Alligator August 1, 2026August 2, 2026August 12, 2026August 23, 2026
Archery Deer August 15, 2026August 16, 2026August 26, 2026September 6, 2026
Archery Mule Deer August 15, 2026August 16, 2026August 26, 2026September 6, 2026
Javelina August 15, 2026August 16, 2026August 26, 2026September 6, 2026
Pronghorn August 15, 2026August 16, 2026August 26, 2026September 6, 2026
Private Land Pronghorn August 15, 2026August 16, 2026August 26, 2026September 6, 2026
NWR Archery Deer September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
NWR Upland Game September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
Private Land Deer Antlerless/Spike September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
Private Land Deer Either Sex September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
Youth Only Gun Deer Either Sex September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
Gun Deer Either Sex September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
Gun Deer Management September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
NWR General Deer September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
Youth Only Gun Deer Antlerless/Spike September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
Youth Only Gun Deer Management September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
Youth Only Javelina September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
NWR Youth Deer October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
NWR Deer Antlerless/Spike October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
Gun Mule Deer October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
Private Land Quail October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 26, 2026November 6, 2026
Exotic October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 26, 2026November 6, 2026
NWR Archery Exotic October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 26, 2026November 6, 2026
NWR Exotic October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 26, 2026November 6, 2026
NWR Muzzleloader Deer October 15, 2026October 16, 2026October 26, 2026November 6, 2026
Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
NWR Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Youth Only Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Private Land Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Guided Gemsbok Hunt Package November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Guided Scimitar Oryx Hunt Package November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Spring Turkey November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
NWR Spring Turkey November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Youth Only Turkey November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
Youth Only Exotic November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
NWR Alligator November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026

Hunts by Annual Public Hunting Permit

Hunts by Annual Public Hunting Permit deadlines
Hunt Category Application
Deadline		 Proposed Initial
Draw Date		 Anticipated Initial
Permit Deadline		 Secondary Permit
Deadline
E-Postcard Teal September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026N/A
E-Postcard Archery Deer September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
E-Postcard Squirrel September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
E-Postcard Youth Archery Deer September 1, 2026September 3, 2026September 13, 2026September 24, 2026
E-postcard Deer September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
E-Postcard Quail September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
E-Postcard Youth Deer September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
E-Postcard Multi Species September 15, 2026September 16, 2026September 26, 2026October 7, 2026
USFS Antlerless Deer Permit Adult September 15, 2026September 16, 2026N/AN/A
USFS Antlerless Deer Permit Youth September 15, 2026September 16, 2026N/AN/A
USFS Buck Deer Permit Adult September 15, 2026September 16, 2026N/AN/A
USFS Buck Deer Permit Youth September 15, 2026September 16, 2026N/AN/A
E-Postcard Waterfowl October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
E-Postcard Youth Deer Antlerless/Spike October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
E-Postcard Waterfowl/Pheasant October 1, 2026October 2, 2026October 12, 2026October 23, 2026
E-Postcard Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
E-Postcard Youth/Adult Feral Hog November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
E-Postcard Feral Hog/Predator November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
E-Postcard Turkey November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
E-Postcard Youth/Adult Waterfowl November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026
E-Postcard Predator November 1, 2026November 4, 2026November 14, 2026November 25, 2026