2025 - 2026 Hunting Season Dates

Seasons by Category

Game Animals

Javelina

Javelina season dates
Season Zone Dates
General North Oct. 1, 2025 - Feb. 22, 2026
South Sep. 1, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026

Mule Deer

Mule deer season dates
Season Zone Dates
General Panhandle Nov. 22, 2025 - Dec. 7, 2025
Trans-Pecos Nov. 28, 2025 - Dec. 14, 2025
Archery Panhandle Sep. 27, 2025 - Nov. 21, 2025
Trans-Pecos Sep. 27, 2025 - Nov. 27, 2025

Pronghorn

Pronghorn season dates
Season Zone Dates
General 41 of 254 counties Oct. 4-19, 2025

Squirrel

Squirrel season dates
Season Zone Dates
General East Texas Oct. 1, 2025 - Feb. 22, 2026 & May 1-31, 2026
Other open counties Sep. 1, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026
Youth-only East Texas Sep. 26-28, 2025

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer season dates
Season Zone Dates
General North Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026
South Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 18, 2026
Special Late North Jan. 5-18, 2026
South Jan. 19, 2026 - Feb. 1, 2026
Youth-Only Early Season Oct. 24-26, 2025
Youth-Only Late Season Jan. 5-18, 2026
Archery 252 of 254 counties Sep. 27, 2025 - Oct. 31, 2025
Muzzleloader-Only 90 of 254 counties Jan. 5-18, 2026

Upland Game Birds

Chachalaca

Chachalaca season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties Oct. 25, 2025 - Feb. 22, 2026

Pheasant

Pheasant season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Panhandle/South Plains Dec. 6, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026

Quail

Quail season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Nov. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026

Turkey

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey season dates
Season Zone Dates
Fall North Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026
South Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 18, 2026
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties Nov. 1, 2025 - Feb. 22, 2026
Archery-only Sep. 27, 2025 - Oct. 31, 2025
Fall Youth-only North Oct. 24-26, 2025 & Jan. 5-18, 2026
South Oct. 24-26, 2025 & Jan. 19, 2026 - Feb. 1, 2026
Spring North Mar. 28, 2026 - May 10, 2026
South Mar. 14, 2026 - Apr. 26, 2026
One-turkey counties Apr. 1-30, 2026
East Apr. 22, 2026 - May 14, 2026
Spring Youth-Only North Mar. 21-22, 2026 & May 16-17, 2026
South Mar. 7-8, 2026 & May 2-3, 2026

Migratory Game Bird

Dove

Dove season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular North Sep. 1, 2025 - Nov. 9, 2025 & Dec. 19, 2025 - Jan. 7, 2026
Central Sep. 1, 2025 - Oct. 26, 2025 & Dec. 12, 2025 - Jan. 14, 2026
South Sep. 14, 2025 - Oct. 26, 2025 & Dec. 12, 2025 - Jan. 22, 2026
Special White-winged Dove Days South Sep. 5-7, 2025 & Sep. 12-13, 2025

Duck

Duck season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 18-19, 2025 & Oct. 24, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
North Nov. 8-30, 2025 & Dec. 6, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
South Nov. 1-30, 2025 & Dec. 13, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
Youth/Veterans High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 11-12, 2025
North Nov. 1-2, 2025
South Oct. 25-26, 2025

Goose

Goose season dates
Season Zone Dates
Early Canada Goose East Sep. 13-28, 2025
Dark Geese West Nov. 1, 2025 - Feb. 1, 2026
East Nov. 1, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
Light Geese West Nov. 1, 2025 - Feb. 1, 2026
East Nov. 1, 2024 - Feb. 15, 2026

Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens

Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Sep. 20-28, 2025 & Nov. 1, 2025 - Dec. 31, 2025

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular A Oct. 25, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
B Nov. 21, 2025 - Jan. 25, 2026
C Dec. 13, 2025 - Jan. 18, 2026

Snipe

Common season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Nov. 1, 2025 - Feb. 15, 2026

Teal

Teal hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
September Teal Only Statewide Sep. 20-28, 2025

Woodcock

Woodcock hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Dec. 18, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

Other Animals

Alligator

Alligator hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
General 22 Counties & Special Properties Sep. 10-30, 2025
All Other Counties Apr. 1, 2025 -June 30, 2026

Rabbits and Hares

Rabbits and Hares hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide No closed season

Public Hunting & Drawn Hunts