2026 - 2027 Hunting Season Dates

Seasons by Category

Game Animals

Javelina

Javelina season dates
Season Zone Dates
General North Oct. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
South Sep. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027

Mule Deer

Mule deer season dates
Season Zone Dates
General Panhandle Nov. 21, 2026 - Dec. 6, 2026
Trans-Pecos Nov. 27, 2026 - Dec. 13, 2026
Archery Panhandle Oct. 3, 2026 - Nov. 20, 2026
Trans-Pecos Oct. 3, 2026 - Nov. 26, 2026

Pronghorn

Pronghorn season dates
Season Zone Dates
General 41 of 254 counties Oct. 3-18, 2026

Squirrel

Squirrel season dates
Season Zone Dates
General East Texas Oct. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 & May 1-31, 2027
Other open counties Sep. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027
Youth-only East Texas Sep. 25-27, 2026

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer season dates
Season Zone Dates
General North Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027
South Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027
Special Late North Jan. 4-17, 2027
South Jan. 18-31, 2027
Youth-Only Early Season Oct. 30, 2026 - Nov. 1, 2026
Youth-Only Late Season Jan. 4-17, 2027
Archery 252 of 254 counties Oct. 3, 2026 - Nov. 6, 2026
Muzzleloader-Only 90 of 254 counties Jan. 4-17, 2027

Upland Game Birds

Chachalaca

Chachalaca season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties Nov. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027

Pheasant

Pheasant season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Panhandle/South Plains Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027

Quail

Quail season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Nov. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027

Turkey

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey season dates
Season Zone Dates
Fall North Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027
South Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
Archery-only Oct. 3, 2026 - Nov. 6, 2026
Fall Youth-only North Oct. 30, 2026 - Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 4-17, 2027
South Oct. 30, 2026 - Nov. 1, 2026 & Jan. 18-31, 2027
Spring North Apr. 3, 2027 - May 16, 2027
South Mar. 20, 2027 - May 2, 2027
One-turkey counties Apr. 1-30, 2027
East Apr. 22, 2027 - May 14, 2027
Spring Youth-Only North Mar. 27-28, 2027 & May 22-23, 2027
South Mar. 13-14, 2027 & May 8-9, 2027

Migratory Game Bird

Dove

Dove season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular North Sep. 1, 2026 - Nov. 8, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 7, 2027
Central Sep. 1, 2026 - Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 11, 2026 - Jan. 14, 2027
South Sep. 1, 2026 - Oct. 25, 2026 & Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 21, 2027

Duck

Duck season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 24-25, 2026 & Oct. 30, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
North Nov. 14-29, 2026 & Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
South Nov. 7-29, 2026 & Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Youth/Veterans High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 17-18, 2026
North Nov. 7-8, 2026
South Oct. 31, 2026 - Nov. 1, 2026

Goose

Goose season dates
Season Zone Dates
Early Canada Goose East Sep. 12-27, 2026
Dark Geese West Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 7, 2027
East Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Light Geese West Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 7, 2027
East Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 19, 2027

Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens

Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Sep. 19-27, 2026 & Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 6, 2027

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular A Oct. 31, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
B Nov. 27, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
C Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027

Snipe

Common season dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 21, 2027

Teal

Teal hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
September Teal Only Statewide Sep. 19-27, 2026

Woodcock

Woodcock hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
Regular Statewide Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027

Other Animals

Alligator

Alligator hunting seasons and dates
Season Zone Dates
General 22 Counties & Special Properties Sep. 10-30, 2026
All Other Counties Apr. 1, 2027 -June 30, 2027

Rabbits and Hares

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

Public Hunting & Drawn Hunts