Texas flag

An official website of the Texas state government.

Outdoor Annual → Hunting → Seasons by Animal

2026-2027 Seasons by Animal

Alligator

+
Species Info
General Season
Core
Sept. 10 - 30, 2026
Non-core
Apr. 1 - June 30, 2027

Chachalaca

+
Species Info Upland Game Bird Endorsement Required
Regular Season
Nov. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027

Desert Bighorn Sheep

+

Dove

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required
Regular Season
North Zone
Sept. 1 - Nov. 8, 2026
Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 7, 2027
Central Zone
Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026
Dec. 11, 2026 - Jan. 14, 2027
South Zone
Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026
Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 21, 2027
Falconry
Statewide
Nov. 13 - 29, 2026

Duck

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, HIP Certification & Federal Duck Stamp Required
Youth-Only
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Oct. 17 - 18, 2026
North Zone
Nov. 7 - 8, 2026
South Zone
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2026
Veterans and Active Duty Military
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Oct. 17 - 18, 2026
North Zone
Nov. 7 - 8, 2026
South Zone
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2026
Regular Season
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Oct. 24 - 25, 2026
Oct. 30, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
North Zone
Nov. 14 - 29, 2026
Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
South Zone
Nov. 7 - 29, 2026
Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
"Dusky" Duck
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
Oct. 31, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
North Zone
Nov. 19 - 29, 2026
Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
South Zone
Nov. 12 - 29, 2026
Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Falconry
North Zone
Feb. 1 - 21, 2027
South Zone
Feb. 1 - 21, 2027

Goose

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, HIP Certification & Federal Duck Stamp Required
Early Canada Geese Season
Eastern Zone
Sept. 12 - 27, 2026
Dark Geese
Western Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 7, 2027
Eastern Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Light Geese
Western Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 7, 2027
Eastern Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 19, 2027

Javelina

+
Species Info
Regular Season
Northern
Oct. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
Southern
Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027
No Open Season

Mule Deer

+
Species Info
Archery Only
Panhandle
Oct. 3 - Nov. 20, 2026
Trans-Pecos
Oct. 3 - Nov. 26, 2026
Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties
Oct. 3 - Nov. 26, 2026
General Season
Panhandle
Nov. 21 - Dec. 6, 2026
Trans-Pecos
Nov. 27 - Dec. 13, 2026
Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties
Nov. 27 - Dec. 13, 2026

Pheasant

+
Species Info Upland Game Bird Endorsement Required
General Season
Panhandle
Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027

Pronghorn

+
Species Info Permit Required
Regular Season
Oct. 3 - 18, 2026

Quail

+
Species Info Upland Game Bird Endorsement Required
Regular Season
Statewide
Nov. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027

Rabbits and Hares

+

Rails, Gallinules and Moorhens

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required
Regular Season
Statewide
Sept. 19 - 27, 2026
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 6, 2027
Falconry
Statewide
Feb. 1 - 21, 2027

Sandhill Crane

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, Federal Sandhill Crane Permit & HIP Certification Required
Regular Season
Zone A
Oct. 31, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Zone B
Nov. 27, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Zone C
Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027
No Open Season

Squirrel

+
Species Info
General Season
East Texas
Oct. 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
May 1 - 31, 2027
All Other Counties
Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027
Youth-Only
East Texas
Sept. 25 - 27, 2026

Teal

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, HIP Certification & Federal Duck Stamp Required
September Teal Only Season
Statewide
Sept. 19 - 27, 2026

White-tailed Deer

+
Species Info Archery Endorsement Required for Archery Hunting
Archery Only
All counties with an open season
Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026
General Season
North Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027
South Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027
Youth-Only
North Zone
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026
Jan. 4 - 17, 2027
South Zone
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026
Muzzleloader
Jan. 4 - 17, 2027
Special Late
North Zone
Jan. 4 - 17, 2027
South Zone
Jan. 18 - 31, 2027

Wild Turkey

+
Species Info Upland Game Bird Endorsement Required
Archery Only
All counties with an open fall season
Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026
Youth-Only
North Zone
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026
Jan. 4 - 17, 2027
South Zone
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026
Jan. 18 - 31, 2027
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy Counties
Oct. 30, 2026 - Nov. 1, 2027
North Zone
Mar. 27 - 28, 2027
May 22 - 23, 2027
South Zone
Mar. 13 - 14, 2027
May 8 - 9, 2027
Fall Season
North Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027
South Zone
Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy Counties
Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027
Spring Season
North Zone
Apr. 3 - May 16, 2027
South Zone
Mar. 20 - May 2, 2027
One-Turkey Counties
Apr. 1 - 30, 2027
East Zone
Apr. 22 - May 14, 2027

Wilson's Snipe (Common Snipe or Jacksnipe)

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required
Regular Season
Statewide
Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 21, 2027

Woodcock

+
Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required
Regular Season
Statewide
Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027
Falconry
Statewide
Feb. 1 - 21, 2027

Other Animals & Regulations

  1. Nongame Animals Regulations
    Armadillos, Bobcats, Coyotes, Flying Squirrels, Frogs, Mountain lions, Porcupines, Prairie dogs, Turtles

  2. Fur-Bearing Animals Regulations
    Badger, Beaver, Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, Otter, Raccoon, Ring-tailed cat, skunk

Outdoor Annual Sponsor

Outdoor Annual Advertisers


Spotlight on TPWD