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Texas Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against Texas Parks & Wildlife Department before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $25 · nonresident $68. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: North Zone: North Deer ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 3, 2027Hunting License
General: South Zone: South Deer ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Special Late: North Zone: North Deer ZoneJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Special Late: South Zone: South Deer ZoneJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027Hunting License
Youth-Only EarlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License
Youth-Only LateJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Archery: 252 of 254 countiesOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026Hunting License + Archery Endorsement
Muzzleloader-Only: 90 of 254 countiesJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall: North Zone: North Turkey ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 3, 2027Hunting License
Fall: South Zone: South Turkey ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Fall: Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy countiesNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License
Fall Archery-onlyOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026Hunting License + Archery Endorsement
Fall Youth-only (first segment)Oct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License
Fall Youth-only (second segment): North Zone: North Turkey ZoneJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Fall Youth-only (second segment): South Zone: South Turkey ZoneJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027Hunting License
Spring: North Zone: North Turkey ZoneApr 3, 2027May 16, 2027Hunting License
Spring: South Zone: South Turkey ZoneMar 20, 2027May 2, 2027Hunting License
Spring: One-turkey countiesApr 1, 2027Apr 30, 2027Hunting License
Spring: East Zone: East Turkey ZoneApr 22, 2027May 14, 2027Hunting License
Spring Youth-only (first segment): North Zone: North Turkey ZoneMar 27, 2027Mar 28, 2027Hunting License
Spring Youth-only (second segment): North Zone: North Turkey ZoneMay 22, 2027May 23, 2027Hunting License
Spring Youth-only (first segment): South Zone: South Turkey ZoneMar 13, 2027Mar 14, 2027Hunting License
Spring Youth-only (second segment): South Zone: South Turkey ZoneMay 8, 2027May 9, 2027Hunting License

American Alligator Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: 22 counties and special propertiesSep 10, 2026Sep 30, 2026Hunting License + Alligator Hide Tag
General: all other counties: All other countiesApr 1, 2027Jun 30, 2027Hunting License + Alligator Hide Tag

Chachalaca Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy countiesNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License + Upland Game Bird Endorsement

Dove (mourning, white-winged and white-tipped) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment): North Zone: North Dove ZoneSep 1, 2026Nov 8, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (second segment): North Zone: North Dove ZoneDec 18, 2026Jan 7, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (first segment): Central Zone: Central Dove ZoneSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (second segment): Central Zone: Central Dove ZoneDec 11, 2026Jan 14, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (first segment): South Zone: South Dove ZoneSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (second segment): South Zone: South Dove ZoneDec 18, 2026Jan 21, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement

Feral Hog (Wild Pig) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
No closed season: private property (license-year container)Sep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027No hunting license required on private property with landowner authorization; hunter education requirements still apply

Javelina Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: North Zone: North Javelina ZoneOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License
General: South Zone (year-round): South Javelina ZoneSep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Hunting License

Mule Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: PanhandleNov 21, 2026Dec 6, 2026Hunting License
General: Trans-PecosNov 27, 2026Dec 13, 2026Hunting License
Archery: PanhandleOct 3, 2026Nov 20, 2026Hunting License + Archery Endorsement
Archery: Trans-PecosOct 3, 2026Nov 26, 2026Hunting License + Archery Endorsement

Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular: Panhandle / South PlainsDec 5, 2026Jan 3, 2027Hunting License + Upland Game Bird Endorsement

Pronghorn Antelope Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: 41 of 254 countiesOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 2026Hunting License + Pronghorn Permit

Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Nov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License + Upland Game Bird Endorsement

Rabbits and Hares Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular: statewide, no closed seasonSep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Hunting License

Rails, Gallinules and Moorhens Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment, statewide)Sep 19, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Regular (second segment, statewide)Nov 7, 2026Jan 6, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement

Sandhill Crane Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular: Zone A: Sandhill Crane Zone AOct 31, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Sandhill Crane Permit
Regular: Zone B: Sandhill Crane Zone BNov 27, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Sandhill Crane Permit
Regular: Zone C: Sandhill Crane Zone CDec 12, 2026Jan 17, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Sandhill Crane Permit

Common Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Nov 7, 2026Feb 21, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement

Squirrel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General (first segment): East TexasOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License
General (spring segment): East TexasMay 1, 2027May 31, 2027Hunting License
General: Other open counties (year-round)Sep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Hunting License
Youth-only: East TexasSep 25, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License

Waterfowl (ducks, geese, teal) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Duck (first segment): High Plains Mallard Management UnitOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck (second segment): High Plains Mallard Management UnitOct 30, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck (first segment): North Zone: North Duck ZoneNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck (second segment): North Zone: North Duck ZoneDec 5, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck (first segment): South Zone: South Duck ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck (second segment): South Zone: South Duck ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Duck Youth/Veterans: High Plains Mallard Management UnitOct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Duck Youth/Veterans: North Zone: North Duck ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 8, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Duck Youth/Veterans: South Zone: South Duck ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
September Teal Only (statewide)Sep 19, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Early Canada Goose: East Zone: East Goose ZoneSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Dark Geese: West Zone: West Goose ZoneNov 7, 2026Feb 7, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Dark Geese: East Zone: East Goose ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Light Geese: West Zone: West Goose ZoneNov 7, 2026Feb 7, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp
Light Geese: East Zone: East Goose ZoneNov 7, 2026Feb 19, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + Federal Duck Stamp

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General: North Zone: North Deer ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 3, 2027Hunting License
General: South Zone: South Deer ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Special Late: North Zone: North Deer ZoneJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Special Late: South Zone: South Deer ZoneJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027Hunting License
Youth-Only EarlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License
Youth-Only LateJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License
Archery: 252 of 254 countiesOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026Hunting License + Archery Endorsement
Muzzleloader-Only: 90 of 254 countiesJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 2027Hunting License

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Dec 18, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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