Cooler weather has arrived for most of the Lone Star State, perfect timing for the opening of deer season on Nov. 6. Good habitat conditions have produced some robust deer, and antler quality is predicted to be well above average. 

Check the deer forecast for more on what to expect, including regional predictions. Then take a look at the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine story Almost Everything Whitetail, watch our short video 2021-22 deer season, and don't sit this one out!

You must carry:

• Hunting license
• Proof of Hunter Ed: If you can't find your certification, print a replacement.
• For wild turkey hunters: Upland Game Bird Endorsement
• For bowhunters: Archery Endorsement

You should also:

• Correctly log and tag your harvest.
• Refer to the Outdoor Annual for county-specific regulations.
• Review chronic wasting disease (CWD) information on carcass movement restrictions. 
• Bring any deer harvested in a CWD Zone to a CWD check station within 48 hours for testing. Additional CWD Zones may be established at any time.

If you hunt mule deer:

Antler restrictions apply in Briscoe, Childress, Cottle, Floyd, Hall, Lynn and Motley counties.

We’re celebrating Friendsgiving in the Parks all this month, with recipes for Texas wild game and fish that are perfect for cooking outdoors. Keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram accounts for a new recipe each week in November. First up: a video recipe for venison chili!

Help stop the spread of CWD by following these safe handling guidelines for white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk:

Parts Safe to Transport:

• Portions of meat with no part of the spine or head attached
• Hides and capes with all excess tissue removed
• Antlers, including antlers attached to skulls or skull plates, cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue

Proper Carcass Disposal:

• Avoid cutting through bones, spine, or brain
• Place carcass parts in trash bags and dispose of them using a trash service or in a landfill
• If you have your harvest mounted, use a licensed taxidermist to assure the carcass is disposed of properly

Watch the video, How to Debone a Deer in a CWD Area, and review how to properly quarter a deer and dispose of the carcass.

Always properly dispose of unused carcass parts, even if your harvest is not in a CWD zone. 

We've partnered with onX Hunt to bring Texas license-buyers a special offer for a limited time.

When you buy a Texas hunting or combo license, you become eligible for a free 30-day trial of the onX hunt app. Once you purchase your license, we'll send you a license-buyer welcome email, and it will contain an exclusive link you can use to access your free month of onX.