Deer season opens Nov. 2, and we anticipate it will be an exceptional season for whitetails. Even those regions that missed out on spring rainfall are expected to have a good number of mature bucks this season. This is not the year to sit out!

If you need an affordable place to hunt, purchase an Annual Public Hunting Permit for $48. It will give you access to over 1 million acres of public hunting land. 

Refer to the Outdoor Annual app or online for all deer hunting regulations. Find out more about Texas' most sought-after big-game species in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine story Almost Everything Whitetail. 

If you score big this season, show your Texas pride by entering the Texas Big Game Awards now through March 1, 2025. 

General: My Texas Hunt Harvest has been renamed Texas Hunt & Fish.

Wild turkey hunters: Mandatory harvest reporting is required for all wild turkeys. Report using the convenient Texas Hunt & Fish app or online. 

Waterfowl hunters: If you purchase an Electronic Federal Duck Stamp, you're no longer required to have the physical stamp while hunting. For details, see our Federal Duck Stamp Updates. 

Deer hunters: review current information about chronic wasting disease (CWD), including zones and check stations. When a deer is harvested in a CWD zone with mandatory testing, you must bring the deer to a CWD check station within 48 hours.

Deer hunters: review updated statewide carcass disposal requirements.

We expect ample opportunity for bobwhite quail hunters this season. There were population increases across the state last year, plus a mild winter and early rainfall this year helped further increase their numbers. Bobwhites were observed on more than 50% of all survey routes in August. 

See the bobwhite regional forecasts for more information. Our quail surveys provide a representation of populations at the regional level – local conditions may vary.

Quail season opens Oct. 26, and you can hunt bobwhite, scaled quail and Gambel's quail. The bag limit is 15 per day for all 3 species combined. Total possession limit is 45 birds. You'll need an Upland Game Bird endorsement to hunt quail, along with your hunting license and proof of Hunter Education. 

If you would like to learn more about this season’s hunting prospects and the outlook for your area of interest, connecting with one of our regional biologists is a great way to help plan your hunt.

Avoid making common errors in the field that can cause an accident, or cause you to shoot a protected bird. 

Be sure before you shoot by looking over the list of migratory game bird species illegal to hunt, which include endangered whooping cranes. If you should accidently shoot any of these birds, let the Texas game warden for that county know right away.

If you hunt upland game birds, avoid accidents by wearing blaze orange, sticking to your safe zone of fire and keeping your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. For more wing shooting tips, watch our short video Wing Shooting Safety Tips.

You'll get helpful information like this and more when you take Hunter Education. Everyone born after Sept. 1, 1971 must take Hunter Ed to hunt in Texas. Not sure if you're certified?  Find your Hunter ed certification online. 

You can bring your deer harvest to a CWD Check Station for sampling at any time. If the CWD Check Station is unattended, leave part of your harvest for testing by using the Dropbox. Find out how by watching our short video How to Use a CWD Test Dropbox.

If you want to keep the head for a mount, bring your harvest to a CWD Check Station when it's attended by TPWD staff. They'll take the sample without damaging the head.

The CWD Check Station procedure is quick and easy. Watch the process in our short video What to Expect at a CWD Check Station. Whether you use the Dropbox or come in when the check station is staffed, it's important that you know where your deer was harvested.