2015-2016 Texas Hunting Seasons

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has published the dates for the Texas Hunting Seasons 2015-2016.  In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant, or chachalacas.

See County Listings for specific county regulations.

ALLIGATOR

• 22 counties & special properties (by permit only) Sept. 10–30
• Remainder of the state Apr. 1 – June 30

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE  Oct. 3-11

DOVE (Please report leg bands to www.reportband.gov)

• North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1 – Oct. 25, Dec. 18 – Jan. 1
• South Zone Sept. 18 – Oct. 21, Dec. 18 – Jan. 22
• Special White-winged Dove Area Sept. 5,6,12 & 13, Sept. 18 – Oct. 21, Dec. 18 – Jan. 18

EARLY TEAL-ONLY Statewide Sept. 12-27

CANADA GOOSE-ONLY Eastern Zone Only Sept. 12-27

WHITE-TAILED DEER

• Archery-Only Season Oct. 3 – Nov. 6
• GENERAL SEASON:
  • *Special Youth Season Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, Jan. 4-17
  • North Zone (see County Listings) Nov. 7 – Jan. 3
  • South Zone (see County Listings) Nov. 7 – Jan. 17
• Late Antlerless & Spike:
  • North Zone (see County Listings) Jan. 4-17
  • South Zone (see County Listings) Jan. 18-31
• Muzzleloader (see County Listings) Jan. 4-17

MULE DEER

• Archery-Only Season Oct. 3 – Nov. 6
• General Season: Panhandle (see County Listings) Nov. 21 – Dec. 6
  • SW Panhandle (see County Listings) Nov. 21-29
  • Trans-Pecos (see County Listings) Nov. 27 – Dec. 13

JAVELINA

• North Zone (see County Listings) Oct. 1 – Feb. 28
• South Zone (see County Listings) Sept. 1 – Aug. 31

SQUIRREL

• **Special Youth Season Sept. 26-27
• East Texas (see County Listings) Oct. 1 – Feb. 28, May 1–31
• Other open counties (see County Listings) Sept. 1 – Aug. 31

PHEASANT Panhandle (see County Listings) Dec. 5 – Jan. 3

QUAIL Statewide (all counties) Oct. 31 – Feb. 28

RIO GRANDE TURKEY

• Archery-Only Season Oct. 3 – Nov. 6
• FALL SEASON:
  • *Special Youth Season Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 (Statewide), Jan. 4-17 (North Zone only)
  • North Zone (see County Listings) Nov. 7 – Jan. 3
  • South Zone (see County Listings) Nov. 7 – Jan. 17
  • Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties Nov. 7 – Feb. 28
• SPRING SEASON:
  • North Zone (see County Listings) April 2 – May 15
  • *Special Youth Season Mar. 26-27, May 21-22
  • South Zone (see County Listings) Mar. 19 – May 1
  • *Special Youth Season Mar. 12-13, May 7-8 1-
  • Turkey Bag Limit (see County Listings) Apr. 1–30 +
• EASTERN TURKEY
  • Spring-Only Season: East Texas (see County Listings) Apr. 15 – May 14

CHACHALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties Oct. 31 – Feb. 28

RABBITS AND HARES No closed season.

* In all counties that have an open season for those species.

** In all counties that have an Oct. 1 – Feb. 28 and May 1-31 open season.

+ Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.