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261 county rows · 2026-27

Texas Deer Seasons by County

TPWD writes a white-tailed deer bag for every county, and splits 9 counties along a highway or spur. This table puts all 261 rows side by side: zone, bag, buck rule, doe days and the extra January seasons.

261County rows
119Antler-rule rows
90Muzzleloader rows
136Special late rows

Photo: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0)

All county deer rows

The most common county bag is 4 deer with no more than 2 bucks (105 rows). "Doe days" are the general-season dates when antlerless deer may be taken on license tags; a dash means the county follows its bag with no listed doe-day window.

CountyZoneBag (bucks, does)Antler ruleGeneral-season doe daysMuzzleloaderSpecial lateArchery onlyMust report
AndersonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
AndrewsNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
AngelinaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
AransasSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ArcherNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
ArmstrongNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
AtascosaSouth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
AustinNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
BaileyNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
BanderaNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
BastropNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
BaylorNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
BeeSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Bell (East of IH 35)North4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, MLDP or license tag. Dec. 1-Jan. 4, MLDP tag onlyYesNoNoNo
Bell (West of IH 35)North5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
BexarNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
BlancoNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
BordenNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
BosqueNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
BowieNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
BrazoriaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
BrazosNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
BrewsterNorth4 (2 bucks)No–YesNoNoNo
BriscoeNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
BrooksSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
BrownNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
BurlesonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
BurnetNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CaldwellNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
CalhounSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CallahanNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CameronSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CampNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
CarsonNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
CassNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
CastroNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
ChambersNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
CherokeeNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
ChildressNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
ClayNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
CochranNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
CokeNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ColemanNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CollinNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesMLDP or license tagNoNoYesAll deer
CollingsworthNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
ColoradoNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
Comal (East of IH 35)North4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
Comal (West of IH 35)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ComancheNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
ConchoNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CookeNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
CoryellNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
CottleNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
CraneNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
CrockettNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
CrosbyNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
CulbersonNorth4 (2 bucks)No–YesNoNoNo
DallamNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
DallasNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesMLDP or license tagNoNoYesAll deer
DawsonNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
DeWittNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
Deaf SmithNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
DeltaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
DentonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
DickensNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
DimmitSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
DonleyNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
DuvalSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
EastlandNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
EctorNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
EdwardsNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
EllisNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
ErathNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
FallsNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
FanninNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
FayetteNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
FisherNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
FloydNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
FoardNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
Fort BendNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
FranklinNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
FreestoneNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
FrioSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
GainesNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
GalvestonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
GarzaNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
GillespieNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
GlasscockNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
GoliadNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes(North of Hwy. 59): Nov. 14-29, license tag. (South of Hwy. 59): Nov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNo(N of Hwy 59) Antlerless
GonzalesNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
GrayNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
GraysonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesMLDP or license tagNoNoYesAll deer
GreggNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
GrimesNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
GuadalupeNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
HaleNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
HallNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
HamiltonNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
HansfordNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
HardemanNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
HardinNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HarrisNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HarrisonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HartleyNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
HaskellNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Hays (East of IH 35)North4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
Hays (West of IH 35)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
HemphillNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
HendersonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HidalgoSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
HillNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
HockleyNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
HoodNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
HopkinsNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HoustonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
HowardNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
HuntNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
HutchinsonNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
IrionNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
JackNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
JacksonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes(North of Hwy. 59): Nov. 14-29, license tag. (South of Hwy. 59): Nov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNo(N of Hwy 59) Antlerless
JasperNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
Jeff DavisNorth4 (2 bucks)No–YesNoNoNo
JeffersonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
Jim HoggSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Jim WellsSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
JohnsonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
JonesNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KarnesNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
KaufmanNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
KendallNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KenedySouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KentNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
KerrNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KimbleNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KingNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
Kinney (North of U.S. Highway 90)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Kinney (South of U.S. Highway 90)South5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KlebergSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
KnoxNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
La SalleSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
LamarNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
LambNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
LampasasNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
LavacaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
LeeNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
LeonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
LibertyNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
LimestoneNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
LipscombNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
Live OakSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
LlanoNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
LovingNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
LubbockNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
LynnNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
MadisonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
MarionNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
MartinNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
MasonNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
MatagordaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
MaverickSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
McCullochNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
McLennanNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
McMullenSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Medina (North of U.S. Highway 90)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Medina (South of U.S. Highway 90)South5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
MenardNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
MidlandNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
MilamNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
MillsNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
MitchellNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
MontagueNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
MontgomeryNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
MooreNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
MorrisNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
MotleyNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
NacogdochesNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
NavarroNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
NewtonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
NolanNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
NuecesSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
OchiltreeNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
OldhamNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
OrangeNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
Palo PintoNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
PanolaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
ParkerNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
ParmerNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
PecosNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
PolkNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
PotterNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
PresidioNorth4 (2 bucks)No–YesNoNoNo
RainsNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
RandallNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
ReaganNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
RealNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Red RiverNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
ReevesNorth4 (2 bucks)No–YesNoNoNo
RefugioSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
RobertsNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
RobertsonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
RockwallNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoNoYesAll deer
RunnelsNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
RuskNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
SabineNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
San AugustineNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, MLDP or license tag, none on national forest; Dec. 1-Jan. 4, MLDP tag onlyYesNoNoNo
San JacintoNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
San PatricioSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
San SabaNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
SchleicherNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ScurryNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
ShackelfordNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ShelbyNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
ShermanNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
SmithNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
SomervellNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
StarrSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
StephensNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
SterlingNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
StonewallNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
SuttonNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
SwisherNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
TarrantNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
TaylorNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
TerrellNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
TerryNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
ThrockmortonNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
TitusNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
Tom GreenNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Travis (East of IH 35)North4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
Travis (West of IH 35)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
TrinityNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
TylerNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
UpshurNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
UptonNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Uvalde (North of U.S. Highway 90)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Uvalde (South of U.S. Highway 90)South5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Val Verde (North of a line beginning at the International Bridge and proceeding along Spur 239 to U.S. Hwy. 90 and thence to the Kinney County line)North5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Val Verde (Southeastern portion of the county located both south of U.S. Highway 90 and east of Spur 239/277 S)South5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Van ZandtNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
VictoriaNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes(North of Hwy. 59): Nov. 14-29, license tag. (South of Hwy. 59): Nov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNo(N of Hwy 59) Antlerless
WalkerNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forestYesNoNoNo
WallerNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
WardNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
WashingtonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
WebbSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
WhartonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes(North of Hwy. 59): Nov. 14-29, license tag. (South of Hwy. 59): Nov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNo(N of Hwy 59) Antlerless
WheelerNorth5 (1 buck)No–NoYesNoNo
WichitaNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
WilbargerNorth5 (2 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
WillacySouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
Williamson (East of IH 35)North4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, MLDP or license tag. Dec. 1-Jan. 4, MLDP tag onlyYesNoNoNo
Williamson (West of IH 35)North5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
WilsonNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 14-29, license tagYesNoNoAntlerless
WinklerNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
WiseNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)Yes–NoYesNoNo
WoodNorth4 (2 bucks, 2 does)YesNov. 7-29, license tagYesNoNoNo
YoakumNorth3 (1 buck, 2 does)No–NoNoNoNo
YoungNorth5 (2 bucks)Yes–NoYesNoNo
ZapataSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo
ZavalaSouth5 (3 bucks)No–NoYesNoNo

Read from all 254 TPWD county pages. Sources: TPWD county pages (one per county); white-tailed deer, as published on October 11, 2026.

Statewide deer rules behind the table

Every county row sits inside these statewide rules, including the five-deer, three-buck annual cap.

Statewide cap

Bag limits are established by county. No person may exceed the annual bag limit of five white-tailed deer, no more than three of which may be bucks. The annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties.

What counts as a buck

A deer with an antler point protruding through the skin, or with antler growth in velvet greater than one inch. For tagging purposes, all other deer are antlerless deer, regardless of sex.

Antler restriction counties

117 counties, 119 county rows

Bag limit is two legal bucks, only one of which may have 2 branched antlers and an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. A legal buck has at least one unbranched antler, or an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. A hunter who takes an illegal buck may not take any buck with branched antlers on both main beams in that county that season.

Special late season

136 county rows

Harvest restricted to antlerless deer and unbranched antlered bucks (an antler with no more than one point). North Zone Jan 4 to Jan 17, 2027; South Zone Jan 18 to Jan 31, 2027.

Muzzleloader-only season

90 county rows

Jan 4 to Jan 17, 2027 in 90 counties. Muzzleloading firearms only: any firearm loaded only through the muzzle (definition modified for 2026-27 to allow new muzzleloading technology).

Archery-only means counties

Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Rockwall: during youth and general seasons lawful means are archery equipment and crossbows only, including MLDP properties; crossbows unlawful in archery-only season except with physician-certified upper-limb disability; Archery Endorsement required to hunt deer at any time.

Mandatory harvest reporting

after killing a deer

Report within 24 hours via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online; executing a digital tag counts as reporting. All deer in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall; antlerless deer in 21 more counties or county parts.

No deer season

El Paso and Hudspeth counties have no white-tailed deer season in 2026-27.

Sources: white-tailed deer; reporting, as published on October 11, 2026.

Doe-day groups

10 wordings of the antlerless rule appear on county pages. Counties that share a wording are grouped here.

Antlerless rule as listedCountiesWhere
Nov. 7-29, license tag50Anderson, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Galveston, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Jefferson, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Milam, Morris, Navarro, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood
Nov. 7-29, license tag; none on national forest11Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Walker
Nov. 14-29, license tag17Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (East of IH 35), DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (East of IH 35), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (East of IH 35), Waller, Washington, Wilson
Nov. 7-29, MLDP or license tag. Dec. 1-Jan. 4, MLDP tag only2Bell (East of IH 35), Williamson (East of IH 35)
MLDP or license tag3Collin, Dallas, Grayson
No MLDP tag is required to hunt antlerless deer unless MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for the tract of land.9Comanche, Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant
Antlerless deer may be taken by hunting license tag during archery season, except on properties where antlerless MLDP tags have been issued then take is by MLDP tag only. During all other seasons take of antlerless is by MLDP only.6Crane, Ector, Loving, Midland, Ward, Winkler
(North of Hwy. 59): Nov. 14-29, license tag. (South of Hwy. 59): Nov. 7-29, license tag4Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, Wharton
On USFS lands, the take of antlerless deer is prohibited except during archery and youth only seasons and from Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26-29). No MLDP tag is required to hunt antlerless deer unless MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for the tract of land.2Montague, Wise
Nov. 7-29, MLDP or license tag, none on national forest; Dec. 1-Jan. 4, MLDP tag only1San Augustine

Counties not listed in antlerless_doe_day_groups show no county-specific antlerless restriction on their 2026-27 county page (antlerless follows the county bag limit).

Sources: white-tailed deer, as published on October 11, 2026.

How county bags break down

Counted across every county row. Split counties count once for each side of the line.

105 rows4 deer, 2 bucks
68 rows5 deer, 2 bucks
31 rows3 deer, 1 buck
29 rows5 deer, 3 bucks
28 rows5 deer, 1 buck

Deer by county questions

How many deer can one hunter take in Texas?

Bag limits are established by county. No person may exceed the annual bag limit of five white-tailed deer, no more than three of which may be bucks. The annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties.

Is a spike a buck under Texas law?

A deer with an antler point protruding through the skin, or with antler growth in velvet greater than one inch. For tagging purposes, all other deer are antlerless deer, regardless of sex. In antler restriction counties a spike is legal because it has an unbranched antler.

How many county rows carry the antler restriction?

119 of the 261 rows, covering 117 counties. The rule: Bag limit is two legal bucks, only one of which may have 2 branched antlers and an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. A legal buck has at least one unbranched antler, or an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. A hunter who takes an illegal buck may not take any buck with branched antlers on both main beams in that county that season.

What may be taken in the special late season?

Harvest restricted to antlerless deer and unbranched antlered bucks (an antler with no more than one point). It applies in 136 county rows.

Which counties must report every deer?

Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall. Report within 24 hours via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online; executing a digital tag counts as reporting.

Where are the archery-only deer counties?

Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall. Archery and crossbows are the only lawful means there during youth and general seasons.

Which Texas counties have no deer season?

El Paso and Hudspeth.

Why are some counties listed twice?

9 counties have two rows, one for each side of IH 35, U.S. Highway 90 or, in Val Verde, Spur 239. Each side can carry its own bag or doe days.

One more check

Checked against TPWD on October 11, 2026. Game wardens enforce the Outdoor Annual text, not a summary of it.

Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Birding for Climate (Public domain); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).