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2026-27 season · TPWD rules
Texas Hunting
Public hunting land, every 2026-27 season by zone, all 254 county deer rules, drawn hunts and the APH permit, in one place. Built from TPWD and federal sources and checked October 11, 2026.
Photo: Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0)
Texas by the numbers
For hunters without a lease, public ground is the way in: 317 areas are listed here, from national forests in the Pineywoods to APH dove fields in the Panhandle. APH itself is a $48 permit; TPWD puts its reach at over 1 million acres across 180-plus areas.
Sources: APH program; TPWD public hunt data, current as of October 11, 2026.
Start here
21 sections. Land and seasons first, then rules, programs and the shooting side.
The largest public hunting areas
Ranked by acreage among top-level areas. The top eight: 4 national forests, 3 national wildlife refuges, 1 wma.
#1 Sam Houston National Forest
163,037 acres in Montgomery County, Walker County and San Jacinto County.
#3 Sabine National Forest
160,656 acres in Sabine County, San Augustine County and Shelby County.
#4 Angelina National Forest
153,179 acres in Angelina County, Nacogdoches County and San Augustine County.
#5 Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
115,324 acres in the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region.
#7 Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
101,700 acres in the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region.
#8 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
99,390 acres in the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region.
Sources: land manager, current as of October 11, 2026.
What opens next
The next ten openers after Oct 11, 2026; 16 other segments were already running that day. The Today column checks your device date.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks | Veterans and active duty | High Plains Mallard Mgmt Unit | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | High Plains Mallard Mgmt Unit | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains Mallard Mgmt Unit | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | Both zones | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains Mallard Mgmt Unit | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone A | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Chachalaca | Regular Season | Open counties | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Furbearers | Commercial harvest (trapper license), except nutria and beaver | statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
Sources: Outdoor Annual, current as of October 11, 2026.
Public land by TPWD region
8 TPWD public hunting regions. Counts include WMA units and APH leased tracts.
Rules that surprise visitors, and the gear for them
Feeders and bait
Legal to bait game animals, nongame animals and upland game birds, except wild turkey in the East Zone and migratory game birds.
Hunter orange
Recommended but not required on private property. Required on TPWD public hunting land.
Hogs and exotics
No license needed on private property with landowner authorization; hunter education applies.
Sources: means and methods; hunter orange, current as of October 11, 2026.
Texas hunting questions
How much public hunting land does Texas have?
TPWD says the APH program alone reaches over 1 million acres across 180-plus areas. This guide lists 317 public areas, including WMAs, state parks, national forests, refuges and APH leased tracts.
What is the largest public hunting area in Texas?
Sam Houston National Forest, at 163,037 acres, is the largest area on the list.
Do I need an APH permit to hunt public land?
Adults 17 and older need the $48 APH permit on TPWD public hunting lands; youth under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult.
When does Texas deer season open?
Archery opens Oct 3, 2026. General season opens Nov 7, 2026 in both zones.
How many deer can I take in Texas?
Up to five white-tailed deer a year, no more than three bucks, within the bag set for each county.
Can a Texas deer hunter sit over a corn feeder?
On private land, yes. It is unlawful on most public property, and never legal for migratory birds or East Zone turkey.
What does a non-resident hunting license cost?
$315 for the general license, which covers deer. A five-day small game and exotic license is $48.
How do drawn hunts work in Texas?
Apply online through the TPWD Public Hunt Drawing by the 1st or 15th deadline for each hunt type. Youth apply free.
Are there CWD zones in Texas this year?
No. Testing is voluntary in 2026-27, but the carcass disposal rule applies statewide.
Where can I shoot before the season?
The shooting ranges section lists 299 ranges and clay courses across Texas.
Plan the Texas season
Pick a county for its deer bag and nearby public land, or start from the land map and work outward.
Other photos on this page: LFLamb (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0); FieldsportsChannel.tv (CC BY 2.0); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Life Lenses (CC BY-SA 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Forest Service Photography (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); pedrik (CC BY 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0); Ben Sutherland (CC BY 2.0); Steve Snodgrass (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0); aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); ejmc (CC BY 2.0); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0).