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Pronghorn Hunting in Texas
Pronghorn may be hunted in 41 counties, all in the Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Panhandle, and only with a permit. Season rows, limits, zones and mapped public land for pronghorn.
Photo: CJTravelTips.com (CC BY-SA 2.0)
TPWD issues pronghorn permits to landowners or their agents where there are huntable herds, so a pronghorn hunt starts with a ranch that holds permits. The 2026-27 pronghorn season is Oct 3 to Oct 18, 2026, 16 days in all. Each pronghorn permit allows one animal, and the hunter must check that the permits were issued for the property being hunted.
The TPWD pronghorn summary
- Permit only, issued to landowners (Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin, Panhandle).
- Season Oct. 3-18, 2026.
2026-27 pronghorn dates
The pronghorn calendar below lists 1 row, one per zone and segment, falconry and youth days included where TPWD sets them.
| Area | Segment | Opening | Closing | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit counties | Regular Season | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 16 |
Dates from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (species page), checked October 11, 2026.
How many pronghorn you may keep
Limits for pronghorn, in TPWD’s own words and as quick numbers.
Pronghorn, 2026-27
1, by permit only (permits issued to landowners/agents).
| Area | Kind | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Permit counties | Bag Limit | 1 – by permit only |
Which counties fall in each pronghorn zone
TPWD assigns each county, or part of one, to a pronghorn zone. 41 Counties have at least one pronghorn segment.
| List | Counties | Split counties |
|---|---|---|
| Open counties | 41 | 0 |
Open counties county list (41)
- Bailey County
- Borden County
- Brewster County
- Carson County
- Cochran County
- Culberson County
- Dallam County
- Deaf Smith County
- Garza County
- Glasscock County
- Gray County
- Hansford County
- Hartley County
- Hemphill County
- Howard County
- Hudspeth County
- Hutchinson County
- Irion County
- Jeff Davis County
- Lipscomb County
- Lynn County
- Midland County
- Mitchell County
- Moore County
- Ochiltree County
- Oldham County
- Parmer County
- Pecos County
- Potter County
- Presidio County
- Reagan County
- Reeves County
- Roberts County
- Runnels County
- Scurry County
- Sherman County
- Sterling County
- Terry County
- Tom Green County
- Wheeler County
- Yoakum County
Open pronghorn counties, one row each
Type a county or region to filter the pronghorn table. 1 of these counties contain public pronghorn ground.
| County | Area | TPWD region | Ecoregion | Public units | Deer bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Borden | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Brewster | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 4 deer |
| Carson | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Cochran | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Culberson | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 4 deer |
| Dallam | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 1 | 3 deer |
| Deaf Smith | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Garza | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Glasscock | Open counties | Central Texas | Edwards Plateau | 0 | 5 deer |
| Gray | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Hansford | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Hartley | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Hemphill | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Howard | Open counties | Central Texas | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Hudspeth | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | Closed |
| Hutchinson | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Irion | Open counties | Central Texas | Edwards Plateau | 0 | 5 deer |
| Jeff Davis | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 4 deer |
| Lipscomb | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Lynn | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Midland | Open counties | Central Texas | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Mitchell | Open counties | Central Texas | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Moore | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Ochiltree | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Oldham | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Parmer | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Pecos | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 5 deer |
| Potter | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Presidio | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 4 deer |
| Reagan | Open counties | Central Texas | Edwards Plateau | 0 | 5 deer |
| Reeves | Open counties | Trans-Pecos | Trans Pecos | 0 | 4 deer |
| Roberts | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Runnels | Open counties | Central Texas | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Scurry | Open counties | Central Texas | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Sherman | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Sterling | Open counties | Central Texas | Edwards Plateau | 0 | 5 deer |
| Terry | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
| Tom Green | Open counties | Central Texas | Edwards Plateau | 0 | 5 deer |
| Wheeler | Open counties | Panhandle | Rolling Plains | 0 | 5 deer |
| Yoakum | Open counties | Panhandle | High Plains | 0 | 3 deer |
Rules that apply to pronghorn
These cards cover the paperwork and the methods that apply to pronghorn.
What to buy
Licenses, endorsements and permits that apply to pronghorn.
Shooting time
Pronghorn are legal from 30 minutes ahead of sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset.
Hunter orange
Hunting pronghorn on public land during firearm hours means wearing 400 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange plus orange headwear.
Hunter education rule
Anyone after pronghorn with a birth date of Sept. 2, 1971 or later must pass hunter education or, at 17 and up, buy the one-time $10 deferral and hunt accompanied.
Pronghorn permit on the animal
Permit completely filled out and attached immediately after harvest.
Proof of sex on pronghorn
Pronghorn, like deer, keep proof of sex (head, or the udder or vulva with tail) until reaching the final destination and quartered.
Pronghorn cartridges
Rimfire ammunition of any caliber is not legal for pronghorn.
Pronghorn without consent
Killing a pronghorn without landowner consent is a state jail felony with automatic license revocation.
Nonresidents and pronghorn
The Non-resident General Hunting License is the only nonresident license valid for pronghorn; the five-day small game license is not.
Big Game Awards minimums
Big Game Awards entries for pronghorn need a certified scorer and a March 1 postmark; high fence deer score in their own division.
From the TPWD Outdoor Annual general regulations, license and species pages (endorsements, hunting regulations), checked October 11, 2026. All Texas hunting laws · License guide.
Public tracts with pronghorn
1 public area list pronghorn, led by 1 National Grassland; the Panhandle region has the most pronghorn areas, 1.
Panhandle (1)
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) (77,366 ac)
Details on each pronghorn area
| Area | Manager type | County | Acres | By draw | Other game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) | National Grassland | Dallam | 77,366 | By draw | – |
Adult pronghorn hunters on TPWD lands carry the $48 APH permit; federal refuges and forests set their own pronghorn rules. How the APH permit works.
TPWD APH data, WMA and drawn hunt lists and federal land managers, 2026-27, checked October 11, 2026. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.
Drawn and premium hunts for pronghorn
TPWD lists pronghorn in 2 drawing categories this year, plus 1 Big Time Texas Hunts package.
| Program | Category | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Special Permit | Pronghorn | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Private Lands | Pronghorn | Aug 15, 2026 |
Big Time Texas Hunts packages
Pronghorn are part of Texas Grand Slam (desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, desert mule deer).
Drawn pronghorn applications are online only, due the 1st and 15th of each month, with a $3 adult fee; permit fees are $80 standard and $130 extended, free for youth. No license is needed to enter the Big Time pronghorn draws; entries end Oct. 15, 2026.
TPWD Public Hunt Drawing catalog, fees and deadlines (drawing) and Big Time Texas Hunts (BTTH), checked October 11, 2026. Texas drawn hunts.
Outfitting a hunt in Pronghorn country
Four items picked for the game hunted here, each with a live search.
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Pronghorn: what hunters ask
How do I get a Texas pronghorn permit?
The harvest of pronghorn is by permit only. The permit must be completely filled out and attached to the pronghorn immediately following harvest. Permits are issued to landowners or their agents in areas where there are huntable populations (Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Panhandle). It is the hunter’s responsibility to verify the permits are issued to the property where they are hunting
Is there a public pronghorn hunt in Texas?
Yes, through the drawing. TPWD lists Pronghorn in its Special Permit category and Private Land Pronghorn in its Private Lands category; both closed for applications Aug. 15, 2026.
What is the minimum score for a Texas Big Game Awards pronghorn?
70 inches in the Trans Pecos, Panhandle and Cross Timbers regions, under the 2025-26 program rules.
Is there a limit on pronghorn?
1, by permit only (permits issued to landowners/agents).
When is pronghorn season in Texas for 2026-27?
Pronghorn run Permit counties regular season Oct 3 to Oct 18, 2026.
Which public areas list pronghorn?
Start with Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion), the biggest of 1 areas that list pronghorn. TPWD ground needs the $48 APH permit for adult pronghorn hunters.
Which endorsements cover pronghorn?
The pronghorn list: Resident license ($25); Pronghorn permit (Free); Nonresident general ($315).
What orange rules apply to pronghorn?
Hunting pronghorn on public land during firearm hours means wearing 400 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange plus orange headwear.
What are legal shooting hours for pronghorn?
Pronghorn are legal from 30 minutes ahead of sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset.
How many Texas counties have pronghorn seasons?
41 counties; the zone lists above link each one.
Pronghorn checklist
For pronghorn on public ground, the area’s own map booklet or drawn hunt rules apply on top of these.
Other photos on this page: Jeff Pang (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Buck Valley Ranch (CC BY 2.0); VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).