Whitetail Deer hunting in Texas

News

Deer season is in full swing, the weather has cooled down, and hunters all around the Lonestar state have begun harvesting their trophies!

The heavy rainfall we received last 2018 season strangely enough caused a flourish of wildlife, bringing an abundance of food to deer all around the state. In turn, increasing the size and health of deer roaming the Texas grounds. 2019 is predicted to be a plentiful hunting season of whitetail deer.

“Overall, antler quality in 2019 is expected to be above average across most of the state” Cain stated, a Texas Parks and Wildlife whitetail deer program leader. Hunters should be thrilled this season due to an estimated population of 5.3 million whitetail deer in Texas. Compared to an estimated population of 4.6 million last year.

The new year has also brought new state regulations this hunting season. The most prominent change going into effect this season is the mandatory reporting of antlerless whitetail deer. Hunters will have 24 hours to report “any antlerless deer harvested during archery, youth-only, muzzleloader, or the four doe days during general season” via mobile application or online.

Antlerless deer harvested in the following counties will need to be reported:

Counties: Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (East of I-35), De Witt, Fayette, Goliad (North of US 59), Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (East of I-35), Jackson (north of US 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (East of I-35), Victoria (North of US 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of US 59), and Wilson.

General season for the North Zone will run from November 2 – January 5, 2020. While general season for the South Zone will run from November 2 – January 19, 2020.

Special late seasons for both zones are the following respectively: January 6 – 19, 2020 and January 20 – February 2, 2020. To learn more about this upcoming hunting season and new upheld regulations visit Texas Parks and Wildlife.