Right now in Texas, the “big game” party is mostly moving to the South Zone where the general deer season is until late January. For everywhere else you’re looking at Special Late Seasons where you can only take antlerless deer or spikes. As well as quail and squirrels are still fair game, and waterfowl hunters are currently hitting the marshes for the final stretch of duck and goose season. Of course since we’re in Texas, feral hogs and exotic animals like Axis deer are fair game year round. Texas Parks and Wildlife, TPWD, is a go to for checking the exact date for the end of your season for your specific county.
To stay legal, you need a Texas Hunting License and the right “stamps” for what you’re chasing. Like a Migratory Game Bird stamp for ducks. If you’re hunting on state land you also need that $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. Most of the best spots are private ranches in the Brush Country or the Gulf Coast, but you can also find public spots using the TPWD Public Hunting Map or onX Hunt. Just remember if you kill a deer, you have to tag it immediately. If you have a digital license you can do this through the My Texas Hunt Harvest app, or it’ll be a big mess for you.
When a Game Warden rolls up they aren’t just checking for your license, they’re looking at your gear and your paperwork. They’ll check to see if your shotgun has a plug, “so it only holds three shells” if you’re waterfowl hunting. They’ll make sure you’ve actually filled out your tags correctly. They also check for your Hunter Education certificate if you’re the right age. To make sure you have it all you can check the TPWD Law Enforcement page to make sure you stay out of trouble.
