31 Tex. Admin. Code § 65.42 - Deer
(a) General.
(1) No person may exceed the applicable
county bag limit or the annual bag limit of five white-tailed deer (no more
than three bucks) and two mule deer (no more than one buck), except as provided
by:
(A)
§
65.29 of this title (relating to
Managed Lands Deer Programs (MLDP));
(B) use of an antlerless mule deer permit
issued under §
65.32 of this title (relating to
Antlerless Mule Deer Permit);
(C)
use of a special permit under the provisions of Subchapter H of this chapter
(relating to Public Hunting Proclamation); or
(D) use of special antlerless permit issued
by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for use on USFS lands that are part of the
department's public hunting program.
(2) During an archery-only open season, deer
may be taken only by the means described in §
65.11(2) and (3)
of this title (relating to Lawful Means).
(3) The issuance and use of MLDP tags is
prescribed by §
65.29 of this title.
(4) Except as provided in Subchapter H of
this chapter and subsections (b)(2)(E) and (b)(4) and (5) of this section, the
take of antlerless deer is prohibited on USFS lands.
(5) In the counties or portions of counties
listed in subsection (b)(2)(G) of this section, antlerless deer harvested on
properties not subject to the provisions of §
65.29 of this title (relating to
Managed Lands Deer (MLD) Programs) must be reported via the department's
internet or mobile application within 24 hours of the time of kill, including
antlerless deer harvested during the special seasons established by subsection
(b)(4) and (5) of this section. This paragraph does not apply to antlerless
deer harvested under a digital license issued by the department pursuant to §
53.3(a)(12) of
this title (relating to Super Combination Hunting and Fishing Packages), a
valid license with digital tags issued under §
53.4 of this title (relating to
Lifetime Licenses), or a valid digital license issued under §
53.5(a)(3) of
this title (relating to Recreational Hunting License, Stamps, and Tags), which
must be reported as required under §
65.10 of this title (relating to
Possession of Wildlife Resources).
(b) White-tailed deer. The open seasons and
bag limits for white-tailed deer shall be as follows.
(1) South Zone. The general open season for
the counties listed in this subparagraph is from the first Saturday in November
through the third Sunday in January.
(A) In
Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg,
Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kinney (south of U.S. Highway 90), Kleberg, LaSalle, Live
Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina (south of U.S. Highway 90), Nueces, Refugio,
San Patricio, Starr, Uvalde (south of U.S. Highway 90), Val Verde (south 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), Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and
Zavala counties, there is a general open season. The bag limit is five deer, no
more than three bucks.
(B) In
Atascosa County there is a general open season.
(i) The bag limit is five deer, no more than
two bucks; and
(ii) the antler
restrictions described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
apply.
(2)
North Zone. The general open season for the counties listed in this paragraph
is from the first Saturday in November through the first Sunday in January.
(A) In Bandera, Baylor, Bexar, Blanco,
Burnet, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Comal (west of Interstate 35), Concho,
Crockett, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Haskell, Hays (west of Interstate 35),
Howard, Irion, Jones, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney (north of U.S. Highway 90),
Knox, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Medina (north of U.S. Highway 90), Menard,
Mitchell, Nolan, Pecos, Real, Reagan, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher,
Shackelford, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis
(west of Interstate 35), Upton, Uvalde (north of U.S. Highway 90), 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), and Wilbarger
counties, the bag limit is five deer, no more than two bucks.
(B) In Archer, Bell (west of IH 35), Bosque,
Brown, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Hill, Jack, Lampasas, McLennan, Mills, Palo
Pinto, Somervell, Stephens, Wichita, Williamson (west of IH 35) and Young
counties:
(i) the bag limit is five deer, no
more than two bucks; and
(ii) the
antler restrictions described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
apply.
(C) In Armstrong,
Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens,
Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill,
Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry,
Stonewall, and Wheeler counties, the bag limit is five deer, no more than one
buck.
(D) In Brewster, Culberson,
Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Reeves counties, the bag limit is four deer, no more
than two bucks.
(E) In Comanche,
Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, and
Wise counties:
(i) the bag limit is four deer,
no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless;
(ii) the antler restrictions described in
paragraph (3) of this subsection apply; and
(iii) on USFS lands in Montague and Wise
counties, antlerless deer may be taken only from Thanksgiving Day through the
Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving Day.
(F) In Anderson, Angelina, Bell (East of IH
35), Bowie, Brazoria, Burleson, Brazos, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Delta,
Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Galveston, Goliad (south
of U.S. Highway 59), Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson,
Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson (south of U.S. Highway 59), Jasper, Jefferson,
Kauffman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Milam,
Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains,
Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith,
Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Victoria (south of U.S. Highway 59),
Walker, Wharton (south of U.S. Highway 59), Williamson (east of IH 35), and
Wood counties:
(i) the bag limit is four deer,
no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless;
(ii) the antler restrictions described in
paragraph (3) of this subsection apply; and
(iii) antlerless deer may be taken from
opening day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving
Day.
(G) In Austin,
Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (east of IH 35), DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad
(north of U.S. Highway 59), Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (east of IH 35), Jackson
(north of U.S. Highway 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (east of IH 35),
Victoria (north of U.S. Highway 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (north of U.S.
Highway 59), and Wilson counties:
(i) the bag
limit is four deer, no more than two bucks and no more than two
antlerless;
(ii) the antler
restrictions described in paragraph (3) of this subsection apply; and
(iii) antlerless deer may be taken from
Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving
Day.
(iv) In the counties or
portions of counties listed in this subparagraph, antlerless deer harvested on
properties not subject to the provisions of §
65.29 of this title (relating to
Managed Lands Deer (MLD) Programs) must be reported via the department's
internet or mobile application within 24 hours of the time of kill, including
antlerless deer harvested during any special seasons established by subsection
(b)(5) - (7) of this section.
(H) In Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall
counties there is a general open season:
(i)
the bag limit is four deer, no more than two bucks and no more than two
antlerless;
(ii) the antler
restrictions described in paragraph (3) of this subsection apply;
(iii) lawful means are restricted to lawful
archery equipment, including properties for which MLDP tags have been issued;
and
(iv) all deer harvested on
properties not subject to the provisions of §
65.29 of this title (relating to
Managed Lands Deer (MLD) Programs) must be reported via the department's
internet or mobile application within 24 hours of the time of kill, including
deer harvested during any special season established by subsection (b)(5) - (7)
of this section.
(I) In
Andrews, Bailey Castro, Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Gaines, Hale,
Hansford, Hartley, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Moore, Oldham, Parmer,
Potter, Randall, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, and Yoakum counties, the bag limit is
three deer, no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless.
(J) In Crane, Ector, Loving, Midland, Ward,
and Winkler counties:
(i) the bag limit is
three deer, no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless;
and
(ii) antlerless deer may be
taken by MLDP tag only.
(K) In all other counties, there is no
General Season.
(3)
Antler Restrictions. In each county for which antler restrictions are imposed
under the provisions of this subsection:
(A) a
legal buck is a buck deer with:
(i) at least
one unbranched antler; or
(ii) an
inside spread of 13 inches or greater;
(B) no person may take may more than one buck
with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater; and
(C) a person who takes a buck deer in
violation of subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph is prohibited from
subsequently harvesting any buck deer with branched antlers on both main beams
in that county.
(4)
Special Late General Seasons.
(A) There is a
special late general season during which harvest is restricted to antlerless
and unbranched antlered deer, as follows:
(i)
in the counties listed in paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of this subsection: 14
consecutive days starting the first Monday following the third Sunday in
January;
(ii) in the counties
listed in paragraph (2)(A) - (C) and (E) of this subsection: 14 consecutive
days starting the first Monday following the first Sunday in January.
(iii) In all other counties there is no
special late general season.
(B) The bag limit during a special late
general season is the bag limit established for the county for the general open
season and is not in addition to any other bag limit.
(5) Archery-only open seasons.
(A) There shall be an archery-only open
season in all counties in which there is an open general season.
(B) The open season is from the Saturday
closest to September 30 for 35 consecutive days.
(C) The bag limit in any given county is as
provided for that county during the general open season.
(D) No MLDP tag is required to hunt
antlerless deer unless MLDP tags have been issued for the property.
(E) Antlerless deer may be taken on USFS
lands during an archery-only season.
(6) Muzzleloader-only open seasons, and bag
and possession limits shall be as follows. In Anderson, Angelina, Austin,
Bastrop, Bell (East of IH 35), Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Burleson,
Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Comal (East of IH 35),
Culberson, Delta, DeWitt, Ellis, Fannin, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin,
Freestone, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin,
Harris, Harrison, Hays (East of IH 35), Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt,
Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Karnes, Kaufman, Lamar, Lavaca, Lee,
Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery,
Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Presidio, Rains,
Red River, Reeves, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby,
Smith, Titus, Travis (East of IH 35), Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt,
Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Williamson (East of IH 35),
Wilson and Wood counties, there is an open season during which deer may be
taken only with a muzzleloader.
(A) The open
season is 14 consecutive days starting the first Monday following the first
Sunday in January.
(B) The bag
limit for buck and antlerless deer is as specified in this section for the
general season in the county or portion of a county in which take
occurs.
(C) Antlerless deer may be
taken on USFS lands during a muzzleloader-only season.
(7) Special Youth-Only Seasons. There shall
be special youth-only general hunting seasons in all counties where there is a
general open season for white-tailed deer.
(A)
The early open season is the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately before
the first Saturday in November.
(B)
The late open season is 14 consecutive days starting the first Monday following
the first Sunday in January.
(C)
Bag limits, provisions for the take of antlerless deer, and special
requirements in the individual counties listed in paragraph (2)(A) - (G) of
this subsection shall be as specified for the first two days of the general
open season in those counties, except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this
paragraph.
(D) Provisions for the
take of antlerless deer in the individual counties listed in paragraph (2)(G)
of this subsection shall be as specified in those counties for the period of
time from Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following
Thanksgiving Day.
(E) Other than on
properties where MLDP tags have been issued under the provisions of §
65.29(c)(2) of
this title, only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt deer
during the seasons established by this paragraph, and any lawful means may be
used.
(F) The stamp requirement of
Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 43, Subchapter I, does not apply during the
seasons established by this paragraph.
(G) Antlerless deer may be taken on USFS
lands during special youth-only deer seasons.
(c) Mule deer. The open seasons and bag
limits for mule deer shall be as follows:
(1)
In Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress,
Cochran, Coke, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith,
Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall,
Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Knox,
Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham,
Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Scurry, Sherman, Stonewall, Swisher, Terry,
Wheeler and Yoakum counties:
(A) the Saturday
before Thanksgiving for 16 consecutive days;
(B) bag limit: one buck; and
(C) antlerless deer may be taken only by
Antlerless Mule Deer permit or MLDP tag.
(D) In Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe,
Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Dawson, Donley, Foard,
Floyd, Gaines, Hale, Hall, Hardeman, Hockley, Lamb, Lynn, Lubbock, Martin,
Motley, Parmer, Randall, Swisher, Terry, and Yoakum counties, no person may
harvest a buck deer with an outside spread of the main beams of less than 20
inches.
(2) In Crane,
Crockett, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Midland,
Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Upton, Val Verde, Ward, and Winkler counties:
(A) the Friday immediately following
Thanksgiving for 17 consecutive days;
(B) bag limit: one buck; and
(C) antlerless deer may be taken only by
antlerless mule deer permit or MLDP tag.
(3) In Brewster, Pecos, and Terrell counties:
(A) the Friday immediately following
Thanksgiving for 17 consecutive days;
(B) bag limit: one buck; and
(C) antlerless deer may be taken by
antlerless mule deer permit or MLDP tag only.
(D) In Terrell County, no person may harvest
a buck deer with an outside spread of the main beams of less than 20
inches.
(4) In all other
counties, there is no general open season for mule deer.
(5) Archery-only open seasons and bag and
possession limits shall be as follows.
(A) In
Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress,
Cochran, Coke, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson,
Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Ector, El Paso, Fisher, Floyd,
Foard, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill,
Hockley, Hudspeth, Hutchinson, Jeff Davis, Kent, King, Knox, Lamb, Lipscomb,
Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Midland, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham,
Parmer, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Reagan, Reeves, Roberts, Scurry, Sherman,
Stonewall, Swisher, Terry, Upton, Val Verde, Ward, Wheeler, Winkler, and Yoakum
counties:
(i) from the Saturday closest to
September 30 for 35 consecutive days; and
(ii) bag limit: one buck.
(B) In Brewster, Pecos, and Terrell counties:
(i) from the Saturday closest to September 30
for 35 consecutive days.
(ii) bag
limit: two deer, no more than one buck. Antlerless deer may be harvested
without a permit unless MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for the
property.
(C) In all
other counties, there is no archery-only open season for mule
deer.
(6) There are no
antler restrictions within a Containment Zone or Surveillance Zone established
under the provisions of Subchapter B, Division 1 of this
chapter.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.