Last Shot Whitetail Opportunities

THE GENERAL WHITETAIL ONLY SEASON will be over just about the time you read this article.

The North Zone, which includes a large portion of the state, ends January 2. But hunters should note there are late season options available in Texas. So we thought we would give you a few of these to consider.

January 2 to 15 marks the late muzzleloader season for whitetail deer in 90 counties across the state. It gives hunters an option to score on deer that eluded them during the archery only and general season.

“The last muzzleloader season is a great way for hunters to bag the does they passed up while holding out for that trophy buck or maybe get the one that got away,” said Texas Fish & Game Hunting Editor Lou Marullo.

“Muzzleloader hunting is a big deal in many northern states because of the restrictive gun seasons,” he said. “But it has never taken off at the level I think it should in Texas. I am hearing more hunters talk about it. With two extra weeks at the end, it’s a great incentive to get in the game.”

Hunters are reminded a muzzleloader is any firearm that is loaded only through the muzzle. A cap and ball firearm in which the powder and ball are loaded into a cylinder is not a muzzleloader according to TPWD. Muzzleloader deer seasons are restricted to muzzleloading firearms only.

In addition the South Zone general still runs through January 15. Hunters utilizing lands under the MLD permit system can hunt through February 28.

In counties with a Special Late Season, harvest is restricted to antlerless and unbranched antlered deer (a buck with at least one antler that has no more than one point). A point is a projection that extends at least one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.

There is a late season January 2 to 15 in the north zone and January 16 to 29 in the south.

In counties with a special late season, harvest is restricted to antlerless and unbranched antlered deer (a buck with at least one antler that has no more than one point).

Finally, there is a youth-only season that runs January 2 to 15 in the north and south zones.

In other words, there are plenty of opportunities to hunt left.