Texas deer hunters are reminded of regulation changes for the 2026–27 season, including expanded antlerless hunting opportunities in 21 counties, a revised definition of muzzleloading firearms and new provisions for certain managed properties in North Texas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved expanding designated “doe days” from four to 16 in portions of the Post Oak Savannah region. The expanded period runs November 14–29, 2026, giving hunters additional opportunities to harvest antlerless white-tailed deer during the general season.
The change applies to the following counties and designated portions of counties:
Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (east of Interstate 35), DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad (north of U.S. Highway 59), Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (east of Interstate 35), Jackson (north of U.S. Highway 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (east of Interstate 35), Victoria (north of U.S. Highway 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (north of U.S. Highway 59) and Wilson.
According to TPWD, deer densities have been increasing in the affected deer management units while antlerless harvest has accounted for less than half of the total harvest. The agency identified concerns about unbalanced sex ratios and determined that expanding antlerless hunting opportunities would provide additional management flexibility.
Hunters in these counties are also required to report antlerless deer harvested under standard license tags within 24 hours through the Texas Hunt & Fish app or its online reporting system.
Another change involves muzzleloading firearms. Under the revised regulation, “A muzzleloader is any firearm designed such that the bullet or projectile can be loaded only through the muzzle.”
TPWD notes that cap-and-ball firearms in which powder and ball are loaded into a cylinder do not qualify as muzzleloaders. The revision accommodates newer muzzleloading technology while retaining the requirement that hunters use qualifying firearms during muzzleloader-only seasons.
A separate regulation allows firearms for white-tailed deer hunting on qualifying properties in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Program. These properties must be completely surrounded by fencing at least seven feet high and capable of retaining deer. The change does not eliminate the general archery-equipment restriction on other properties in those counties.
The statewide annual bag limit remains five white-tailed deer, no more than three of which may be bucks, subject to county-specific restrictions. The annual limit does not apply to properties operating under the Managed Lands Deer Program.
Texas’s general white-tailed deer season opens November 7, 2026, and closes January 3, 2027, in the North Zone and January 17, 2027, in the South Zone.
Hunters should review the county-by-county regulations and deer hunting zone map in the official TPWD Outdoor Annual before hunting. The map and accompanying county information are particularly important because several of the changes apply only to specific portions of counties, and bag limits, antler restrictions and season dates can vary by location.