Regulations

• Desert Bighorn Sheep

The harvest of desert bighorn sheep is by permit only. Permits are issued to landowners or their agents; a limited number are also available through Big Time Texas Hunts and other public hunting opportunities.

• Javelina

¹ The Southern zone season runs the full license year - no closed season. Javelina seasons exist in 99 of 254 counties.

² Javelina seasons exist in 99 of 254 counties.

• Mule Deer

Bag limits are established by county; the annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties.

• Pronghorn

Harvest is by permit only; the permit must be completely filled out and attached to the pronghorn immediately following harvest. Pronghorn seasons exist in 41 of 254 counties.

• White-tailed Deer

¹ All counties with an open season. Bag limits are established by county; the annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties.

² Bag limits are established by county; the annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties.

• Eastern Wild Turkey
• Rio Grande Wild Turkey

¹ All counties with an open fall season. TPWD regulates turkey by zone and county, not by species. Harvest of unbearded hens is prohibited. In the Western One-Gobbler Zone counties, no more than one gobbler may be harvested annually per county. Annual bag of four set by license turkey tags (Layer 1, 2026-08-23); per-county rules govern composition.

² TPWD regulates turkey by zone and county, not by species. Harvest of unbearded hens is prohibited. In the Western One-Gobbler Zone counties, no more than one gobbler may be harvested annually per county. Annual bag of four set by license turkey tags (Layer 1, 2026-08-23); per-county rules govern composition.

³ Shotgun and lawful archery equipment are the only legal methods of take; no hunting over bait. TPWD regulates turkey by zone and county, not by species. Harvest of unbearded hens is prohibited. In the Western One-Gobbler Zone counties, no more than one gobbler may be harvested annually per county. Annual bag of four set by license turkey tags (Layer 1, 2026-08-23); per-county rules govern composition.

• Gambel's Quail
• Northern Bobwhite
• Scaled Quail

The limit is one combined total for the Quail group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Montezuma Quail

No open season for Mearn's (Montezuma) quail.

• Plain Chachalaca

• Ring-necked Pheasant

• Eastern Gray Squirrel
• Fox Squirrel

¹ Counties with a year-round season carry no bag limit.

• American Wigeon
• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Common Merganser
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck
• Gadwall
• Hooded Merganser
• Northern Shoveler
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Ring-necked Duck
• Ruddy Duck

Six in the aggregate, includes mergansers.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Blue-winged Teal
• Cinnamon Teal
• Green-winged Teal

¹ The limit is one combined total for the Early Teal group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

² Six in the aggregate, includes mergansers.

³ The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Cackling Goose

The limit is one combined total for the Dark Geese group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Canada Goose

¹ The limit is one combined total for the Dark Geese group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Canvasback

No more than 2 canvasback within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Greater Scaup
• Lesser Scaup

No more than 1 scaup within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Greater White-fronted Goose

¹ In the Eastern Zone no more than 2 white-fronted geese within the daily aggregate.

² The limit is one combined total for the Dark Geese group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Mallard

No more than 5 mallards (only two of which may be hens) within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Mexican Duck
• Mottled Duck

No more than 1 "dusky" duck (mottled duck, Mexican duck, black duck and their hybrids) within the six-duck aggregate; dusky ducks are closed the first five days of the regular season in each zone.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Northern Pintail

No more than 3 pintails within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Redhead

No more than 2 redheads within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Ross's Goose
• Snow Goose

The limit is one combined total for the Light Geese group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Wood Duck

No more than 3 wood ducks within the six-duck aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Regular Duck group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• American Coot

Coot season runs with the regular duck season in each zone.

• American Woodcock

• Clapper Rail
• King Rail

The limit is one combined total for the King and Clapper Rails group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Common Gallinule
• Purple Gallinule

The limit is one combined total for the Moorhens (Common Gallinules) and Purple Gallinules group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Mourning Dove
• White-winged Dove

The limit is one combined total for the Dove group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Sandhill Crane

¹ A Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit is required, in addition to a valid Texas hunting license.

² A Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit is required, in addition to a valid Texas hunting license. A closed area applies within Zone C; see the TPWD zone map.

• Sora
• Virginia Rail

The limit is one combined total for the Sora and Virginia Rails group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• White-tipped Dove

No more than 2 white-tipped doves within the daily aggregate.

The limit is one combined total for the Dove group — every species in it together, not each on its own.

• Wilson's Snipe

• Badger
• Beaver
• Gray Fox
• Mink
• Muskrat
• Nutria
• Opossum
• Raccoon
• Red Fox
• Ringtail
• River Otter
• Striped Skunk

Fur-bearing animals taken as a result of recreational harvest may not be sold.

• American Bullfrog
• Black-tailed Jackrabbit
• Black-tailed Prairie Dog
• Bobcat
• Coyote
• Desert Cottontail
• Eastern Cottontail
• Mountain Lion
• Nine-banded Armadillo
• North American Porcupine
• Rock Squirrel
• Swamp Rabbit

There are no closed seasons, bag limits or possession limits on private property; public hunting lands may impose additional restrictions - the property rules on this site govern there.