Texas Deer Hunting 2026

Application Deadlines Non-Resident Fees Resident Fees Big Game Season Dates Draw Result Dates State Contact Information

Raffle: October 15, 2026
Public Draw: November 1, 2026

UP-FRONT FEES
Big Time Texas Hunts Raffle Entry Fee (Online)	$9.00
State Draw Application Fee	$10.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Hunting License	$315.00

UP-FRONT FEES
Big Time Texas Hunts Raffle Entry Fee (Online)	$9.00
State Draw Application Fee	$10.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Hunting License	$25.00

TEXAS WHITE-TAILED DEER SEASON DATES
Rifle (North Zone)	Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Rifle (South Zone)	Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 13, 2027
Archery (most counties)	Oct 3– Nov 6, 2026
Muzzleloader (select counties)	Jan 4 – Jan 17, 2027
Special Late (North Zone)	Jan 4 – Jan 17, 2027
Special Late (South Zone)	Jan 18 – 31, 2027
Youth-Only (Early)	Oct 30 – Nov 1, 2026
Youth-Only (Late)	Jan 4 – Jan 17, 2027 (North Zone only)
TEXAS MULE DEER SEASON DATES
Archery (Panhandle Zone)	Oct 3 - Nov 20, 2026
Archery (Trans-Pecos Zone)	Oct 2 - Nov 26, 2026
Rifle (Panhandle Zone)	Nov 21 – Dec 6, 2026
Rifle (Trans-Pecos Zone)	Nov 27 – Dec 143 2026
TEXAS DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP SEASON DATES
Public Draw / Translocation Areas	By permit only; dates vary (typically late fall–winter)
TEXAS EXOTICS SEASON DATES
Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)	Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)
Axis / Blackbuck / Fallow	Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)
Nilgai (South TX & Coastal)	Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)

Disclaimer: Texas seasons vary by county/zone, weapon, and hunt area. Some hunts are draw-only with assigned dates. Always verify current regulations with TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/

Early November

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
ph. 512-389-4800

APPLY CHECK POINTS

Like many other species in Texas, the Big Time Texas Hunts raffle offers opportunities to hunt deer. Whitetail and mule deer are included in the previously mentioned Texas Grand Slam Package, but there are a few more. The Ultimate Mule Deer Hunt Package is a three-to five-day rut hunt on the Yoakum Dunes WMA in the Texas Panhandle, which includes guides, lodging, and meals. If whitetails are your thing, the Premium Buck Hunt Package is for you. It is a mature whitetail buck hunt in West Texas backed by the expertise of professional guides. As an added bonus for 2026, the winner will also take home a $1,000 electric cooler from Dometic. The other whitetail hunt package is the Whitetail Bonanza with five winners, and it takes place on the Chaparral and Matador WMAs. Food and lodging are included on this three- to five-day hunt.

Opportunities to apply for and perhaps even draw a Desert bighorn sheep tag are so rare that we highly encourage you to apply for the Big Time Texas Grand Slam and the Texas Desert bighorn sheep draw permit when it becomes available again. If exotics are on your bucket list, Texas offers a cheap way to get your name in the hat between the public draw and the Big Time raffle. Take a few minutes and make sure you get your applications in. If you don’t have time to apply, call our Application Service at 435-865-1020, and we’ll apply for you. The Lone Star State is the land of opportunity when it comes to hunting species from across the world. If hunting Texas is on your bucket list, reach out to Huntin’ Fool Adventures to book the hunt of a lifetime.