| When choosing a location for your deer hunting | | | | December. |
| trip, the hunter doesn't need to look any further | | | | 4) County Restrictions |
| than Texas. As the second largest state, Texas | | | | Not only should state laws be considered, but a |
| has plenty of land for the hunter to bag a trophy. | | | | hunter needs to know about any local regulations |
| Before making reservations though, be sure that | | | | set up by the county he'll be hunting in. In many |
| you've fully researched all Texas laws for deer | | | | counties certain areas are illegal to discharge |
| hunting. | | | | firearms or arrows. Even during hunting season, |
| 1) Firearms | | | | you cannot possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or |
| As with any state, Texas has regulations about | | | | crossbow in the land or water of the Aransas or |
| which kind of weapons can be used with a | | | | Poesta Rivers, or in the state-owned riverbeds of |
| particular species. Rimfire ammunition may not be | | | | McMullen and La Salle counties. These are only a |
| used under any circumstances for whitetail, mule | | | | few locations, so be sure to check local hunting |
| deer, or antelope. Also, pellet guns, air guns, fully | | | | regulations. |
| automatic firearms, as well as silencers are illegal | | | | 5) Public Areas |
| for deer hunting. | | | | During deer season, Texas has regulations for |
| 2) Hunting Hours | | | | public areas; in designated public hunting areas all |
| During open season hunting hours for all game | | | | hunters must have on their person a permit. |
| begin one half hour before sunrise, and one half | | | | Hunting is illegal in wildlife sanctuaries, national, |
| hour after sunset. Check online to find specific | | | | federal, and state parks or refuges, as is |
| sunrise and sunset times for the area and dates | | | | discharging a firearm on a public road or any area |
| you'll be hunting. | | | | designated as a propagation or nesting area. |
| 3) Hunting Season | | | | 6) Harvest Rules |
| Open season dates vary throughout Texas for | | | | It is required in Texas to immediately log the kill |
| the type of deer you'll be hunting. For example, | | | | of a whitetail in ink on the back of the hunting |
| pronghorn antelope may be hunted by permit only | | | | license. However this is not required for mule deer |
| for only one week of the year, usually the first of | | | | or whitetail when taken with special permits, such |
| October. Whitetail deer range depending on | | | | as MLD permits. Some counties also require that |
| location, but open season is generally between the | | | | the deer have a specific antler size; this size is |
| end of October and the middle of January. Mule | | | | measured by the distance between the antlers. |
| deer season also varies by region, with archery | | | | As long as the hunter does a little research and is |
| allowed from the end of September to the end | | | | aware and respects the laws of the area he's |
| of October, and firearm season between the | | | | hunting, he'll have a Texas deer hunting |
| middle of November and the first part of | | | | experience to remember. |