Texas Youth-Only Deer Season Opens Oct. 30. Here Is What Young Hunters Need to Know.
Hunters 16 and younger get the woods to themselves Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 in 252 of 254 counties, a week before the general season opens.
Young Texas hunters get their own weekend in two weeks. The early youth-only white-tailed deer season runs Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, 2026, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. That is a week before the general season opens Nov. 7. A late youth-only season runs Jan. 4-17, 2027.
Who can hunt
Only licensed hunters 16 or younger may hunt during youth-only deer seasons, TPWD says. Youth-only seasons are open in 252 of Texas' 254 counties.
Bag limits and methods
In most of the state, the bag, tag and permit rules are the same as for the first two days of the general season in that county. In certain listed counties, including Bastrop, Fayette, Washington and parts of Travis and Victoria, they match the rules for Nov. 26-29 instead. Check the white-tailed deer regulations for your county before you go.
Any lawful means may be used, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, where only lawful archery equipment is allowed.
Youth seasons can run at the same time as archery and other seasons, and they do not stop other hunters from hunting legally under those seasons. Archery season runs Oct. 3 through Nov. 6.
Getting ready
The weeks before opening day are a good time to check licenses and tags, practice at the range, and talk through safety and ethics. Our report on the Texas deer herd has the latest TPWD survey numbers. Bird hunters can also look ahead to the Nov. 1 quail opener.
Passing it on
A youth season is really for the adults, too. It is a chance to teach a child patience, respect for the animal and responsibility with a firearm, and to sit together in the quiet before sunrise. Many Texas hunters can name the person who took them on their first hunt. Be that person for someone this fall.
Hero photo: National Park Service, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
