Story by Bill L. Olson
Most everyone knows the Texas general whitetail deer season in the North Zone closes January 5, 2025, and in the South Zone January 19, 2025. There are dedicated “Youth Only” seasons to introduce the next generation to big game hunting in both the North and South Zones that run January 6 – 19.
If meat for the table as opposed to a trophy antlered buck is desired, then look to the late antlerless deer season available January 6 – 19. Regulations according to TPWD state, “In counties with a Special Late Season, harvest is restricted to antlerless and unbranched antlered deer (a buck with at least one antler that has no more than one point). A point is a projection that extends at least one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.
“White-tailed deer harvested and tagged with a hunting license tag in the counties listed during any open season (archery, general muzzleloader, and youth) must be reported within 24 hours of harvest via the “Texas Hunt & Fish” mobile application or online version.”
There is also a late muzzleloader season open January 6–19 in 90 of the 254 Texas counties. Look up regulations within the county being hunting on TPWD’s website under Hunting.
So once the late whitetail deer season closes most hunters figure it is time to clean the trusted deer rifle, wipe it down and put it in the gun safe. Then the wait begins until regulated big game hunting reopens in the fall.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Texas is blessed, and in some instances cursed with almost limitless opportunities to hunt numerous non-native big game animals year-round.
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