Check out what's new in our great State of Texas for the 2025-2026 Hunting Season

AUSTIN — The 2025-26 hunting season has kicked off with a great start to dove season for hunters across the state. However, hunters should be aware of changes before entering the field.

Expanded Digital License Options

Starting this season, hunters have new options for digital licenses. For the first time, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will offer fully digital license options for all recreational hunting, fishing and combo license and tag types, as explained in this new how-to video.

Changes for Non-Resident Hunters

Legislation passed this spring simplified license options for non-resident hunters from five license options to two. Non-resident hunters hoping to harvest any legal bird or game animal, including alligator, wild turkey, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer and white-tailed deer, will need to purchase a Non-resident General Hunting license. Non-resident hunters who plan on targeting exotic animals, small game birds (except wild turkey), non-game animals, fur-bearing animals, squirrel and javelina for five or less days will need to purchase a Non-resident Special 5-Day Small Game/Exotic Hunting license.

Regulation Changes

Some additional changes for this next hunting season include:

  • For wild turkeys in Hill County, IH35E now serves as the zone boundary line.

  • Lubbock County is now open to wild turkey hunting with North Zone regulations.

  • Increase in daily bag limit for northern pintails in all duck zones.

Season Date Changes

Hunters should be aware of several season date changes for the 2025-26 hunting seasons before their first hunt including:

Mule deer season:

Archery Only Season:

  • Panhandle: Sept. 27 – Nov. 21

  • Trans-Pecos: Sept. 27 – Nov. 27

  • Brewster, Pecos and Terrell counties: Sept. 27 – Nov. 27

General Season:

  • Panhandle: Nov. 22 – Dec. 7

  • Tran-Pecos: Nov. 28 – Dec. 14

  • Brewster, Pecos and Terrell Counties: Nov. 28 – Dec. 14

Quail season:

New statewide dates:

  • Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026.

Migratory game bird season:

Teal:

Days reduced from previous year

  • Statewide: Sept. 20 – 28

For more information visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife site here.

Paul KorthuisComment