The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is considering the expansion of the current 4-day antlerless deer season (“doe days”) in 21 counties located in the Post Oak Savannah and South-Central Texas area to a 16-day antlerless season. If adopted, these expanded season dates would take effect in the 2026-27 season.
The counties that would have antlerless season dates expanded include Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Waller, Washington, and Wilson counties. In addition to these counties, Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, and Wharton counties north of U.S. Highway 59 and Comal, Hays, and Travis counties east of IH-35 would also be expanded.
The current 4-day antlerless season occurs from Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving. The proposed expansion would extend antlerless season to 16 days, which would occur from the second Saturday of General Season through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving.
The bag limit for the season would remain at two antlerless deer, all seasons combined (archery, youth only, 16-day antlerless, and muzzleloader seasons). Hunters would still be required to complete mandatory antlerless harvest reporting in the Texas Hunt & Fish app or online, which is currently required in these 21 counties. The bag limit and reporting requirements exclude deer taken under the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP), as those cooperators already have annual harvest reporting requirements.
In 2019, TPWD implemented a 4-day antlerless season in these 21 counties with mandatory reporting requirements. Antlerless harvest during the 4-day antlerless season, as well as on properties enrolled in the MLD Program, has remained relatively constant over the last several years. Long-term population trends in these counties have indicated an increase in the deer population and an increase in the sex ratio (does per buck) that is consistently greater than the statewide sex ratio. Cooperators enrolled in MLDP have done an excellent job of antlerless harvest and improving the sex ratio on their properties, and this expansion of antlerless season would allow those landowners not enrolled in MLDP to have additional antlerless hunting opportunities in areas with abundant deer populations. Additional antlerless harvest would relieve browsing pressure on the habitat, maintain the deer population within carrying capacity, help manage the overall sex ratio (does per buck), and address requests from the public for additional antlerless harvest opportunities.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants to ensure that landowners, hunters, and the public are informed of this proposal. Department staff will host scoping meetings throughout these counties to present the proposed changes, receive public input, and openly answer questions from attendees. Below is a timeline of the proposed changes:
- November 2025 – January 2026: Host scoping meetings.
- January 2026: Present proposal to TPWD Commission to seek permission to publish proposed changes in the Texas Register.
- February 2026: Online public comment becomes available.
- March 2026: Present proposal to TPWD Commission for action. Public testimony may be heard at this time.
- If adopted, season dates would take effect in the 2026-27 season.
Scheduled Scoping Meetings
December 3 – Waller & Washington Counties
Washington County Expo Event Center
1305 E. Blue Bell Rd., Brenham, TX 77833
Meeting Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Stephanie Damron at 979-277-6297 or [email protected]
December 9 – Fayette County
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
255 Svoboda Ln., La Grange, TX 78945
Meeting Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Drake Rangel at 979-250-3398 or [email protected]
December 10 – Colorado County
Colorado County EMS Building, Room 100
305 Radio Ln., Columbus, TX 78934
Meeting Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Katie Edwards at 979-702-1935 or [email protected]
December 11 – Austin County
Austin County Courthouse 2nd Floor Courtroom
1 East Main St., Bellville, TX 77418
Meeting Begins at 7:00 p.m.
Contact Matthew Johnson at 832-451-8999 or [email protected]
December 17 – Wilson & Karnes Counties
Wilson County Annex
1103 4th St., Floresville, TX 78114
Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Audrey Naughton at 830-480-9043 or [email protected]
January 12 – Guadalupe County
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
210 E. Live Oak St., Seguin, TX 78155
Meeting Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Olivia Kost at 737-240-9609 or [email protected]
Article courtesy of:
Matthew Johnson
Wildlife Biologist – Austin and Fort Bend Counties
Wildlife Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
1402 Band Rd, Suite 100
Rosenberg, Tx 77471
Email: [email protected]
C: 832-451-2104 | O: 832-595-8999
