TEXAS RUT AND SEASON DATA

When is the rut in Texas?

Texas has published rut timing at region precision. The source method is TPWD describes a three-year fetal-dating study of 2,436 does in 16 study areas and publishes breeding ranges and peak dates by ecological region; Table 1 maps every Texas county to one ecoregion.. Examples: Gulf Prairies and Marshes: Aug 24 to Nov 25; Post Oak Savannah: Sep 30 to Jan 16; Pineywoods: Oct 21 to Jan 5. The table has 8 published units. Source: the agency publication linked on this page.

agency

Published rut units

PARTIAL: TPWD publishes breeding ranges and peak dates for eight ecological regions; two TPWD ecoregions have no peak in the rut publication.

Rut units published for this state
Unit	Peak window	Method	Source	Status
Gulf Prairies and Marshes	Aug 24 to Nov 25	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Post Oak Savannah	Sep 30 to Jan 16	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Pineywoods	Oct 21 to Jan 5	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Rolling Plains	Oct 8 to Dec 30	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Edwards Plateau	Oct 9 to Jan 30	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Cross Timbers and Prairies	Oct 13 to Dec 17	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Trans-Pecos, Mountains and Basins	Nov 4 to Jan 4	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
South Texas Plains	Nov 9 to Feb 1	conception_fetal	Agency source	Published in source data
Blackland Prairies	No published peak window	conception_fetal	Agency source	Verify with your state agency
High Plains	No published peak window	conception_fetal	Agency source	Verify with your state agency

Whitetail presence

White-tailed deer occur across Texas, with an estimated population in 252 of 254 counties. Two counties have no white-tailed deer season.

Presence source agency

2026-27 deer seasons

2026-27 deer seasons
Season	Zone or scope	Dates	Source
Archery only	252 of 254 counties with an open white-tailed deer season	Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 6, 2026	Agency guide
General North Zone	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027	Agency guide
General South Zone	South Zone	Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027	Agency guide
Youth-only early	North and South Zones	Oct 30, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026	Agency guide
Youth-only late North	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027 to Jan 17, 2027	Agency guide
Muzzleloader-only	90 of 254 counties	Jan 4, 2027 to Jan 17, 2027	Agency guide
Special late North	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027 to Jan 17, 2027	Agency guide
Special late South	South Zone	Jan 18, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027	Agency guide

Legal light, bag limits, and calls

Legal shooting hours

One-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset for game animals.

Agency source agency

Bag limits

Season total: 5; Antlered maximum: 3. County bag limits and antler restrictions apply. Statewide annual cap is five white-tailed deer, no more than three bucks, except MLDP properties.

Bag-limit source agency

Electronic deer calls

Calling devices, recordings, and electrically amplified calls may be used for game animals.

Call-rule source law

Official guide links

Questions about Texas

When is the rut in Texas?

What are the 2026-27 deer seasons in Texas?

The table above lists the season rows present in Hockline's local data. Verify rows marked for agency confirmation.

Are electronic deer calls legal in Texas?

Calling devices, recordings, and electrically amplified calls may be used for game animals.