Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to Propose Expanding Antlerless Season

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is considering the expansion of the current four-day antlerless 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 202627 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 four-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 four-day antlerless season in these 21 counties with mandatory reporting requirements. Antlerless harvest during the four-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 202627 season.

Some Local Scheduled Scoping Meetings

Dec. 9: Fayette County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 255 Svoboda Ln., La Grange. Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Drake Rangel at (979) 250-3398 or evan. rangel@tpwd.texas.gov Dec. 10: Colorado County Colorado County EMS Building, Room 100 305 Radio Ln., Columbus Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Katie Edwards at (979) 702-1935 or catherine. edwards@tpwd.texas.gov Dec. 11: Austin County Austin County Courthouse 2nd Floor Courtroom 1 East Main St., Bellville, Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Matthew Johnson at (832) 451-8999 or matthew.johnson2@tpwd. texas.gov Dec. 15: Bastrop County-Bastrop County Community Center 15 American Legion Rd. Bastrop. Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Rachel Patterson at (979) 255-8481 or rachel. patterson@tpwd.texas.gov Dec. 16: Gonzales County Gonzales County Courthouse, Commissioner’s Court Room 414 St. Jospeh St., Gonzales. Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Robert Conrad at (830) 2030896 or robert.conrad@tpwd. texas.gov Dec. 18: Lavaca County County Annex Building Courtroom, 412 N. Texana, Hallettsville, Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Brent Pierce at (361) 217-0907 or brent. pierce@tpwd.texas.gov

January

Jan. 5: Lee County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 310 S. Grimes St., Giddings. Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Laura Sherrod at (979) 716-6087 or laura.sherrod@ tpwd.texas.gov

Jan. 14: Caldwell County Dr. Eugene Clark Library 217 S. Main St., Lockhart Begins at 6:30 p.m. Contact Rachel Patterson at (979) 255-8481 or rachel.patterson@tpwd. texas.gov