by John Jefferson
No; I haven’t been in the sun too long.
Instead, I’m celebrating that August is already a third over. Hunting and Fishing Licenses go on sale August 15. (New licenses are required September 1.)
And Hunting seasons are just a turn of the calendar page away. September 1 is the opening date of the North, Central and South Zone Dove seasons, and several other hunting seasons, including drawn hunt deadlines.
Usually around mid-September, the season’s first cool front arrives. That calls for a Huge celebration! And if you’re a hunter, you can’t help thinking about deer season.
Archery-only season for whitetails opens October 3- November 6 in 252 counties. And regular deer season opens November 7. This looks like a great upcoming deer season! Check TPW Outdoor Annual for your county regulations.
TEXAS, A DIVERSE STATE, has been divided into ten Ecological Regions based on their soil, topography, climate, annual rainfall, native vegetation, and land use patterns. Biological surveys are often based on these ten ecoregions. Although this article may mention a lack of certain age classes within a species, trophy deer may be found in any region. Map furnished courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
2026-2027 White-tailed deer season forecast from TPWD White-tailed Deer Program Leader, Blaise Korzekwa, arrived recently.
Late spring rains improved statewide conditions and helped us forget summer’s heat and drought. Korzekwa’s forecast particularly favored the Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Eastern Rolling Plains, and pockets of the Post Oak Savanah and Blackland Prairie. See attached Texas Ecoregions map for regional locations.
Areas in South Texas and the Pineywoods are still in extreme drought and the outlook there is for a slightly below-average season.
As I’ve written before, though, an average year in South Texas is usually better than most hunters have ever experienced. My best buck ever fell east of Cotulla, and a companion’s excitement spooked an excellent buck, preventing me from taking another even bigger buck near Alice on another hunt. More bucks 5.5 years or older are in the South Texas region than in any other area.
The Edwards Plateau (Hill Country) has the most deer in Texas – 1.973 million! Hunter success in 2025 was 68%, the highest in Texas. Areas around Mason and Llano and adjoining counties had the highest deer densities. Many bucks over 5.5 years of age should be present due to previous fawn recruitment. The area between Hondo and Del Rio north of Hwy. 90 should have good populations of older bucks.
The Cross Timbers ecoregion has the second highest deer population in Texas and is increasing. The highest density is in the central part. Buck age structure is distributed well except for 4.5-year-olds. Hunter success in 2025 was 56%. An above-average buck harvest is expected.
The Rolling Plains regions are increasing in population. Large ranches and light hunting pressure have helped. Hunter success (65% in Eastern; 61% in Western) and 42% harvest of bucks over 4.5 years age placed the RP buck harvest percentage second behind only South Texas.
The Post Oak Savannah’s highest density is along the corridor between San Antonio and Houston. Habitat fragmentation and inconsistent fawn recruitment have caused more younger bucks in the harvest. Patient hunting will help.
Pineywoods hunters should see more young bucks than mature ones due to overharvest of immature bucks. Managed properties usually avoid this. Despite a shortage of mature bucks, there can be exceptional bucks anywhere.
JJ
