Texas deer hunters and the landowners who host them have reason to look forward to this season. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists said on Oct. 1, 2026, that the state’s white-tailed deer herd has grown to an estimated 5.64 million after three above average years of fawn survival, and they expect good harvest numbers and chances at quality bucks. Lee, Lee & Puckitt, the San Angelo ranch Broker, sums up the outlook and what it means for Texas ranch owners.
What Biologists Expect
According to TPWD, nearly all of Texas started spring in drought, but late spring and early summer rain greatly improved habitat. The Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Eastern Rolling Plains and parts of the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie did best and should see a slightly above average season. Parts of South Texas and the Pineywoods missed the spring rain but got mid summer rain and cooler weather that should help fawn survival.
Antler growth follows rainfall between April and June. This year, TPWD expects slightly above average antler quality across most of the state, with average antlers in the areas that missed spring rain.
“Even an average year in Texas is worth hunting,” said Blaise Korzekwa, TPWD’s white-tailed deer program leader, adding that landowners who manage their resources well have seen it pay off year after year.
Key Dates in the North Zone
For counties like Schleicher, TPWD’s 2026-27 county regulations list:
- Archery only: Oct. 3 to Nov. 6, 2026
- Early youth only: Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2026
- General season: Nov. 7, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027
- Late youth only and special late: Jan. 4 to 17, 2027
Hunters should check their own county in the Outdoor Annual, since bag limits and antler rules vary.
Habitat Management Pays
TPWD stressed that deer management does not start on opening day. Good habitat work, sound harvest plans and native plant management all year set up a good season. Ranches enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Program, or MLDP, issue tags to their hunters and follow harvest recommendations from biologists.
What It Means for Ranch Owners
Hunting income is a real part of ranch economics across West Texas and the Hill Country. A strong deer outlook supports lease demand, and a well managed herd is one of the features buyers ask about first. Owners who keep harvest records, game camera data and habitat improvement notes can show buyers what the land produces.
Hunting Leases
Many Texas ranches lease hunting rights by the season. A written lease that spells out the area, the dates, the game, harvest rules, liability insurance and who maintains blinds and feeders protects both the landowner and the hunters. With good deer numbers expected this year, owners who have not leased before may find willing hunters, and returning lessees may ask about longer terms.
Looking for Hunting Land?
Lee, Lee & Puckitt lists ranches with strong deer, turkey and quail habitat across Texas and New Mexico. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com to see what is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many white-tailed deer are in Texas? TPWD estimates about 5.64 million white-tailed deer in Texas as of its Oct. 1, 2026, outlook.
When does the general deer season open? In the North Zone, the general season runs Nov. 7, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. Check your county in the TPWD Outdoor Annual.
Will antlers be good this year? TPWD expects slightly above average antler quality across most of Texas, thanks to spring rain.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has sold hunting, cattle and farm properties since 1962. The firm’s partners are ranchers, and it serves buyers and sellers across Texas and New Mexico from San Angelo.
Sources
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “White-tailed Deer Harvest Numbers Expected to be Good for 2026-27 Hunting Season,” Oct. 1, 2026
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Outdoor Annual, Schleicher County 2026-2027 hunting seasons
- Related: Current listings, Farm and Ranch News
Photo: Jaymzyates, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buck_deer_texas_cropped.jpg). Cropped.
