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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists indicate hunters can expect good harvest numbers and opportunities for quality bucks dur ing the 2026-27 season. Following three above-average years of fawn survival, the Texas white-tai led deer populat ion has climbed to an estimated 5.64 million.
“Texas leads the nation in terms of number of deer hunters, annua l ha r vest and deer population,” said Blaise Korzekwa, TPWD white-tai led deer program leader. “Even an average year in Texas is worth hunting and those landowners who properly manage the state’s natural resources have shown year after year that their management can pay off.”
Rainfal l and habitat conditions go hand-inhand and fluctuate seasonal ly throughout the state. Nearly all of Texas started the spring in some form of drought, but late spring and early summer rain drastically improved habitat conditions. While late spring d rought cond it ions improved throughout much of the state, areas in the Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Eastern Rolling Plains and pockets of the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie fared better than other regions and should expect a slightly above average season. Pockets of South Texas and the Pineywoods didn’t receive the increase in habitat conditions in late spring but did receive rainfall and below-average temperatures mid-summer that should increase fawn survival.
POST OAK SAVANNAH
Similar to other areas of the state, the Post Oak Savannah ecoregion began the spring under extreme drought conditions but enjoyed good late-spring rain which contributed to above average fawn production this year.
Age and antler surveys indicate that 30 percent of the buck harvest in 2025 was represented by bucks 4.5 years old or older, which is lower than recent years and likely due to the increased number of young bucks from exceptional fawn crops since 2023.
Below-average fawn surviva l in 2021 and 2022 will create a lower estimate of 4.5- and 5.5-year-old bucks this season. Above-average fawn surv ival from 2023-2025 has produced many young bucks, but hunters should practice patience and give these bucks a few more years to reach maturity.
GOOD HABITAT MANAGEMENT CREATES HARVEST OPPORTUNITIES
For many landowners and hunters, deer management doesn’t begin when the season opens. Healthy deer populations need good habitat and herd management, as wel l as spring rains from Mother Nature. By properly managing the land throughout the year, landowners are setting the stage for a successful deer season.
Antler growth is directly related to rainfall between April and June, and the improved habitat that fol lows. This year, hunters should see slightly above-average antler quality for most of the state. Pockets of the Pineywoods and South Texas that missed out on the late-spring ra ins should expect average antler qual ity this season. Much-needed summer rain and mild weather helped more fawns survive this year. Ranches that manage deer populat ions through hunt ing and improving native habitat will see steady improvements over time.
A lthough hunte rs can harvest a mature buck with a quality set of antlers in any area of Texas, there are a few regions of the state that typically produce a greater number of larger antlered bucks, namely the South Texas brush country and the Western Roll ing Plains. Average Boone and Crockett (B& C) scores of a buck that is 5.5 years old or older is about 131 inches in South Texas and 133 inches in the Western Rol l i ng Plains. Other ecoregions of the state can also produce exceptional bucks, with each ecoregion producing trophies every year and statewide B& C scores averaging 124 inches if the bucks survive to 5.5 years of age.
NEW WORLD SCREWWORM
New Wor ld Sc rewworm ( NWS) was confirmed earlier this year in Texas and hunters are st rongly encouraged to monitor wildlife by using trai l cameras and whi le hunting this season. Any signs of a NWS infestation should be promptly reported to the local TPWD biologist to allow for quick action by all agency partners to aid in the eradication of NWS.
In the early 1900s, NWS drastically impacted white- ta i led deer populations, and Texas wouldn’t have a thriving deer population or current deer management if proper NWS management had not occurred. Information on how to inspect your harvest for NWS is available online.
For more information about NWS, visit https:// tpwd.texas.gov/screwworm.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Landowners and hunters play an impor tant role in managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and can reduce its impact by managing populat ions, properly discarding unused carcass parts, report ing sick deer and voluntarily testing.
Hunters are reminded to review the TPWD website and Outdoor Annual app to review this year’s season dates, bag limits and information about proper carcass disposal. Hunters following these regulations are allowed to debone carcasses to help prevent the accidental spread of wildlife diseases.
More i n format ion about carcass disposal regulations, voluntary sampling, check station dates and hours of operations can be found on TPWD’s CWD web page.
