White-tailed deer harvest numbers expected to be good

Austin — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists indicate hunters can expect good harvest numbers and opportunities for quality bucks during the 2026-27 season. Following three above-average years of fawn survival, the Texas white-tailed deer population has climbed to an estimated 5.64 million.

“Texas leads the nation in terms of number of deer hunters, annual harvest and deer population,” said Blaise Korzekwa, TPWD white-tailed 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.”

Rainfall and habitat conditions go hand-in-hand and fluctuate seasonally 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 drought conditions 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.

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 well 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 follows. 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 rains should expect average antler quality this season. Much-needed summer rain and mild weather helped more fawns survive this year. Ranches that manage deer populations through hunting and improving native habitat will see steady improvements over time.

Although hunters 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 Rolling 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 Rolling 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 World Screwworm (NWS) was confirmed earlier this year in Texas and hunters are strongly encouraged to monitor wildlife by using trail cameras and while 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-tailed deer populations, and Texas wouldn’t have a thriving deer population or current deer management if proper NWS management had not occurred. 

For more information about NWS, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/screwworm.

Chronic Wasting Disease

Landowners and hunters play an important role in managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and can reduce its impact by managing populations, properly discarding unused carcass parts, reporting 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 information about carcass disposal regulations, voluntary sampling, check station dates and hours of operations can be found on TPWD’s CWD web page.

Pineywoods

Most recent survey data estimated the Pineywoods deer population at 334,414 and has remained very stable over the previous five years.

Habitat management is critical in the Pineywoods to help sustain deer populations. TPWD biologists work with numerous landowners and timber companies to restore and maintain quality deer habitat in the region. Based on previous year’s fawn production, hunters should expect a strong cohort of 3.5-year-old bucks, but a below-average cohort of 4.5- and 5.5-year-old bucks. Hunters should continue to practice quality deer management and allow bucks to reach at least 4.5 years old.

Hunters need to be mindful of not harvesting too many young and middle-aged bucks this season, as aside from the 3.5-year-old age class, those age cohorts are not as strong this season and they will become mature in a few more years.

SOURCE Texas Parks and Wildlife Department