Archery season for deer opened Sept. 29 and Early Youth-Only deer season is Oct. 27-28. General Gun season begins Nov. 3, continues through Jan. 6 in the North Zone and Jan. 20 in the South Zone. It's t ime to review some of the deer hunting regulations.

Buck Deer
A deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. Deer with antlers completely covered in velvet (protruding through the skin) are also considered buck deer. A buck deer must be tagged with a buck deer tag or applicable tag or permit. For tagging purposes, all other deer are antlerless deer, regardless of sex.

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Statewide Bag Limits
Bag limits are established by county. No person may exceed the annual bag limit of five white-tailed deer, no more than three of which may be bucks. The annual bag limit does not apply on MLDP properties. Find your county to view specific limits.

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Special Antler Restrictions
Antler restrictions apply in certain counties. In these counties, the bag limit is two legal bucks, but only ONE may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. In these counties, a legal buck deer is defined as a buck deer with:
at least one unbranched antler; OR
an inside spread of 13 inches or greater(does not apply to a buck that has an unbranched antler).

It is unlawful to take more than one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater or having two branched antlers (i.e. a person who takes a buck in violation of the antler restriction regulation is prohibited from subsequently harvesting any buck deer with branched antlers on both main beams in that county during that hunting season).

The distance from the tip of one ear to the tip of the other ear, when the ears are in the “alert” position may be used as a guide to help estimate the inside spread. If the inside spread extends past the ears, it is likely to be at least 13 inches.
Definition of a point: a projection that extends at least one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.
Find your county to determine if there are antler restrictions.

Determining Inside Spread
To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13 inches, look at the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip on a buck with ears in the "alert" position.
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White-tailed Deer Youth-Only Seasons
Age Restriction: ONLY licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger are eligible to participate in youth-only deer seasons.

Youth-only seasons may run concurrently with other seasons (Archery, Muzzleloader, Special Late) but do not prevent any person from lawfully hunting under the provisions established for those seasons.

Any lawful means may be used, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall counties, where lawful means are restricted to lawful archery equipment only (crossbows prohibited except for youth with upper limb disability).

Bag Limits, take of antlerless deer, and special requirements:
In Bell (E. of I-35), Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Limestone, Milam, Navarro, Rains, Smith, Titus, Van Zandt, Williamson (E. of I-35) and Wood counties, the bag limits, requirements for the take of antlerless deer, and special requirements are the same as the period Nov 22-25 for each respective county (County Listings table, pgs. 82–97 in the Outdoor Annual).

For the remainder of the state, the bag, tag and permit requirements are the same as for the first two days of the general season in the county (see County Listings).

Good luck and stay legal.
Photo Courtesy: TPWD