Archery-only season for white-tailed deer, mule deer and turkey opens Saturday, October 1 and runs through Friday, November 4. If you need a new place to bowhunt white-tailed deer, check out the 1 million acres of public hunting land available in Texas. All you need for access is an Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48).

Bowhunters must carry the following in the field:
Certificate of Hunter Education and hunting with archery stamp endorsement. For turkey hunters: upland game bird stamp endorsement.

There’s one change this year: archery-only seasons are in 14 additional Panhandle counties. Refer to your 2016-2017 Outdoor Annual for the list of counties and other regulations.
If you can’t find your Hunter Education card, print a free copy by going online. Hunter Ed. is required for everyone 9 years or older and born on or after Sept. 2, 1971. We also offer Bowhunter Education courses.

Licenses and endorsements are available at retailers and online. You can also order over the phone by calling 800-895-4248 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. There’s a $5 service charge if you purchase over the phone or online.

Mule deer and white-tailed deer hunters should be aware of new chronic wasting disease(CWD) regulations, including sampling requirements and movement restrictions. There’s a new booklet you can download to learn everything a hunter needs to know about CWD.