Texas Hunting Regulation Proposals

Public Input Sought on Texas Hunting Regulation Proposals for 2022-2023

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2022-2023 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird proclamations:

• Allow the take of white-tailed deer by firearm in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall counties and modify other deer hunting seasons within those counties.
• Modify the definitions of “buck deer” and “antlerless deer.”
• Modify the proof of sex requirements for harvested buck deer.
• Create definitions for two types of commercial cold storage facilities.
• Modify tagging and proof of sex requirements, cold storage log procedures, and destination regulations for those commercial cold storage facilities.
• Expand mule deer antler restrictions to an additional 21 counties in the Panhandle.
• Extend the 9-day general season in 15 southwest Panhandle counties to 16 days and add the special archery season.
• Establish a mule deer antler restriction to Terrell County in the Trans-Pecos.
• Establish veterans and active-duty unique waterfowl hunting opportunities concurrently during the youth-only season in all duck zones.
• Modify the West Zone for goose hunting to open a week earlier than current goose hunting regulations.
• Remove the daily bag limit restriction (2) on hooded mergansers.
• Combine the separate merganser and duck daily bag limits into a single aggregate daily bag limit of 6 per day.
• Reauthorize the requirement to possess a Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit while hunting that species due to an administrative error.
• Close the turkey season east of I35 in Ellis County to support ongoing restocking efforts along the Trinity River

You can find additional details on the proposed regulation changes on the public comment page and in the Texas Register.

The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed regulation changes. We will consider your input before taking any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 24 public hearing. Opportunities to provide comments for or against these proposals include:

• Online: You can provide comments on each change on the TPWD public comment page until March 23.
• Zoom Webinar: TPWD Wildlife Division staff will present proposed hunting regulation changes and answer questions in an online webinar at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 3. The webinar will also post on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
• Public Hearing: TPWD Wildlife Division staff will be presenting the proposed changes to white-tailed deer hunting regulations in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall counties on March 9, 2022, at 7:00 pm CST at the Grayson College Center for Workplace Learning (CWL Auditorium, 6101 Grayson Drive, Denison, TX 75020). At this public hearing, we will not discuss any other proposals on either the Statewide Hunting or Migratory Game Bird proclamations.
• Phone or Email: 
  • For Migratory Game Bird Proclamation comments or comments regarding wild turkey hunting regulations, please get in touch with Shaun Oldenburger, shaun.oldenburger@tpwd.texas.gov.
  • For Statewide Hunting Proclamation comments concerning mule deer antler restrictions and season extension, please contact Shawn Gray, shawn.gray@tpwd.texas.gov.
  • For white-tailed deer hunting regulations, cold storage facility requirements, definitions of buck and antlerless deer, and proof of sex for buck deer, please contact Alan Cain alan.cain@tpwd.texas.gov.
• Commission Meeting: The TPW Commission will receive public comment on the proposed changes at their meeting on Thursday, March 24, in Austin. Those wishing to provide public testimony are required to pre-register to speak. Public testimony is usually limited to three minutes per person.