The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) says the outlook is good to excellent for white-tailed deer, quail and wild turkey this fall. Quail season opens statewide Sunday, Nov. 1. The general white-tailed deer season and fall wild turkey season open Saturday, Nov. 7, in the North and South zones. Mule deer season opens Nov. 21 in the Panhandle and Nov. 27 in the Trans-Pecos.
TPWD estimates the state's white-tailed deer population at about 5.64 million, which it said is near a record. Rain in late spring and early summer improved habitat, and the department expects a slightly above-average season in several regions, including the Cross Timbers and Edwards Plateau. For quail, TPWD expects good to excellent bobwhite hunting in South Texas and lower numbers in the Rolling Plains than in the past two years. Scaled quail hunting should be good, the agency said.
Hunters must carry their hunter education certification, hunting license and any required endorsements. Harvested wild turkeys must be reported within 24 hours through the free Texas Hunt & Fish app or online. TPWD is also asking hunters to check outdoor dogs for New World screwworm and to report live maggots on a live animal right away without moving the animal.