When hunting in Texas, you must carry:

• Hunting license .
• Proof of Hunter Education
• For wild turkey hunters: Upland Game Bird Endorsement
• For bowhunters: Archery Endorsement

You should also:

• Correctly log and tag your harvest whether deer or wild turkey.
• Bring any deer harvested in a CWD Zone to a CWD check station within 48 hours for testing.
• Refer to the Outdoor Annual online or the app for all regulations.

NEW this season:

General: My Texas Hunt Harvest has been renamed Texas Hunt & Fish.

Deer hunters: review updated statewide carcass disposal requirements.

Deer hunters: Review current information about chronic wasting disease (CWD), including zones and check stations.

Deer hunters: Doe Days have been expanded in 43 counties.

Wild turkey hunters: Mandatory harvest reporting is required for all wild turkeys in all counties. Easily report using the Texas Hunt & Fish app or online.

Wild turkey hunters: Eastern turkey season is now referred to as East Zone; seasons are no longer identified by turkey subspecies but by geographic area.

For more of What’s New, refer to your Outdoor Annual.

If you use public lands during daylight in any gun-hunting season, you’re required to wear blaze orange (hunter orange) for your own safety.

Your blaze orange attire must include headgear and it must cover your chest and back. Even when hunting on private land, wear it to stay safe. If you hunt with a dog, get it some blaze orange, too.

Correct use of blaze orange is one of the many skills taught in Hunter Education. Anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must have proof of Hunter Ed when in the field.

Be Smart, Don’t Let a Wildfire Start

Drought conditions over much of Texas this fall means wildfires can quickly get out of control. Use these safety tips in the field if dry conditions persist:

• Don’t idle or park over dry vegetation – a hot catalytic converter can ignite it.
• Don’t shoot into rocks that may spark or into tall, dry grass.
• Don’t use full metal jacket or tracer ammunition.

Stay aware so that you don’t take any action that might start a fire. See our blog post Protect Your Texas Lands from Wildfire for more ways to prevent wildfires while hunting. Be smart, don’t let a wildfire start.

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife