Deer Hunting

 

Deer Season: 30 September 2023 - 21 January 2024

Bag Limits and Antler Restrictions

The bag limit is no more than three (3) deer per Fort Cavazos hunting permit.

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(see illustration). This is only a field guide. If in doubt, do NOT shoot.

Special Late Season: Adults may harvest only antlerless and "unbranched antlered" deer. An unbranched antlered deer is a buck deer with at least one unbranched antler.

CLICK HERE for more on Texas Parks and Wildlife Antler Restrictions.

Hunting with a Companion

Hunters are allowed to recreate with companions. During the check-in process, a hunter may add Participants or a Guest (Guest Observer). Hunters are prohibited from adding more than one (1) Guest (Guest Observer).

NOTE: All Guest (Guest Observers) nine years old and older must have an iSportsman account, a valid Fort Cavazos permit, AND the free Guest Observer Permit.

Early Youth Season: During the early youth season, it is recommended that the youth hunter make the reservation (and subsequent check-in) and include the parent/adult sponsor as a Guest (Guest Observer). This will require the sponsor to acquire the free Guest Observer permit in advance. 

How Harvest Limits Work 

Fort Cavazos deer hunting limits are established by region (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, North Fort, and West Fort) based on annual survey data. The harvest limit for a particular region is divided among the individual recreation areas based on a variety of factors: acreage, suitable habitat, and localized density observations. While the population estimates and harvest limits are set at the regional level, breaking the limits down further to the recreation area size helps in several ways. First, it ensures that the harvest is spread across the entire region. It also ensures no particular area is over-harvested due to non-biological factors. These factors may include availability due to the training schedule or ease of access.

When an individual area harvest limit is reached, the individual area is considered "SHOT OUT" and is no longer available for hunting that season. Individual area harvest limits, when added together, may total more than the regional harvest limit. However, when the regional harvest limit is reached, the entire region is considered “SHOT OUT” and will close for the season regardless of whether individual area limits are reached or not.

The overall regional harvest limits are established based on the annual survey data. During the Archery Only season, a sub-set of the regional and individual area harvest limits are allotted to archery hunters in order to preserve recreational opportunity for the General Season that starts approximately 30 days later. This prevents a disproportional amount of the overall limits from being harvested prior to the General Season hunters having an opportunity to recreate. Archery hunters may continue hunting during the General Season within the established harvest and bag limits.

Past Seasons Final Harvest Reports 

2023-24 Hunt Season Summary Statistics

Weapon and Ammunition Area Restrictions

CLICK HERE for area designation maps
Archery Only: TA 10,100,101,102,108,109,110,116,118,70,73,74
Archery or Shotshell: TA 70A,71,8S,8N
Other designated recreational areas: During the general season 4 Nov 2023 – 21 January 2024 archery, shotgun using slug load or muzzleloader.