Texas Bighorn Sheep

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TEXAS STATE PAGE

Dates & Fees | Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting

Raffle: October 15, 2025
Public Draw: November 1, 2025

UP-FRONT FEES
Big Time Texas Hunts Raffle Entry Fee (Online) $9.00
State Draw Application Fee $10.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Hunting License $25.00

UP-FRONT FEES
Big Time Texas Hunts Raffle Entry Fee (Online) $9.00
State Draw Application Fee $10.00
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Hunting License $25.00

TEXAS WHITE-TAILED DEER SEASON DATES
Rifle (North Zone) Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
Rifle (South Zone) Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
Archery (most counties) Sep 27 – Oct 31, 2025
Muzzleloader (select counties) Jan 5 – Jan 18, 2026
Special Late (North Zone) Jan 5 – Jan 18, 2026
Special Late (South Zone) Jan 19 – Feb 1, 2026
Youth-Only (Early) Oct 24 – Oct 26, 2025
Youth-Only (Late) Jan 5 – Jan 18, 2026
TEXAS MULE DEER SEASON DATES
Archery (Panhandle Zone) Sep 27 - Nov 21, 2025
Archery (Trans-Pecos Zone) Sep 27 - Nov 27, 2025
Rifle (Panhandle Zone) Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025
Rifle (Trans-Pecos Zone) Nov 28 – Dec 14, 2025
TEXAS DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP SEASON DATES
Public Draw / Translocation Areas By permit only; dates vary (typically late fall–winter)
TEXAS EXOTICS SEASON DATES
Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)
Axis / Blackbuck / Fallow Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)
Nilgai (South TX & Coastal) Year-round where legal (draw hunts may have set dates)

Disclaimer: Texas seasons vary by county/zone, weapon, and hunt area. Some hunts are draw-only with assigned dates. Always verify current regulations with TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/

Early November

4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
ph. 512-389-4800

 

APPLY

Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting 2025

Typically, there are less than 20 Desert bighorn sheep permits available every year based on the annual census. Of those permits, only two are available through a raffle or public drawing. Another permit is auctioned off by a nonprofit organization chosen by Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the remaining permits are issued to private landowners.

Guided Hunts - Featured Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting

Alaska Peninsula Coast
HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear
Cost: $ 29,500.00
Location: Alaska, United States
New Mexico Unit 36
HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk
Cost: $ 8,000.00
Location: New Mexico, United States
All-Inclusive Guided Stone
HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep
Cost: $ 89,250.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Trophy Canadian Moose
HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose
Cost: $ 9,800.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Wyoming Antelope Hunt
HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope
Cost: $ 4,500.00
Location: Wyoming, United States
Montana Mountain Lion
HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion
Cost: $ 6,800.00
Location: Montana, United States
Idaho Trophy Mule Deer
HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer
Cost: $ 5,900.00
Location: Idaho, United States
SEARCH ALL HUNTS

Application Deadline for Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting

The application deadline for the Texas public draw and the Big Time Texas Hunts raffle is October 15, 2025. The Texas Desert sheep deadline is November 1, 2025.

 

Our magazine, which is available in print and online, has everything in one location - application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions,  other tag opportunites, hunt planning, and much more. If you would like access to all of our research, join today!

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Step 1: A Hunt Advisor works with you one-on-one to create an application strategy based on your hunting goals.
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Step 3: We call you when it's time to hunt!
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Podcasts with our Advisors on Hunting and Application Strategy

Podcast Episodes

2025 Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting Season Dates

TEXAS DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP SEASON DATES
Public Draw / Translocation Areas By permit only; dates vary (typically late fall–winter)

Disclaimer: Desert bighorn sheep hunts in Texas are strictly by limited permits. Verify dates and availability with TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/

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Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting Public Draw

The hunt will be conducted on the Black Gap, Elephant Mountain, or Sierra Diablo WMA. This will be a five-day guided hunt with food, lodging, and transportation provided. Season dates are January 31-June 30, 2026. The cost to apply is $10, and you are only allowed to submit one application per person. A Loyalty Point will be awarded to unsuccessful applicants. Harvest success is 100% almost every year. An applicant must be 17 or older to apply. For the 2024-2025 season, there were 10,980 applicants for the one permit. For the 2023-2024 season, there were 9,778 applicants for the one permit. For the 2022-2023 season, there were 6,491 applicants for the one permit.

Texas Bighorn Sheep Hunting Articles

Advisor Articles from Our Magazine on Texas Application and Hunting Strategy

Texas Bighorn Sheep Auction Tag

The auction tag is valid for a pre-determined unit that can change year to year. It is decided upon by surveys done by the Parks and Wildlife Department. For the last few years, the auction tag has brought in $140,000+ to all of the organizations it has been sold through. The hunt dates are flexible and are decided upon by the auction winner and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The hunter may bring along one non-hunting companion. In addition to the permit, the hunter is required to possess a valid Texas hunting license.

Texas Bighorn Sheep Landowner Tags

Landowner tags are available in Texas. Permits are issued to landowners or their agents in the areas of West Texas. The exact number of permits will be determined based on their aerial surveys of the area in late August, and Texas will notify the landowners. At this time, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department does not have a process in place to release the contact information of the landowners who receive permits.

Texas Bighorn Sheep Raffle Tag

Big Time Texas Hunts offers the Texas Grand Slam package where one lucky winner wins four separate Texas big game hunts – Desert bighorn sheep, whitetail deer, antelope, and mule deer. This hunt package includes food, lodging, taxidermy, and a professional guide service for all four hunting trips. Hunters may purchase as many entries into this raffle as they want. The price is $9 per entry plus a $5 administrative fee that is charged for each online transaction. Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. Entries purchased at licensed retailers, by phone, or by mail are $10 each. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2025. If you are successful in drawing this hunt package, you will be able to negotiate the hunt dates to accommodate your schedule. To apply online or to learn more about this hunt package, go to https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/btth/grandslam.phtml.

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