A Buck Named Happy
| 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/
Texas offers a vast amount of opportunity to hunt deer. The public draw system allows you to hunt deer on various state parks and wildlife management areas. By far, the best way to hunt deer is to get in contact with one of our Endorsed Outfitters. With Texas being mostly private land, it is nice to have these guys in your court figuring out the leases and all the logistics that come along to hunting deer in Texas.
The application deadline for the Texas public draw and the Big Time Texas Hunts raffle and Desert sheep public draw hunt is October 15, 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!
| 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 |
Disclaimer: Texas mule deer seasons are limited to select zones. Verify current regulations with TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/
| 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 |
Disclaimer: Texas seasons vary by county/zone, weapon, and hunt area. Always verify current regulations with TPWD: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/
$199 BILLED ANNUALLY
Unlimited One-On-One hunt consultations and everything you need to prep like a pro and hunt like a fool.
$48 BILLED ANNUALLY
Access our digital research tools, draw more tags, and hunt with better information.
Our members experience improved hunting opportunities as a direct result of the Huntin' Fool magazine. We are the only publication that breaks more than 20 states' hunting regulations and draw systems into bite-sized chunks for our members.
Like may other species in Texas, the Big Time Texas Hunt raffle offers opportunities to hunt deer. Whitetail and mule deer are included in the previously mentioned Texas Grand Slam package, but there are a few more. The Ultimate Mule Deer hunt package is a three to five-day rut hunt on the Yoakum Dunes WMA in the Texas Panhandle, which includes guides, lodging, and meals. If whitetails are your thing, the Premium Buck hunt package is for you. It is a mature whitetail buck hunt in West Texas with the expertise of professional guides. The other whitetail hunt package is the Whitetail Bonanza with five winners, and it takes place on the Chaparral and Matador WMA. Food and lodging are included on this three to five-day hunt.
Opportunities to apply for and perhaps even draw a Desert bighorn sheep tag are so rare that we highly encourage you to apply for both the Big Time Texas Grand Slam and the regular Texas Desert bighorn sheep draw permit. If exotics are on your bucket list, Texas offers a cheap way to get your name in the hat between the public draw and the Big Time raffle. Take a few minutes and make sure you get your applications in. If you don’t have time to apply, call our License Application Service at 435-865-1020 and we’ll apply for you. The Lone Star State is the land of opportunity when it comes to hunting species from across the world. If hunting Texas is on your bucket list, reach out to Huntin’ Fool Adventures to book a hunt-of-a-lifetime.
Advisor Articles from Our Magazine on Texas Application and Hunting Strategy
Huntin’ Fool offers a wide variety of services and resources within the hunting space, and the Huntin’ Fool App offers access to them all. Utilizing this app, you will be able to apply for hunts, plan hunts, buy hunts, and win hunts. This app is simple to use and puts the tools you need to go on great hunts right at your fingertips.
At Huntin' Fool, we are always looking for ways to improve our service and help out members to the very best of our abilities. We believe communication is what makes our Huntin' Fool community great!