Best Places to Visit for a Successful 2021 Texas Deer Hunting Season

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When Texas deer hunters enter the wilderness in November, they can be confident of success, or at least of seeing plenty of deer.

“Biologists say hunters can expect an exceptional 2021-22 white-tailed deer season,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a news release. “The statewide white-tailed deer population is estimated to be around 5.4 million.”

While the statewide total is slightly below previous years, fawn survival rate predictions indicate an “overall robust population increase headed into the season.”

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In areas surrounding San Antonio, the best hunting is expected in the Edwards Plateau, Hill Country and South Texas Plains regions, according to the agency.

Archery season will end on Nov. 5. General deer hunting season runs from Nov. 6 through Jan. 2, 2022 in North Texas. Hunting ends in the southern portions of the state on Jan. 16.

Hunters in Texas have an annual public hunting permit. It’s also important for public land hunters to consult the public hunting lands map to review regulations that may apply to specific areas.

Factors for a favorable season: Deer hunting forecasts and expectations are driven by habitat conditions eight to 10 months before the season starts.

Despite dry conditions in much of Texas at the end of 2020 and the deadly winter storm in February, biologists said that late spring rains have accelerated weed, flowering plant and grass growth. With plenty of food to eat, the deer populations are healthy going into the fall and winter.

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Biologists predict that the highest hunter densities this season will lie in the Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau and the Pineywoods regions of the state. An estimated eight to nine hunters are expected for every 1,000 acres.

Central and South Texas forecast: The Edwards Plateau has the highest deer population in the state with over two million living in the region. Hunter success in this region runs about 79 percent with an estimated 12.7 deer harvesting per 1,000 acres, officials said.

Within the Hill Country, hunters should expect to see more bucks in the mature age class due to good fawn production between 2013 and 2016, the agency said. Hunters looking for older age class bucks should focus on the area between Hondo to Del Rio and north of U.S. 90.

Texans can expect and "exceptional" hunting during the 2021-22 season, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Texans can expect and “exceptional” hunting during the 2021-22 season, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Shannon Tompkins/Houston Chronicle

The South Texas Plains are known for mature bucks and above average antler quality compared to other areas of the state.

The agency said that hunter success was estimated to be 79 percent with an estimated harvest of 7.9 deer per 1,000 acres in 2020. Hunters may see a repeat of that this season.

Closer to San Antonio, the estimated deer densities in the Post Oak Savannah region range from 32 to 89 deer per 1,000 acres. Areas along the Interstate corridor between the Alamo City and Houston have population estimates of 89 deer per 1,000 acres.

Forecast for East Texas: Deer densities gradually decrease moving north with lowest deer densities in the area north of Interstate 20 and east of Dallas. Age and antler surveys indicate 66 percent of the buck harvest was represented by bucks 3 1/2 years old or older in 2020. The agency said that hunters should expect this trend to continue this year.

Survey data from 2020 estimated the Pineywoods deer population at more than 280,000, which is higher than the previous three years. Though the area has been plagued by relatively low fawn production, population growth has remained stable during the last five years.

Texans can expect and "exceptional" hunting during the 2021-22 season, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Texans can expect and “exceptional” hunting during the 2021-22 season, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Shannon Tompkins/Houston Chronicle

Fawn production is expected to be above average going into the 2021-22 season, potentially bolstering the overall population. Buck harvest trends indicate 53.3 percent of the previous year’s harvest were bucks 3 1/2 years or older, a byproduct of the antler restriction regulation in this region. Hunters should expect the same trend for 2021.

The agency said that habitat management is critical in the Pineywoods, and TPWD biologists continue to work with landowners and timber companies to restore and maintain good deer habitat in the region.

Forecast for North Texas: The Cross Timbers region in North Texas has the second highest deer population in the state with more than 800,000 deer. Fawn recruitment in 2021 is expected to be around 60 percent based on exceptional habitat conditions and early reports of fawns being observed in July. However, above average fawn crops in 2016 and 2017 suggest the region may have more bucks in the 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 year age range relative to younger age classes.

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The Eastern and Western Rolling Plains regions generally have lower deer populations compared to other regions. Trends indicate, however, population increases in 2021. Harvest success is slightly higher in the Eastern Rolling Plains with a 69 percent success rate in 2020 and 65 percent in the Western Rolling Plains.

Statewide, antler quality is predicted to be well above average. Native forages, vital to providing the quality nutrition needed to produce large antlers, were plentiful during the critical antler growing months of April and May. These conditions were perpetuated into early August from additional early summer rains and should help bucks maximize antlers as they finish out the growing season.

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