Youth-Only2023-2024 Seasons & Regulations

Youth-Only Seasons & County Regulations


About Youth-only Seasons

  • Only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger are eligible to participate in youth seasons which generally occur before (or directly after) general hunting seasons.
  • Youth-only hunting seasons occur for turkeys, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and waterfowl.
  • Youth-only waterfowl season requires the youth to be accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
  • Special requirements, bag limits, and restrictions may apply for youth-only white-tailed deer hunting seasons.

Youth Licensing Requirements

A Youth Hunting License (Type 169) is valid for the entire license year regardless if the 17th birthdate occurs during the license year. However, ONLY individuals 16 years of age or younger are allowed to participate in Youth-Only seasons.

Purchase a youth hunting license.

White-tailed Deer

  • Age Restriction: ONLY licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger are eligible to participate in youth-only deer seasons.
  • Youth-only seasons may run concurrently with other seasons (Archery, Muzzleloader, Special Late) but do not prevent any person from lawfully hunting under the provisions established for those seasons.
  • Any lawful means may be used, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall counties, where lawful means are restricted to lawful archery equipment only.
  • Bag Limits, take of antlerless deer, and special requirements:
    • In Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (East of I-35), De Witt, Fayette, Goliad (North of US 59), Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (East of I-35), Jackson (north of US 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (East of I-35), Victoria (North of US 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of US 59), and Wilson counties, the bag limits, requirements for the take of antlerless deer, and special requirements are the same as the period Nov 26 – Nov 29 for each respective county.
    • For the remainder of the state, the bag, tag and permit requirements are the same as for the first two days of the general season in the county

Turkey

(All counties with a fall general season for Rio Grande turkey):

  • October Special Youth-Only Season: Firearms are lawful, as well as the applicable archery-only legal means.
  • January Special Youth-Only Season: All legal methods are allowed.
  • Bag Limit: As specified for the county during the Fall Rio Grande Turkey season. See county listings).
  • Youth-Only Spring Season (Rio Grande turkey only): All counties with a 4-Turkey bag limit.

Waterfowl

  • Special duck, goose, merganser and coot season for youth hunters: Two additional days per zone for youth hunters 16 years of age or younger. Regular season bag limits apply. Dusky ducks are legal during the youth-only season.
  • Youth hunters who are not Hunter Education certified must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years of age who meets the Hunter Education requirements.
  • Adults may not hunt ducks, mergansers or coots (except for falconry) but may participate in other open seasons.
  • A Federal Ducks Stamp is required for all persons 16 years of age or older.

Squirrel

  • September Special Youth-Only Season - 16 years of age and under: In all counties that have an October through February open squirrel season. See county listings.