Statewide Youth Only Open Seasons
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has established statewide Youth Only open seasons for deer, turkey, squirrel and, with cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, waterfowl. The purpose of these Youth Only open seasons is to provide youth with opportunities to learn about wildlife conservation through an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience and allow parents and mentors to introduce them to safe and responsible hunting. The Youth Only open seasons hunts are scheduled to occur at times when youth are out of school.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages experienced hunters to seek out youth and provide the guidance to make the event both enjoyable and educational for the beginning hunter.
Youth Only seasons for only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger. Special Hunting License Required (Type 169). include:
White-tailed Deer Youth-Only:
Age Restriction: In the applicable Special Youth-Only categories, only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt deer. Special Hunting License Required (Type 169).
- October Special Youth-Only Season: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, 2012. All legal hunting means and methods are allowed, except Grayson County is archery only. All other deer hunting, other than by youth hunters, shall be by means of lawful archery and crossbows (hunters with upper limb disability) only. See bag limits in the Outdoor Annual.
- January Special Youth-Only Season: Jan. 7-20, 2013. The season is open in all counties where there is a general open season for white-tailed deer. All legal hunting means and methods are allowed, except Grayson County is archery only.
October and January Special Youth-Only bag limit, take of antlerless deer, and special requirements: In Bowie, Brazos, Camp, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Madison, Morris, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Titus, Upshur, and Wood counties, the bag and permit requirements are the same as the period Nov. 22-25, 2012 for each respective county (see County Listings); and
- For the remainder of the state, the bag and permit requirements are the same as for the first two days of the general season in the county (see County Listings).
- In a county where antlerless deer may be taken only by permit, a permit is required to take antlerless deer during the youth seasons.
Turkey-Youth Only:
(All counties with a fall general season for Rio Grande turkey):
Age Restriction: In the applicable counties, only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt turkey.
- October Special Youth-Only Season: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, 2012. Firearms are lawful, as well as the applicable archery-only legal means.
- January Special Youth-Only Season: Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 19-20, 2013. All legal methods are allowed.
Bag Limit: As specified for the county during the Fall Rio Grande Turkey season (see County Listings).
NEW: Youth-Only Spring Season (Rio Grande turkey only): All counties with a 4-Turkey bag limit: North Zone, Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 23-24, 2013 and May 18-19, 2013, and South Zone, Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 9-10, 2013 and May 4-5, 2013.
Squirrel Youth Only:
Age Restriction: In the applicable counties, only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt squirrel.
- September Special Youth-Only Season: Saturday and Sunday, September 29-30, 2012 in all counties that have an Oct. 1, 2006-Feb. 4, 2007 and May 1-31 open squirrel season (see County Listings).
Youth Only season for only licensed hunters 15 years of age or younger. Special Hunting License Required (Type 169). include:
Waterfowl Youth Only:
- SPECIAL DUCK, GOOSE, MERGANSER AND COOT SEASON FOR YOUTH HUNTERS: 2 additional days per zone for youth hunters 15 years of age or younger. Regular season bag limits apply. 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.
- HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT UNIT: Oct. 20-21,2012
- NORTH ZONE: Oct. 27-28, 2012
- SOUTH ZONE: Oct. 27-28, 2012
Please refer to your Outdoor Annual for more information.