The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) kicked off the 2026‑27 hunting season on Sept. 1 with the dove opener, but hunters should note several important regulatory updates before heading out.
Stricter ID Verification for Licenses
Effective immediately, all Texas hunting and fishing license purchases must pass an updated identity‑verification process. The change is designed to curb residency fraud and give TPWD law‑enforcement better tools to protect Texas wildlife resources. Detailed guidance is available on the TPWD website’s License ID Validation FAQ and the Purchase Requirements for Licenses, Endorsements and Tags page.
Digital Licenses Now Available
All recreational licenses and endorsement stamps can be obtained digitally. The digital option is online‑only; hunters must keep the license visible on a mobile device while in the field or on the water, as no paper copy will be issued. Digital tags are accessed through the Texas Hunt & Fish mobile app or the TPWD Outdoor Annual app.
Season Date Changes
Several season dates have been adjusted for 2026‑27:
- Dove season opens on Sept. 1 as usual.
- Chachalaca season now runs concurrent with quail season, Nov. 1 – Feb. 28, 2027.
Expanded “Doe Days” for Antler‑less Deer
TPWD has added “doe days” in a dozen counties, giving hunters more chances to harvest antler‑less white‑tailed deer. The counties receiving the expansion are Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal (east of IH 35), DeWitt, Fayette, Goliad (north of US‑59), Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays (east of IH 35), Jackson (north of US‑59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Travis (east of IH 35), Victoria (north of US‑59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (north of US‑59) and Wilson.
New Turkey Harvest App
Turkey hunters can now download the Turkey Harvest App, which aggregates mandatory harvest data from successful hunters to display county‑level harvest maps for both fall and spring seasons.
New World Screwworm Alert
Hunters are reminded to watch for signs of New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that deposits eggs in open wounds of warm‑blooded animals. Any game with suspicious wounds should be reported, and carcasses must be handled to prevent the larvae from completing their life cycle. The Texas Animal Health Commission’s interactive NWS Zone Map and the website screwworm.texas.gov provide current information.
Where to Find Full Regulations
All 2026‑27 hunting and fishing regulations, including complete season dates, are posted online at outdoorannual.com and available through the free Outdoor Annual mobile app, which works offline for remote locations. The app also offers license lookup, location‑based season information, and a “Where to Fish” feature.
Original reporting: Focus Daily News — read the source article.
