Dogs Allowed To Trail Wounded Deer in 12 East Texas Counties

AUSTIN – Hunters will be allowed to use up to two dogs only to trail a wounded deer in 12 additional counties in East Texas during the 2013-14 deer season under a rule change approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The counties are Harris, Harrison, Houston, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Panola, Polk, Rusk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker. The rule change does not legalize the use of dogs to hunt, pursue or take deer.

That practice remains illegal statewide in Texas. Hunters are allowed to use up to two dogs only for the purpose of trailing a wounded deer in all but 10 Texas counties. Counties where the practice of trailing wounded deer with dogs remains prohibited include: Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby and Tyler.