By Will Leschper
The Texas deer hunting outlook has never been better for both quantity – we’ve got the nation’s largest population at roughly 4.5 million animals – and for quality, with whitetail management becoming more practiced and nuanced at the statewide level.
Heading into the early summer, the forecast looked above-average in some locales such as South Texas (where I live) and right on average in other hot spots like the Hill Country. That being said, even an “average” whitetail outlook bodes well for every variety of hunter out there.
Alan Cain, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department whitetail program leader, said that range conditions overall were comparable to other good seasons though inconsistent moisture remained something to watch in some notable hunting hot beds.
“Some areas had decent winter conditions and deer were coming off the rut in good shape, and other areas were dry. We got good moisture levels in early summer in places like South Texas and the Edwards Plateau but we’ll just have to wait and see how those trends play out,” he said. “I think we’ll have a good year especially for folks who are looking to fill tags and also for those hunters who are focusing on land management practices and hoping to find a better buck.”
Bryan O’Neal’s monster whitetail buck highlights how smaller tracts can harbor huge deer. The buck was taken on a 400-acre tract in Smith County. The typical frame grossed 184 7/8 (Boone & Crockett) and netted 178.
Cain noted that more landowners and hunters are doing their part to protect the health of their herds and to improve habitat for whitetails.
“There has definitely been an increase in deer management in recent years as more and more hunters and landowners take an interest in it, which is a great thing for deer. It also benefits the other species you’ve got in most cases, too,” Cain said.
“Our harvest data from our surveys in recent seasons shows that the majority of bucks harvested (about 40% statewide) is composed of bucks that are in the 3½- or 4½-year-old age classes. If you look at the harvest figures and antler data for bucks that are 5½ years old and above, that makes up roughly 15% of the total. I think what that shows is that more hunters aren’t shooting younger bucks or the first buck they see and letting them walk. We’ve also got antler restrictions across many counties (in East Texas and Central Texas) so hunters are doing their part and following those regulations.”
Cain noted that hunter participation in Texas remains stable (hovering at 700,000+ on average for the past decade) while the deer population has experienced a gradual uptick, providing for plenty of opportunities. TPWD added hunting dates to more than a dozen counties in the area between Austin and the Gulf Coast last season and that should bump up the overall harvest figure. Cain noted that TPWD is always analyzing data to make the best decisions on when and where to open future hunting frameworks to the public.
While it’s tough to predict exactly how any deer season is going to play out, Texas’ longstanding history as the preeminent whitetail locale in the country makes it the best destination for almost any hunter. That being said, we residents have it good.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we’ll have another good hunting season for whitetails,” Cain said. “I would encourage hunters to stay safe and vigilant out there in the field, but all signs are pointing to the typical hot spots remaining that way this fall and winter. Hunters will have plenty of chances to fill their tags and have a shot at some really nice bucks, too.”
