White-tail deer hunting starts Saturday

The general white-tail deer hunting season begins Saturday with hunters throughout Lavaca County as well as the state taking part in hunting for that trophy buck.

The hunting season actually began on Sept. 28 with archery-only hunting season and ends this Friday, Nov. 1.

A special youth-only season for licensed hunters who are 16 years old or younger was held this past weekend, October 25-27, and a second special youth season will take place from Jan. 6-19 of the new year.

Lavaca County is located in the North Texas zone and has the general white-tail deer hunting season beginning this Saturday, Nov. 2 and will end Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

The general white-tail hunting season also begins in the South zone Saturday, but is extended until Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.

Bag Limit

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the bag limits are established by the county. No person may exceed the annual bag limit of four with no more than two bucks, and no more than two antlerless deer, all seasons combined.

The bag limit in Lavaca County is two bucks with one defined a buck deer with one unbranched antler and the other with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater does not apply to a buck that has one unbranched antler). A hunter may also take one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater in a different county with antler restrictions, and not exceed the county’s limit.

Special Antler Restrictions

The special antler restrictions that apply include:

• Antlerless deer – Antlerless deer may be taken by hunting license tag during archery, muzzleloader, and youth-only seasons, except on properties where antlerless MLDP tags have been issued then the take is by MLDP tag only. Antlerless deer may also be taken by hunting license tags during designated periods in the General Season, see General Season section below for specific dates.

• Mandatory harvest reporting – Any antlerless deer harvested during archery, youth-only, muzzleloader, or the four-doe days during the general season is required to be reported within 24 hours of harvest to the department via mobile application or online. Report your antlerless deer harvest with the “My Texas Hunt Harvest” app (Apple app Store for IOS devices, Google Play for Android devices), or online at www.tpwd.texas. gov/myhunt.

• MLDP – If MLDP buck tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all bucks must be tagged with a MLDP tag. If MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all antlerless deer must be tagged with a MLDP antlerless tag. The landowner or designated agent are responsible for providing MLDP tags to the hunters on MLDP properties. All hunters using MLDP tags are required to possess a Resident or Non-resident General hunting license.

Tagging the Deer

A tag from the hunting license of the person who killed the deer must be correctly and legibly completed (including name of property and county) and immediately attached to the animal (exception is properties with issued tags such as MLDP tags).

Hunters in possession of a digital license and tags should refer to Digital Licenses and Tagging for tagging instructions.

In tagging the deer the hunter must:

• Use the specific type of deer tag (for example, buck tags must be used only on buck deer, antlerless tags on antlerless deer, etc.).

• Have the month and date of kill clearly cut out on the tag by notching the respective month and day. Do not “ink out.”

• Immediately complete, date and cut out the appropriate hunting license tag after a deer is harvested but before the deer is field dressed, moved or tagged.

• After a deer is harvested, but before the deer is field-dressed immediately before moving carcass, complete the log in ink on the back of the hunting license. Asterisks in the log indicate bucks with an inside main beam spread of at least 13 inches.

• After a deer is harvested and tagged, but before the deer is field-dressed or moved, complete the log in ink on the back of the hunting license. Boxes with asterisks in the log must be checked for harvest in antler restricted counties for bucks with an inside main beam spread of at least 13 inches.

• Complete the mandatory harvest reporting for white-tailed deer in applicable counties using the Texas Hunt & Fish app.

For deer, the appropriate tag or permit must remain attached until the deer reaches its final destination and is quartered.

If deer’s head is severed from the carcass (body), then the appropriate tag or permit must remain attached to its carcass.

If the head does not accompany the carcass, then the head must be accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD).

Remember that if the head and the carcass are separated, the tag from the hunting license goes with the meat and the WRD goes with the head.

Your are reminded to read the tag use description on your license carefully before attaching to harvested deer.

Firearm Safety

It is utmost that hunters practice good firearm safety. Don’t turn an enjoyable time hunting and camping into a tragedy.

Remember four basic firearm safety rules that include:

• Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

• Be certain of the target you aim at as well as what’s beyond the target.

• Always keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

Have a safe and enjoyable hunting season.