The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking input from landowners, managers, and hunters regarding a potential proposal to modify the current mule deer archery season and the methods of take allowed in the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) season for mule deer. TPWD is considering changes to the archery-only season for the 2025-26 hunting season to increase hunting opportunities. According to TPWD's annual big game harvest survey data, only about 16% of hunters report that they use archery equipment for mule deer hunting, contributing less than 10% of the total mule deer harvest. Additionally, TPWD sets bag limits for properties enrolled in MLDP based on annual population surveys and harvest data specific to each property. Therefore, TPWD believes that extending the archery-only season or allowing any legal hunting method throughout the entire MLDP season would not have negative biological impacts on the mule deer population.

Before considering moving forward with this proposal, we would like to hear your opinion.

Please take a moment to complete the opinion survey by clicking on the "Take Survey" button below. Your input is crucial to helping TPWD manage the mule deer population effectively, and we greatly appreciate your support.