The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is accepting applications for its 2026-27 drawn hunt permits program, offering nearly 9,800 permits across more than 60 hunt categories, the agency announced in a July 2 news release.
The program provides access to hunts on public and private lands, including state parks, wildlife management areas, national wildlife refuges and private properties. More than 500,000 applications were submitted last year, according to the agency.
“It is an affordable way to get to hunt, but more importantly, the offerings in the public hunt draw system allow you to potentially hunt one end of Texas to the other for potentially every species Texas has to offer!” said Kelly Edmiston, TPWD public hunting coordinator, in the release. “From the Panhandle to South Texas, to the Trans-Pecos and the Pineywoods, you could be selected for a hunting spot at a state park, wildlife management area, national wildlife refuge or private property.”
Available hunts include white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn, turkey, alligator and dove, along with guided hunts for exotic species and bighorn sheep. Texas State Parks will host 154 hunts across 55 parks this season. New offerings include a mentored dove hunt at Lake Corpus Christi State Park and deer and exotic game hunts at the newly acquired Bear Creek and Silver Lake state parks.
Application deadlines are the first and 15th of each month from Aug. 1 through Nov. 1. Applications for alligator hunt categories and private land dove hunts are due Aug. 1, while archery deer, archery mule deer, pronghorn, private land pronghorn and javelina applications are due Aug. 15. Application fees range from free to $10, with selected adult hunters paying special permit fees of $80 for regular hunts or $130 for extended hunts. Youth-only hunts and some other categories are free, and both residents and nonresidents may apply.
The agency said 60,713 Annual Public Hunt permits were sold last year, generating about $2.8 million for wildlife conservation and public hunting opportunities. Hunters can apply online and check drawing results through the TPWD drawn hunts website.