Youth Only Hunting Seasons Set for 2021, early 2022

Young hunters will get their opportunity to bag big game during special hunting seasons in fall and winter.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has established statewide youth-only open seasons for deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl for hunters ages 16 and under in counties across the state, including Gillespie County.

The purpose of youth-only open seasons is to provide young people with opportunities to learn about wildlife conservation through an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience. It also gives parents and mentors an opportunity to introduce them to safe and responsible hunting, according to a spokesman for the TPWD.

The youth-only open season hunts are scheduled to occur at times when young outdoorsmen and women are out of school.

A Youth Hunting License (Type 169) is required to hunt during this season, and costs $7. The license can be purchased at any one of TPWD’s 28 field offices, more than 50 state parks or at over 1,700 retailers across the state.

Licenses may be purchased online through the TPWD website at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buy. A $5 administrative fee is charged for each phone or online transaction.

White-tailed deer

The first youth-only season runs Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31, and another session runs from Jan. 3-16, 2022.

The season is open in all counties where there is a general open season for white-tailed deer.

All legal hunting means and methods are allowed. Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties require an archery endorsement.

For much of the state, including Gillespie County and the remainder of the Hill Country, the bag and permit requirements are the same as for the general season in the county. Hunters may take no more than five white-tailed deer and no more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year.

Logan and Hunter Spalding show how it’s done.

Turkey

Youth hunters also have a chance to bag turkeys during special youth-only seasons on Oct. 30-31, and Jan. 3-16, 2021.

A youth-only spring season on March 26-27, 2022 and May 21-22, 2022 will give young marksmen and archers another chance to hunt turkeys.

Only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt turkey during this season with the bag limit as specified by the general fall turkey season.

The annual bag limit for turkey, in the aggregate for all counties, is four, no more than one of which may be an Eastern turkey.

For more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s youth-only hunting seasons, as well as other general hunting information, log onto the website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us.