Story by Nathan Smith

Significant rain events in late spring brought abundant forage and flowering plants to the area. Those conditions are setting the 2024 general whitetail deer season up for success according to experts. Regular rifle season kicks off November 2 and Brown County is expected to see hundreds of hunters from across the state and region descend for ripe conditions during the early rut.

“Late spring rains have really helped this year’s fawn crop and antler growth in several areas of the state,” said Blaise Korzekwa, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Whitetail Deer Program Leader. “Some areas in the south and Trans-Pecos areas are really hurting due to drought conditions but elsewhere we expect an active and optimistic season.”

Coming off back-to-back drought years, area hunters are looking forward to healthier deer and better hunting conditions for the fall and winter. In Brown County deer population numbers are up and so are the expected number of hunters who are planning to spend time hunting here. Spring forb (weeds and flowering plants) production, which is a critical component of a deer’s diet coming out of winter, was abundant and offered essential nutrients to growing bucks, nursing does and newborn fawns.

Additionally, the improved habitat conditions earlier this year helped keep fawns healthy enough to survive their first few months. Although this spring provided lush vegetation, with current drought conditions impacting most of the state, hunters should have plenty of opportunities to encounter deer as they search for native and supplemental food sources later in the season.

“We weren’t really sure how many does would actually breed the last two seasons,” said Scott Anderson, Brown County Texas Agrilife Extension agent. “This year we are seeing a lot more fawns and that bodes well for the population years to come.”

How many of those massive bucks will stay in the area and their location remains to be seen. What can be said for sure is that the start of this season looks better than the past several.

One good spring and summer out of three or four doesn’t guarantee a great hunting season but it does set the course for better summer antler growth and late-season hunting and refreshes the cycle. A chain reaction started this spring improves breeding rates, better fawn recruitment which means more deer overall and more mature bucks years down the road.

“We actually do have some good-sized deer here in Brown County,” said Brad Reeves Texas Game Warden in Brown County “Just driving around patrolling, I’ve seen a lot more twins, healthier looking does and some massive bucks.”

According to the TPWD, the relatively consistent fawn production in the Cross Timbers/Edwards Plateau region allowed for generally well distributed buck age structure across all age classes. That means there are still some large older bucks ready to be harvested this year. Harvest trends from 2023 indicate that 41 percent of bucks harvested were four-and-a-half years or older. However, hunters will likely see fewer two-and-a-half-year-old bucks this year due to poor fawn recruitment in 2022.

Texas boast one of the largest native deer herds in the country at 5.3 million head and this year area hunters should find success and should make room in freezers. In Brown County, licensed hunters have a maximum of five tags, two buck tags and three antlerless tags. Brown County falls under special antler restrictions which means the bag limit is two legal bucks but only one may have two branched antlers and an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. This regulation was put in place to allow more bucks to mature before being harvested. In the field this means usually if the antler spread is outside the ears, it’s likely more than 13 inches.

Economic Impact

Hunters, deer hunters specifically, make a large impact on the state and local economy to the tune of billions of dollars. According to a 2022 report from the Southeast Deer Partnership in a typical year, deer hunters across 15 states in the southeast spend about $8.8 billion on deer hunting.

In a 2023 report from Texas A&M University Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries, the average hunter in Texas spends $3,300 annually on hunting.

That money is used to buy items like firearms, ammunition, camping equipment, fuel for vehicles and on expenses like leases, lodging, hunting licenses and meals at restaurants. The report says with the multiplier effect, with the businesses hunters’ support buying from other businesses, deer hunting has an impact of about $15.8 billion nationwide.

About 81 percent of the money spent on hunting in Texas is related to whitetail deer according to the TAMU report. Based on survey data, we estimate white-tailed deer hunters and landowners spend $4.3B annually in Texas and contribute a combined $9.6B to the state’s economy.

New Regulations

Regular rifle season begins Novembers 2 and runs through the two-week late season ending on January 19. This year the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) asks hunters to be aware of new statewide carcass disposal regulations and to help biologists monitor for the presences of Chronic Wasting Disease by having their harvest tested for free at a TPWD check station or by a local biologist.

Hunters are now allowed to debone a carcass at the property of harvest, if meat is processed no further than whole muscles and may not be ground, chopped, or sliced. Also, meat from multiple deer must remain in separate bags or containers while transported. Finally, proof of sex and tagging requirements remain with the meat until reaching a final destination.

Carcass disposal requirements will apply if the carcass is transported away from the property of harvest and unused parts must be disposed of in a commercial trash service or returned to the property where the animal was harvested.

“The excitement of a new season brings the opportunity for hunters to also get involved in helping secure the health of Texas’ native deer herd. As hunters, we have a responsibility to care for our state’s natural resources and pass our strong hunting traditions to future generations,” said Korzekwa.

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