More Than One 13 Inch Buck?
In Texas, white-tailed deer hunting regulations are set by county. In addition, some counties have antler restriction regulations on bucks. An important part of this regulation is the 13-inch rule related to buck harvest. So, can you shoot more than one 13 inch buck in Texas? A legal buck must be at least 13 inches wide between the main beams.
Texas antler restriction regulations aim to improve the quality and age structure of white-tailed deer populations. These rules are enforced in certain counties and focus on the size and characteristics of a legal buck.
Definition of a Legal Buck
In counties with antler restrictions, a buck is considered legal if it meets one of the following criteria:
- At least one unbranched antler (a spike or a buck with one antler that does not fork), or
- An inside spread of 13 inches or greater.
Why These Restrictions Exist
The regulations aim to:
- Protect young bucks to allow them to mature.
- Encourage hunters to selectively harvest older bucks.
- Promote healthier deer populations and improve hunting quality.
More Than One 13 Inch Buck is Legal
- In Texas, the rules about how many 13-inch wide (or larger) bucks you can harvest depend on the county and its specific regulations. There are 254 counties in Texas. Know in which county you are hunting, and know the deer hunting regulations for the county.
Here’s a general breakdown on buck antler restrictions in Texas:
- Antler Restrictions: Many Texas counties have antler restrictions to promote better buck age structures. In these counties, a legal buck is defined as:
- Having at least one unbranched antler, or
- Having an inside spread of 13 inches or greater.
- Bag Limits:
- Some counties have a one-buck limit, meaning you can only shoot one buck in total during the season (13-inch spread or otherwise).
- Other counties allow two bucks, but typically only one of them can have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater.
- Special Seasons or Tags:
- If you hunt in multiple counties, you are limited by the statewide bag limit of five deer, but no more than three bucks statewide.
- Supplemental or Managed Lands Deer Permits (MLDPs) issued to landowners might allow additional harvests.
To ensure you’re within the law, check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) specific county regulations in the current Outdoor Annual Hunting Guide. You can shoot more than one 13 inch buck in Texas, but just make sure you don’t shoot a second 13-inch-plus buck in a county with antler restriction regulations!