By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Hunters should have ample opportunities to harvest quality bucks this fall thanks to excellent habitat conditions in the spring.

“It is set up to be a great season for hunters to have a real good opportunity, whether it be a mature buck or perhaps a quality middle-aged buck in some other parts of the state where the age classes may not be as older as in some parts such as South Texas,” said Blaise Korzekwa, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) White-tailed Deer Program leader.

Most of the Lone Star State saw drought-quenching rain in the spring, allowing for excellent forage growth and habitat cover. TWPD noted a good number of mature bucks in the drier areas is expected, too.

“Much of the state had great rainfall at that time, except for some parts of southwest Texas and the central part of the Edwards Plateau,” Korzekwa said. “Those two regions unfortunately missed out on some of that crucial spring rainfall.”

With a population of about 5 million, Texas is home to the most white-tailed deer in the U.S., and the Edwards Plateau has the highest deer density in the state.

“Everybody should have a good opportunity at harvest this year, but the portions in the eastern one third of Texas tend to be the most difficult to harvest older age class bucks,” Korzekwa said. “That’s simply because the age structure isn’t there. A lot of those bucks tend to be harvested in the middle age classes.”

Carcass disposal requirements
New carcass disposal requirements are in place this license year. Texas hunters harvesting white-tailed deer and mule deer must comply with carcass disposal requirements when transporting the carcass away from the property of harvest.

“For most hunters, this is not going to change anything that they do,” he said.

The new regulations will allow hunters to debone a carcass at the site of harvest, provided proof of sex and tags are maintained until the hunter reaches the final destination. By leaving the unused parts at the site of harvest, the chance of spreading CWD to other parts of the state is greatly reduced, TPWD said.

Meat from each deboned carcass must remain in whole muscle groups (i.e., not chopped, sliced or ground) and maintained in a separate bag, package or container until reaching the final destination.

These disposal measures apply only to unused carcass parts from native deer, such as white-tailed deer and mule deer, harvested in Texas that are being transported from the property of harvest. If carcass parts from native deer species are not being transported from the property of harvest, these carcass disposal rules would not apply, TPWD said.

Since many hunters take their harvest to a commercial processor, TPWD noted it will be the processor that properly disposes unused parts for them.

For hunters processing deer at home, disposal in a commercial trash service is preferred, but other options are available, including returning the carcass to the property where the animal was harvested. Hunters can also dispose of the remains at a landfill permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to receive such wastes or bury the carcass at a depth of no less than three feet below the natural surface of the ground and covered with at least three feet of earthen material.

Chronic wasting disease zones
“In CWD zones, hunters still harvest deer and hunt as they normally would, but when in the mandatory zone, the animal will then have to be taken to a check station or one of the CWD drop boxes,” Korzekwa said. “To find out if you’re in a CWD zone, download either our Outdoor Annual app or the Texas Hunt Harvest app, and it will show the map.”

The most effective way to help slow the spread of CWD is by reporting sick deer, properly disposing of unused carcass parts and voluntarily testing harvests, TPWD said.

More information about carcass disposal requirements, zone boundaries and check station hours of operation can be found on tpwd.texas.gov.