Deer and hog rifles for Texas

Texas has more deer than any other state and more feral hogs than anywhere in the country. For 2026-27 Texas Parks and Wildlife opens the general deer season on November 7, 2026. It runs to January 3, 2027 in the North Zone and January 17, 2027 in the South Zone. Hogs have no closed season. Always check the TPWD Outdoor Annual for your county's rules on antlerless deer and antler restrictions.

What is legal

Any centerfire rifle, handgun or shotgun is legal for deer in Texas; rimfire cartridges are not. Semi-automatic rifles and suppressors are legal for hunting. On private land, a landowner or their agent can take feral hogs without a hunting license; on public land you need a license and any required permit.

Match the rifle to the country

Hill Country: small-bodied deer at close to medium range. A .243, 6.5 Creedmoor or .257 Roberts is plenty.
South Texas brush: big-bodied bucks, often from a tripod over a sendero. The .270, .308, .30-06 and 7mm-08 are classics.
West Texas and the Panhandle: mule deer and long shots across open country. A 6.5 PRC, 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum helps.
East Texas timber: shorter shots in the pines. A .30-30 lever gun or .308 works well.

Hog rifles

Hogs are tough, hunted day and night, and often in groups. A semi-automatic AR-15 in 5.56 or .300 Blackout, or an AR-10 in .308, lets you take follow-up shots. Use a bullet designed for deep penetration. Thermal and night-vision optics are legal for hogs on private land in Texas; check the rules before using them.

Optics

A 3-9x or 4-12x scope suits most deer hunting; a 4-16x helps in West Texas. Sight in at 100 yards and learn your holdover at 200 and 300.

Getting your rifle in time

Order at least two weeks before the opener. Every rifle ships to a Texas dealer you choose. Browse bolt-action rifles, all rifles and ammunition. See the Texas gun law guide for how pickup works.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.