East Texas Turkey Zone
In the East Zone, shotguns are the only legal firearm for turkey.
Texas Hunting Laws
Texas sets no minimum caliber for big game — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer and pronghorn. Rimfire of any caliber is prohibited for big game, and there is no magazine-capacity limit outside the federal migratory-bird rule.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Texas
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Special zones
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Big game, turkey, and alligator may be taken with pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .30 caliber or larger. | Means and Methods — air guns and arrow guns (§ 65.3) | Aug 2026 |
| Pronghorn | Big game, turkey, and alligator may be taken with pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .30 caliber or larger. | Means and Methods — air guns and arrow guns (§ 65.3) | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey | Big game, turkey, and alligator may be taken with pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .30 caliber or larger. | Means and Methods — air guns and arrow guns (§ 65.3) | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog | Big game, turkey, and alligator may be taken with pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .30 caliber or larger. | Means and Methods — air guns and arrow guns (§ 65.3) | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game | Squirrel, pheasant, quail, and chachalaca: air guns at least .177 caliber pushing the projectile at least 600 fps. | Means and Methods — air guns | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species | Suppressors are reported legal for hunting in Texas. | Secondary compilations (pending primary verification) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey East Texas Turkey Zone | In the East Texas turkey zone, shotguns are the only legal firearm — rifles and handguns are prohibited. | Means and Methods — East Zone turkey | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer and pronghorn. Fully automatic firearms are prohibited. | Means and Methods — lawful firearms | Aug 2026 |
| Pronghorn | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer and pronghorn. Fully automatic firearms are prohibited. | Means and Methods — lawful firearms | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Rimfire ammunition of any caliber is prohibited for white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn, and pronghorn. | Means and Methods — lawful firearms | Aug 2026 |
| Pronghorn | Rimfire ammunition of any caliber is prohibited for white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn, and pronghorn. | Means and Methods — lawful firearms | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey East Texas Turkey Zone | In the East Texas turkey zone, shotguns are the only legal firearm — rifles and handguns are prohibited. | Means and Methods — East Zone turkey | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Texas on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
TPWD Outdoor Annual — Hunting Means and Methods
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Texas hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Texas Parks & Wildlife Department directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.