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.
Rules checked against Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Texas
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Planning to Apply in Texas?
See draw odds by point level, fees, and deadlines on the Texas draw odds page.
Special Zones
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer and pronghorn. Fully automatic firearms are prohibited.
Means and Methods — lawful firearms · verified Aug 2026
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Rimfire ammunition of any caliber is prohibited for white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn, and pronghorn.
Means and Methods — lawful firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
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
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 |
Rifle and Handgun
1 rule
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
Air Gun
2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Wild Turkey
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) · verified 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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Wild Turkey
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
All species
Texas is as permissive as it gets: Parks and Wildlife expressly allows a suppressor to take any wildlife resource — game animals, game birds, furbearers, alligator and non-game alike — on public or private land. The state attaches no registration or paperwork condition of its own; the only qualifier is that federal, state and local law still apply.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"Suppressors (aka "silencers"): may be used to take any wildlife resource; however, all federal, state and local laws continue to apply."
Outdoor Annual — Hunting: General Regulations, Means and Methods, 'Lawful Means and Methods' → Firearms · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
All species
|
Texas is as permissive as it gets: Parks and Wildlife expressly allows a suppressor to take any wildlife resource — game animals, game birds, furbearers, alligator and non-game alike — on public or private land. The state attaches no registration or paperwork condition of its own; the only qualifier is that federal, state and local law still apply.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"Suppressors (aka "silencers"): may be used to take any wildlife resource; however, all federal, state and local laws continue to apply." |
Outdoor Annual — Hunting: General Regulations, Means and Methods, 'Lawful Means and Methods' → Firearms | Oct 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
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regulations are the final word.