Hunting

The Plain Chachalaca Is a Legal Game Bird Only in South Texas

The plain chachalaca is a native bird of the lower Rio Grande brush country and can be hunted in Hidalgo County during a designated season.

Hidalgo County The Great Outdoors

In 2025-2026, the chachalaca season runs October 25, 2025 through February 22, 2026. The daily bag limit is 5, with a possession limit of 15. You need an Upland Game Bird Endorsement in addition to a hunting license.

This bird is found almost nowhere else in the United States outside the lower Rio Grande Valley. Its habitat is dense brush, so hunting typically happens on private ranch land. Verify the season is still open before hunting by checking TPWD's Outdoor Annual.

Source to confirm: TPWD – Hidalgo County Outdoor Annual Regulations

More Hidalgo County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes

Hidalgo County has one office that values your property and a different office that collects the taxes—you need to know which to contact.

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Homestead Exemption

A Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If your home is your main residence, you can file for a homestead exemption that reduces how much of its value gets taxed.

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Taxing Units

Your Tax Bill Comes From Many Different Entities

Hidalgo County has 56 active taxing units, so your total tax bill is the sum of rates from several different entities.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value

Texas law lets qualifying farmland and ranchland be taxed on what it produces rather than what it could sell for, which can cut the tax bill significantly.

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