Hunting Regulations
Deer hunting rules in Hays County depend on which side of IH-35 you hunt
Hays County straddles two deer hunting zones, so the bag limit and antler rules for white-tailed deer change depending on where you are hunting.
East of IH-35 in Hays County, the white-tailed deer bag limit is 4 deer, with no more than 2 antlerless and no more than 2 bucks. An antler restriction applies: only one of the two bucks may have an inside spread of 13 inches or more. West of IH-35, the bag limit is 5 deer with no more than 2 bucks and no specific antler restriction.
Seasons include archery, general, youth-only, and muzzleloader. Antlerless deer taken during archery, muzzleloader, and youth seasons must be reported within 24 hours using the Texas Hunt and Fish app or at tpwd.texas.gov. Regulations change annually — always confirm current rules in the TPWD Outdoor Annual before you hunt.
Source to confirm: TPWD — Hays County Outdoor Annual