Youth Hunts

Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Zones 1 & 2: Nov. 1-2, 2025

Legal Hunting Equipment for bear is the same as legal hunting equipment for deer, except shotguns must be 20-gauge or larger and may use only rifled slugs. It is illegal to kill a denned bear or one that is being pursued by dogs. Taking a radio-collared bear is illegal. Bag limit is one bear, either sex, by any method. Bears must be checked within 12 hours by either checking your harvest online before moving it via the AGFC mobile app or phone 833-289-2469 and have your confirmation number readily available; or, fill out the game tag provided in the guidebook in ink (you may substitute a piece of paper for this tag, it must include the hunter’s name, the date and bear zone of harvest or confirmation number written legibly in ink). After tagging your game, call 833-289-2469 or use the AGFC mobile app.

Before freezing or processing, collect a premolar and hair to submit later. Successful hunters must submit a premolar to fulfill the check requirements for a bear. Hunters who harvest a bear must submit a premolar within seven days of receiving their premolar package from AGFC. A hair sample from the bear is also highly encouraged. Watch a video on how to remove a black bear’s premolar and collect hair samples.

Bears may not be fed or baited for any reason (including photography or viewing) except for 30 days before bear season through the end of bear season on private land in bear zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A. In the CWD Zone, bears may be baited on private land from 30 days before bear season through the end of bear season, however the only bait that may be used before Sept. 1, is dog food, cat food, pastries/bread, cooking oils/grease, non-wildlife meat scraps, popped popcorn, fish and fish byproducts. After Sept 1, corn and other baits that attract deer may be used in accordance with CWD regulations.

Zone 1:

• Archery quota: 450 bears
• Alternative firearms quota: 50 bears
• Modern gun quota: 50 bears

Zone 2:

• Bear Zone 2 does not have a quota.

Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026. Statewide except WMAs closed during modern gun season.

All youth hunters must have FREE deer tags, available at www.agfc.com. Only hunters 6 to 15 years old may harvest deer during the special youth modern gun deer hunts. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter at least 21 years old. Mentors may not hunt any species during the hunt.

EXCEPTIONS: Bowhunters may hunt during the youth hunt, but must wear hunter orange or chartreuse.

Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer/deer-seasons-and-limits-by-zone/ for zone bag limits and notes.

Public Land: Oct. 4-5, 2025 and Oct. 25-26, 2025. Permit required.

Private Land Hunts: Oct. 4-5, 2025 (antlerless only) and Oct. 25-26, 2025 (antlerless only). Permit required.

Bag limit is one elk of either sex. Bull elk harvest is limited to one legal bull per landowner property on private lands. Elk found outside of the Core Elk Management Zone may be taken without a permit during deer season with weapon legal for that season. Hunters who harvest an elk outside of the Core Elk Management Zone must immediately call 833-356-0824 to receive checking and tagging information. 

AGFC must be contacted at 833-356-0824 immediately upon harvest of an elk, including on private land.

Special Youth Turkey Hunt: Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A: April 11-12, 2026

Youth must have a free Customer Identification Number (CID) to hunt and check a turkey. To set up a youth’s customer profile click here. Select New Customer. Once you fill out your youth’s information, make sure to add the free Customer ID to your cart (under the Hunting tab) once in the licensing system and complete the checkout process. The bag limit is one legal turkey or jake. Only hunters 6-15 years old may hunt turkeys during the special youth turkey hunt. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be in the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 years old or older.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Feb. 7-8, 2026

On these days, youths 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Youths who have completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor who is 18 or older. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor who is 21 or older. Mentors may not hunt ducks, geese, coots or mergansers, but may call waterfowl. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as regular waterfowl season. Hunting is allowed on WMAs from one half-hour before sunrise until sunset.

Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/waterfowl/special-waterfowl-permit-hunts/ for more information on the following WMA Waterfowl Hunt Locations: Red Cut Slough Tract on Cypress Bayou WMA, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA, Conway George Tract on Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA, Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA and Deer Research Area West Unit Youth Hunts and Frog Bayou WMA.

WRICE Program Private Land Fields Special Youth Hunt: Feb. 7-8, 2026