Everything You Need To Know About Texas Goose Season 2022

In the fall, cold fronts make their way south and bring large flocks of geese to Texas. While geese are commonly thought of as cold-climate waterfowl, these birds migrate to Texas in the fall to enjoy a more mild winter. Texas is actually home to some of the best goose-hunting opportunities in the country. With warmer winter conditions and plenty of lakes, rivers, and fields, Texas is actually home to some of the best goose hunting opportunities in the country. Here’s everything you need to know about Texas Goose Season 2022.

Species of Texas Geese

As is the case with most types of bird hunting, identifying birds in the air is crucial to staying on the right side of the law. If you’re new to goose hunting or have trouble identifying birds in the air, hiring a guide is the best course of action. In general, geese are larger than ducks and often fly in large flocks of 20 to over 100. Six species of geese can be found in Texas but they are divided into two regulatory groups. Texas Parks and Wildlife defines these groups as light geese and dark geese. Light geese include snow geese, blue geese, and Ross’s geese and Dark geese consist of Canada geese, white-fronted geese (specklebellies), and Brant.

Texas Goose Hunting Zones

The rules and birds vary greatly depending on what part of the state you plan to hunt. TPWD divided Texas into 2 zones for goose season which are East zone and West zone. Each Zone also has specific light and dark geese seasons, bag limits, and possession limits.

Western Zone

West of a line from the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, north following IH-35 and 35W to Fort Worth, northwest along U.S. Hwy. 81 and 287 to Bowie, north along U.S. Hwy. 81 to the Texas-Oklahoma state line.

Eastern Zone

Remainder of the state.

Texas Goose Regulations by Zone

Early Canada Geese Season

Texas Early Canada Geese season is only open for the East Zone which runs from September 10th through the 25th. During the early season The daily bag limit is 5 birds per person.

Light and Dark Geese Season

The light and dark geese season in Texas starts on November 5th for both zones. The season ends on January 29th, 2023 in the east zone and February 5th in the west zone. The daily bag limit during the season is five dark geese and ten light geese for both zones.

Special Light Goose Season (Conservation Order)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a conservation order for light geese. This conservation order removes some of the restrictions placed on hunters during the regular season. While hunting light geese under conservation order there is no bag limit. Additionally, hunters are not required to have plugs in their shotguns that limit shell capacity and may also use electronic callers. However, while hunting light geese on conservation order, hunters may not take any other species of migratory bird. The light goose conservation order season begins in both zones immediately following the end of the light and dark geese season.

License Requirements for Goose Hunting

In Texas, all hunters over the age of 16 are required to purchase a hunting license. To legally hunt geese, hunters are also required to purchase the migratory game bird endorsement stamp and a federal duck stamp.