FYU
States / TX / Howard County

Howard County, Texas

Game found here
White-tailed DeerMule Deer
Trans-Pecos & West TexasSee on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species
White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer
Group
Trans-Pecos & West Texas
Area
N/A
Public land
N/A

Season & harvest data is published for no species so far. White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.

About this unit

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Howard County anchors the Rolling Plains and Permian Basin transition east of Big Spring, where mesquite grasslands, canyon breaks, and playa lakes create mixed habitat for white-tailed deer and mule deer along the county western margins. The county is dominated by oil-field operations and large private ranches, with E.V. Spence Reservoir and Lake Thomas offering limited public access in an otherwise private landscape. Hunters here chase a distinctive west Texas blend of mule deer in rougher terrain and whitetails in mesquite draws and river breaks.

Terrain & elevation

Rolling mesquite grasslands and sand hills of the Permian Basin; dry creek drainages and canyon draws; playa lakes; E.V. Spence and Lake Thomas reservoirs within the county

Hunting pressure

Low to moderate; remote location and private-land character limit hunting pressure significantly across large tracts

Tags & permits

OTC licenses; mule deer and white-tailed deer seasons overlap in this transition zone; special mule deer regulations may apply in western portions

Species & seasons

Pronghorn antelope present in western county portions; dove hunting productive around grain fields and playas; quail in brushy draws and rangeland edges; some waterfowl on reservoirs during migration

Highlights

West Texas mule deer and white-tailed deer combination hunting opportunity in one county; large low-pressure ranch tracts in oil-patch country with authentic remote character

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about Howard County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.

Nothing posted yet about Howard County.

Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).

Boundaries: TPWD county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 15d ago.