Deer Facts

October 30, 2005

Deer facts
Number of bowhunters: 70,905.
Bowhunter success rates: 55 percent.
Number of muzzleloader hunters: 5,767.
Muzzleloader success rates: 27 percent.
Number of firearm hunters: 506,353.
Firearm success rates: 62 percent.

Top public-hunting spots: The most competitive TPWD lottery type permit-hunt for deer is on the Chaparral WMA in South Texas. Other top public hunting areas include Kerr WMA, Gus Engeling WMA and the J. Daugherty WMA. For non-lottery permit-hunts, the $48 ''Annual Public Hunting Permit'' opens the doors to more than 200 public hunting areas consisting of more than 1 million acres. Much of that is open to whitetail deer hunting, particularly on U.S. Forest Service lands in the eastern third of the state.

Testing conducted for chronic wasting disease: Yes. So far, TPWD biologists have tested about 10,000 whitetail samples.

Units/areas that tested positive for chronic wasting disease: None.

State record, typical: 196 4/8, taken in Maverick County in 1963 (Boone & Crockett Club). The Texas Big Game Awards program record is a 190 2/8 whitetail taken in 1991 in Shackelford County by Steve O'Carroll.

State record, non-typical: 286 0/8, the former Boone & Crockett world record Brady Buck taken in McCulloch County in 1892 (Boone & Crockett Club). The Texas Big Game Awards program record a 239 5/8 whitetail taken in 1998 on the King Ranch in Kleberg County by Adan Alvarez.

State record archery, typical: 173 7/8, taken by John Wright in Wilbarger County in 1998 (Pope & Young Club).

State record archery, non-typical: 225 7/8, taken by Jeff Duncan in Grayson County in 2001 (Pope & Young Club).

More information: Log on to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Web site or call (800) 792-1112. To report a poacher, call Operation Game Thief at (800) 792-4263.
Source: ESPN Outdoors