Image: tx_mule_deer

Texas Parks and Wildlife has made a number of hunting regulation changes for the new season. (Photo by Bret J. Unger)

Before heading afield, Texas hunters need to check hunting regulation and rule changes made by the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) for the upcoming season.

According to TPW, the agency has expanded digital license options, made changes concerning non-resident hunters and has implemented regulation changes.

Check out the Texas Outdoor Annual for changes.

Hunters can now opt for a fully digital license for all recreational hunting, fishing and combo license and tag types.

Digital licenses and tags can be purchased at txfgsales.com. An instructional video on the process is available on TPWD's website.

Non-resident hunters can choose between two license options.

Those wanting to harvest any legal bird or game animal, including alligator, wild turkey, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer and white-tailed deer, can purchase a non-resident general hunting license.

To hunt exotic animals, small game birds (except wild turkey), non-game animals, fur-bearing animals, squirrel and javelina for five or less days, hunters can purchase a non-resident special 5-day small game/exotic hunting license.

A number or season date changes have been made for this year, including an expansion of archery mule deer seasons in both the Panhandle and Trans Pecos, new quail hunting season dates and a reduction in days to September teal season.

Mule deer season

Archery season only:

* Panhandle: Sept. 27 to Nov. 21

* Trans-Pecos: Sept. 27 to Nov. 27

* Brewster, Pecos and Terrell counties: Sept. 27 to Nov. 27

General season

* Panhandle: Nov. 22 to Dec. 7

* Tran-Pecos: Nov. 28 to Dec. 14

* Brewster, Pecos and Terrell counties: Nov. 28 to Dec. 14

Quail season

* New statewide dates: Nov. 1 to Feb. 28

Migratory game bird season

* Teal, statewide: Sept. 20 to 28 (reduced from previous year)

Additional changes

Other changes to this season include a boundary line change for wild turkeys in Hill County, wild turkey hunting is now open in Lubbock County with North Zone regulations and a daily bag limit increase for northern pintails in all duck zones.