"The area around Llano and Mason counties (Deer Management Unit 6) has the highest deer density in the region." That line comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 2026-27 deer outlook, published Oct. 1. The region it refers to is the Edwards Plateau, which TPWD says holds more white-tailed deer than any other part of Texas. Llano calls itself the Deer Capital of Texas, and this fall the state's own figures back that up.
You can see it on the town calendar too. Between this Saturday and the Nov. 7 general-season opener, Llano has a youth hunting weekend, a hunters' ball down the road in Castell, a Chamber expo with a game warden lineup, an Opry night and a whiskey release. The season then runs past Christmas, so hunters stay in town through the holidays.
The number behind the nickname
The City of Llano's resolutions archive lists Resolution R-2023-06, titled "Deer capital of Texas," among its official resolutions. Visit Llano County used the same phrase in its hunting-season guide on Oct. 6, 2026, and wrote that each fall the community welcomes "camo-wearing visitors out in search of wild game." The label goes back decades. A 2018 feature from 101 Highland Lakes traced it through the Llano Basin's historic deer numbers, the rise in hunters after World War II, and the ranch leases that followed.
This year is different because the herd has recovered since the drought, as TPWD's estimates for the Edwards Plateau and the state show.
| Edwards Plateau white-tailed deer | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 2023, after the 2022 drought | 1.514 million |
| 2026-27 season outlook | 1.973 million |
| Statewide, 2026-27 | 5.64 million |
That is roughly 459,000 more deer in the Hill Country than three years ago, about a 30% gain. The ecoregion now holds about 35% of the state's whitetails. TPWD credits consecutive years of exceptional fawn survival. It also says late-spring and early-summer rain helped the Edwards Plateau more than most regions, so it expects a slightly above-average season there. The agency also says doe harvest is "especially important" around Llano and Mason to relieve pressure on food resources. So the high density has a cost for local habitat, and that's part of why so many hunters head this way.
This weekend: Halloween overlaps the youth hunt
The season starts before Nov. 7. TPWD's Llano County page lists archery-only season from Oct. 3 through Nov. 6, and an early youth-only weekend from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1. That means young hunters are out at the leases the same weekend kids in town are trick-or-treating.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Llano Chamber calendar lists:
- Cars & Coffee, 9 to 11 a.m., at 100 Train Station Drive in the Historic Railyard District
- Scoop Trick or Treat, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Llano River Creamery, 105 W. Main St.
Out in Castell, the Castell General Store Hunters Ball and Appreciation Dinner marks the season's start. Visit Llano County calls it an annual tradition and one of the season's biggest highlights, held to celebrate the hunters who come to the area each fall. Its guide lists the ball for Oct. 31. The Chamber calendar lists a Hunters Ball at Castell General Store, 19522 West Ranch Road 152, on opening day, Nov. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. Confirm the date with the store before you plan the evening.
Friday, Nov. 6: The Expo
Archery season closes Friday. Before the rifles come out, the Chamber hosts the Llano Outdoor Sports Expo at the Llano Visitor Center, 100 Train Station Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The listing advertises more than $40,000 in prizes, and the grand prize is a 2026 Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT 1000. Tickets are $25 each or five for $100, sold online and in person at Lowe's Market in Llano and at the Visitor Center. The listing also mentions free goodie bags while they last, food and drinks, and educational courses, workshops and seminars. Texas State Game Wardens are featured on the Chamber's expo page. War Trail Spirits says it will be there too, and expo visitors can meet the owners.
Friday night moves downtown. The Llano Country Opry presents "A Salute to Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn" with Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn at 7 p.m. at the Lantex Theater, 113 West Main Street.
Saturday, Nov. 7: Opening day
TPWD lists the general white-tailed deer season in Llano County as Nov. 7, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027. In town, three other events land on the same Saturday:
- 8 a.m. to noon: Llano County Bulk Collection Event at NexWaste/Recon Services, 2100 Roselea Drive, Buchanan Dam.
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Farmers & Crafters Market on the Llano Courthouse Square, 801 Ford St., with vendors from across the Hill Country.
- 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.: War Trail Spirits Single Barrel Release Party at 122 E. Main St.
The War Trail listing describes the whiskey as dark cherry with a hint of tobacco and a sherry-like finish, bottled at 107 proof. It promises live music, food, and a chance to help with distilling. Guests can also sign a barrel of whiskey made that day and taste from it every year on the same date. The event is billed as kid friendly and dog friendly. Husband and wife Laurie and Bernard Quandt founded the distillery. Its regular tasting-room hours are 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 1 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It's closed Sunday and Monday. That barrel-signing tradition ties the distillery to opening day for years to come.
Visit Llano County's guide is written for family members who aren't hunting while someone else is in the blind. It suggests starting at Mava Java Coffee, just south of the courthouse square, then browsing downtown shops and galleries. Later in the day it points to War Trail Spirits' tasting room or a meal and a local beer at Bronson and Ryder Brewing.
The working side of the season
The events are only part of hunting season in Llano. The town also has businesses that supply hunters and process their deer, and they matter just as much during these weeks. The 2018 101 Highland Lakes feature reported that restaurants hired extra staff in season and businesses stocked more inventory. A Chamber official at the time estimated seasonal sales gains of 25% to 35%, depending on the business. That figure is eight years old. The businesses this fall are:
- Llano Feed & Supply, 203 East Tarrant Street, carries deer feed and attractants, feeders, stands, lights and coolers. Posted hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. It's closed Sunday. On opening Saturday the feed store closes at noon, the same time the market is still running on the square.
- B&B Processing & Taxidermy, 906 W. Young St., advertises in-house wild-game processing, including steaks, ground meat, sausage and jerky.
- Miiller's Meat Market & Smokehouse, 705 W. Young Street, posts hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit Llano County suggests it as the place to pick up provisions for a hunting-party dinner.
- Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que sits at 604 W. Young St. Three of these four businesses are on the same stretch of Young Street.
TPWD's outlook adds two topics hunters will hear about this season. New World Screwworm was confirmed in Texas earlier this year, and the agency asks hunters to report any signs to their local biologist. Details are on its screwworm page. Chronic Wasting Disease carcass handling is covered on TPWD's statewide carcass disposal page. It notes that deer can be taken to a commercial processor or taxidermist. Bag limits and all season dates are on TPWD's Llano County regulations page.
The season keeps going into the holidays
Because the general season runs until Jan. 3, hunters will still be coming to town during every holiday event on the Chamber calendar:
- Nov. 21: The Farmers & Crafters Market returns to the square from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Llano Art Guild's Christmas Bazaar & Open House runs 2 to 6 p.m. at 503 Bessemer Ave., and the bazaar stays open through Dec. 24.
- Nov. 26: A Thanksgiving Community Meal is served 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church's Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford St., and the listing says everyone is invited.
- Nov. 27: Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park opens at 6 p.m. at Badu Park, 300 Legion Drive, and stays lit through Dec. 31.
- Nov. 28: Cars & Coffee returns to the Historic Railyard District, 9 to 11 a.m.
TPWD's special late season, Jan. 4 through 17, comes after the lights at Badu Park go dark. During those two weeks, harvest in Llano County is limited to antlerless deer and unbranched-antlered bucks. The Chamber notes that event times can change, so check its calendar before heading out.
At LandMasters Real Estate, our offices in Llano and Kingsland have been through more than 50 opening weekends. A lot of the ranch and acreage questions we hear this time of year start at a deer lease or a feeder line. If you're curious what your land or your place in town is worth this season, Get Your Instant Home Valuation.
