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Teal Hunting in Texas

September teal season runs statewide Sep 19 to Sep 27, 2026, a 9-day window weeks ahead of the first regular duck opener on Oct. 24. Below: every 2026-27 segment by zone, the limits, the county lists and the public land that names teal.

Teal season tableWhat you may takeWhere to hunt
Sep 19First day
Sep 27Closing
254Open counties
156Public areas

Photo: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0)

Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal count toward a daily bag of six. The same September dates open the first rail and gallinule segment. Teal hunters need the migratory endorsement, HIP certification and, at 16 or older, a Federal Duck Stamp.

AreasMapped teal tracts156 areas with tealLotteryLottery teal permits1 categories

Teal: TPWD summary

  • September teal Sept. 19-27, 2026; 6/day.

Teal calendar by zone

1 Segment for teal, sorted as TPWD lists them, with an open or closed flag for today.

ZoneHuntStartsEndsLengthStatus
StatewideSeptember tealSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 20269

Dates from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (species page), checked October 11, 2026.

Teal take, daily and seasonal

Read the teal limit cards before counting birds or tags; TPWD wording is kept intact.

6Teal a day
18Teal in possession
9Season length, days
254Counties open

TPWD limit: teal (September)

TPWD

6/day in aggregate (blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon); possession 3x daily.

ZoneWhatTPWD text
StatewideDaily Bag Limit6 in the aggregate
StatewidePossession Limit3x the daily bag

Teal: zones and the counties in them

254 counties have teal dates in 2026-27, per the teal lines on the 254 TPWD county pages.

Zone or listWhole countiesSplit counties
Statewide2540
Statewide, all 254 counties

Teal regulations beyond the bag

Everything below is from the 2026-27 Outdoor Annual and applies to teal statewide unless a county or area says otherwise.

Fees

Licenses and stamps for teal, resident prices unless noted.

$25Resident license
$7Migratory endorsement
FreeHIP certification
$25 plus fulfillmentDuck stamp (16+)
$48Nonresident 5-day
$7Youth license
$48APH permit

Legal light

As migratory birds, teal may be shot from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Wearing orange

TPWD exempts teal from the 400 square inch orange rule on public hunting lands.

Hunter education

Teal hunters under 9 must hunt within voice control of a qualified, licensed adult 17 or older; from 9 up, hunter education or accompaniment applies.

Teal shot

Lead shot is not legal for teal or any waterfowl.

Teal from a boat

Teal may be shot from a boat only once the motor is off and the boat has stopped moving.

Teal on drawn hunts

TPWD runs E-Postcard Teal hunts on public land; applications closed Sept. 1, 2026 and the APH permit is required.

From the TPWD Outdoor Annual general regulations, license and species pages (endorsements, hunting regulations), checked October 11, 2026. All Texas hunting laws · License guide.

Public land that lists teal

Teal hunters have 156 public options on the TPWD and federal lists, spread over 8 regions.

Panhandle (37)

Matador WMA (28,183 ac) · Teacup Mountain WMA (11,091 ac) · Gene Howe WMA (5,394 ac) · Rio Farms (2,552 ac) · Texas Roberts (1,625 ac) · Margoso (1,568 ac) · La Playa (1,280 ac) · Morris (1,280 ac) · Porter (965 ac) · Bindweed (640 ac) · La Lanza (640 ac) · South Place (640 ac) · Temprano (640 ac) · Stovall (630 ac) · De Campo (626 ac) · West of Town (481 ac) · Playa Lakes WMA – Dimmitt Unit (422 ac) · Correll (384 ac) · Circle Tree (381 ac) · Pat's Place (350 ac) · Betty (326 ac) · FM 759 HQ (325 ac) · Brillhart (322 ac) · Goat Barn (321 ac) · 94 Trust (320 ac) · Miller Farm (320 ac) · Slover (320 ac) · Noble Playa (308 ac) · Cobb Farms (250 ac) · Vara (200 ac) · Della Plains (160 ac) · Francis-Dunlap (160 ac) · Margolies (160 ac) · Bluestem (80 ac) · Copper Breaks State Park · Lake Meredith National Recreation Area · Playa Lakes WMA – Taylor Lakes Unit

Pineywoods (37)

Davy Crockett National Forest (161,100 ac) · Sabine National Forest (160,656 ac) · Angelina National Forest (153,179 ac) · Wright Patman Lake (54,358 ac) · Moore Plantation WMA (26,772 ac) · White Oak Creek WMA (25,777 ac) · Bannister WMA (25,695 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Lance Rosier Hunting Area (19,340 ac) · Alabama Creek WMA (14,561 ac) · Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA (12,636 ac) · Gus Engeling WMA (11,095 ac) · Neches River National Wildlife Refuge (10,537 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Big Sandy Creek Hunting Area (9,269 ac) · Caddo Lake WMA (8,124 ac) · Sabine River Authority Unit 630 (7,484 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Jack Gore Baygall Hunting Area (7,354 ac) · Old Sabine Bottom WMA (5,727 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Beaumont Hunting Area (5,396 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Big Sandy Creek Corridor Hunting Area (5,232 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Lake Bayou Hunting Area (5,194 ac) · Big Lake Bottom WMA (4,253 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Beech Creek Hunting Area (3,914 ac) · North Toledo Bend WMA (3,650 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Village Creek Corridor Hunting Area (3,546 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Menard Creek Corridor Hunting Area (3,013 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Neches Bottom-Lower Neches River Corridor Hunting Area (2,962 ac) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Blount Tract (2,255 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Canyonlands-Upper Neches River Corridor Hunting Area (2,247 ac) · Alazan Bayou WMA (2,063 ac) · Lake Striker Public Hunting Lands (1,476 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Little Pine Island-Pine Island Bayou Corridor Hunting Area (989 ac) · Town Bluff Dam and B.A. Steinhagen Lake (875 ac) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Old River Tract (485 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Loblolly Hunting Area (470 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Hickory Creek Savannah Hunting Area (105 ac) · Big Thicket National Preserve · Neches River NWR – Dead Water Unit

Austin/Waco (28)

Whitney Lake (14,000 ac) · Granger Public Hunting Lands (10,888 ac) · Richland Creek WMA – South Unit (8,974 ac) · Richland Creek WMA – Carl Frentress Unit (5,628 ac) · Navarro Mills Lake (5,500 ac) · Stillhouse Hollow Lake (4,451 ac) · Aquilla Lake (4,000 ac) · Lake Georgetown (3,000 ac) · Somerville Lake (Corps hunting areas) (3,000 ac) · Waco Lake (3,000 ac) · Belton Lake (2,692 ac) · Keechi Creek WMA (1,500 ac) · Luminant Texas Public Hunting Unit (1,071 ac) · Marlin Lake Park (903 ac) · Wild Wood Ranch (745 ac) · Mertens (378 ac) · FM 413 (310 ac) · FM 1771 (307 ac) · Rocky Creek (282 ac) · Bruceville-Eddy (262 ac) · Ben Arnold (227 ac) · Blue Ridge Cemetery (182 ac) · CR 229 (154 ac) · Beevill Branch (113 ac) · FM 485 (68 ac) · Lake Somerville State Park – Trailway Flag Pond · Richland Creek WMA · Somerville Public Hunting Lands

Houston/Beaumont (20)

Sam Houston National Forest (163,037 ac) · Sam Houston National Forest WMA (161,508 ac) · San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (75,019 ac) · McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge (67,473 ac) · Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (46,057 ac) · Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge (formerly Anahuac NWR) (39,411 ac) · Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (29,607 ac) · J.D. Murphree WMA – Salt Bayou Unit (15,397 ac) · J.D. Murphree WMA – Big Hill Unit (9,861 ac) · Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge (8,963 ac) · Lower Neches WMA (7,998 ac) · Mad Island WMA (7,714 ac) · Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (4,526 ac) · Lower Neches WMA – Old River Unit (4,386 ac) · Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA (3,666 ac) · South China Road (1,036 ac) · Lower Neches WMA – Nelda Stark Unit (868 ac) · Sea Rim State Park (300 ac) · Justin Hurst WMA · Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA

Dallas/Ft. Worth (19)

Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (41,303 ac) · Caddo National Grassland (17,727 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA (16,140 ac) · Cooper WMA (14,480 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Bois d'Arc Unit (13,360 ac) · Lewisville Lake (9,138 ac) · Pat Mayse WMA (8,925 ac) · Lavon Lake (6,500 ac) · Roger R. Fawcett WMA (5,459 ac) · Bois d'Arc Lake Public Hunting Lands (5,305 ac) · Bardwell Lake (2,528 ac) · Tawakoni WMA (2,335 ac) · Grapevine Lake (2,300 ac) · Benbrook Lake (1,400 ac) · Home Place (365 ac) · Thompson (315 ac) · Three B's (111 ac) · Rater/Crump (101 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Ladonia Unit

San Antonio/Corpus Christi (8)

Matagorda Island WMA (56,688 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Mission Lake Unit (4,448 ac) · Welder Flats WMA (1,480 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Guadalupe River Unit (1,138 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Hynes Bay Unit (1,008 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA · James E. Daughtrey WMA · Padre Island National Seashore (Laguna Madre waterfowl hunting)

Central Texas (4)

Twin Buttes Public Hunting Lands (12,858 ac) · Proctor Lake (2,500 ac) · Abilene State Park (525 ac) · San Angelo State Park

Trans-Pecos (3)

Black Gap WMA (103,000 ac) · Amistad National Recreation Area · Red Bluff Reservoir

For teal, the $48 APH permit opens more than a million acres and about 120 leased dove and small game units. How the APH permit works.

TPWD APH data, WMA and drawn hunt lists and federal land managers, 2026-27, checked October 11, 2026. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.

Teal permits by lottery

Deadlines for teal hunts are in the table; past dates mean that drawing has closed for 2026-27.

ProgramHuntApply by
E-Postcard (APH)TealSep 1, 2026

Packages by entry

For teal, enter Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

TPWD charges adult teal hunters $3 per application and $80 or $130 per permit; E-Postcard hunts have no fee but need the APH permit. Teal hunters may enter Big Time Texas Hunts as often as they like at $9 online until Oct. 15, 2026.

TPWD Public Hunt Drawing catalog, fees and deadlines (drawing) and Big Time Texas Hunts (BTTH), checked October 11, 2026. Texas drawn hunts.

Stocking up for Teal country

Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Duck decoys

Mixed puddle duck spreads for marsh and stock tanks.

Amazon listings

Chest waders

Breathable or neoprene, depending on the zone and month.

Amazon listings

Duck call

Single reed for mallards and mottled ducks.

Amazon listings

Layout blind

Low profile cover in open fields and flats.

Amazon listings

Gear comparedAll hunting gear

Species often hunted alongside teal

Migratory birdsDuckOct 17 to Feb 21 · 156 areasMigratory birdsRail and GallinuleSep 19 to Feb 21 · 53 areasMigratory birdsGooseSep 12 to Feb 19 · 156 areasMigratory birdsDoveSep 1 to Jan 21 · 179 areas

Quick answers on teal

Which teal count in September?

Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal, six a day in the aggregate.

Do I need a duck stamp for September teal?

Yes, if you are 16 or older. The migratory endorsement and HIP certification are required too.

What does TPWD allow per day for teal?

6/day in aggregate (blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon); possession 3x daily.

What paperwork do teal hunters carry?

For teal: Resident license ($25); Migratory endorsement ($7); HIP certification (Free); Duck stamp (16+) ($25 plus fulfillment); Nonresident 5-day ($48).

Can I hunt teal on a WMA?

Our list has 156; by acreage, Sam Houston National Forest, Sam Houston National Forest WMA and Davy Crockett National Forest come first. Teal hunters 17 and up carry a $48 APH permit there.

Can teal be hunted at night?

As migratory birds, teal may be shot from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Is orange needed when hunting teal?

TPWD exempts teal from the 400 square inch orange rule on public hunting lands.

Does TPWD hold a drawing for teal?

TPWD drawing categories for teal: Teal. Big Time Texas Hunts offers Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

Where in Texas are teal legal?

254 of 254 counties.

When can I hunt teal this season?

Teal hunters get Statewide september teal Sep 19 to Sep 27, 2026.

Wrapping up teal

A public area or a lease can set tighter teal rules than the statewide ones on this page.

Back to speciesAll seasonsMapped landOfficial teal rules

Other photos on this page: gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0).