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National grassland · Dallam County
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) hunting
Who runs it, what it costs to hunt, which seasons apply for pronghorn, and where the closest public tracts and towns are.
Photo: sf-dvs (CC BY 2.0)
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion): size, manager and access
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) falls in the TPWD Panhandle hunting region and is a national grassland in Dallam County. By acreage (77,366) it sits at number 1 of 4 national grasslands in the data. Nearest town guide: Dalhart, 28 miles off; the area is northwest of there.
There is 1 drawn special-permit hunt type on the TPWD catalog.
Cibola NF page describes the Kiowa and Rita Blanca grasslands (about 230,000 acres in NM, TX and OK) but does not discuss hunting; hunting confirmed by TPWD's drawn catalog.
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Season windows for Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) game
Listed game here runs to 1 group: pronghorn. Texas zones split many of these, so the rows are for Dallam County.
| Species | Segment | Zone | Starts | Ends | Limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn | Regular Season | Open counties | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Permit only |
These are statewide zone dates. Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) can run shorter seasons, fewer days or drawn-only hunts, so check the area rules before opening day.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Dallam County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Where Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) sits, with neighbors
3 public tracts within a 60 mile radius, plus Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) itself in orange.
Closest towns we cover: Dalhart 28 miles southeast, 8,443 people; Dumas 59 miles southeast, 14,834 people; Canyon 109 miles southeast, 16,457 people.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion): permits, endorsements and blaze orange
Card by card: permits, licenses, orange.
Special-permit hunts
| Hunt | Due |
|---|---|
| Pronghorn | Aug 15, 2026 |
Applications are online only and close on the 1st and 15th of each month; drawings follow the next business day.
Agency permit rules
TPWD drawn special-permit hunt: Pronghorn.
What to buy first
Every hunter needs a Texas hunting license ($25 resident). Hunter education covers every hunter born from September 2, 1971 on.
Hunter orange
This applies whenever firearm hunting is permitted in daylight, with turkey, migratory birds and alligators exempt.
Drawn hunt rules
Deer must go straight to the check station. Buckshot only where allowed. No shooting from vehicles. Dogs for small game and birds except turkey.
Deer bag for the Dallam County side of Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)
County deer rules from TPWD for Dallam County, with county facts for context.
Deer rules for Dallam County
Mule deer rules
Mule deer zone: Panhandle.
County whitetail segments
| Segment | Opens | Closes | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Countywide |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
Game seasons that reach Dallam County
15 speciess have a 2026-27 season here. Texas splits most of them into zones, and this table keeps only the zones that include Dallam County.
| Species | Season type | Area | Begins | Ends | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Panhandle | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Pronghorn | Regular Season | Open counties | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | General Season | Panhandle | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | North Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 30, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains MMU | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone A | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Alligator | General Season | Non-core | Apr 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 |
From the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 county and species pages, checked October 11, 2026.
Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion): what goes in the truck
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Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) legal hunting light, next seven days
Shooting time for deer, javelina, turkey and quail is sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Dove and waterfowl hunters stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) in Central time. Rule from the TPWD Outdoor Annual (shooting hours). Nongame, exotics and feral hogs on private land may be hunted at any hour. Shooting hours for every county.
Shops and processors serving Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)
County listings lead; neighbors follow.
Game wardens closest to this area work out of TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Amarillo) in Amarillo (98 miles).
Store locators (Academy, Bass Pro, Cabela’s), the TPWD law enforcement office list, Hunters for the Hungry and business listings, checked October 11, 2026. Call ahead.
What people want to know about Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)
Which covered town sits nearest Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
Base in Dalhart, 28 miles off to the northwest. Also near: Dumas (59 miles).
Name some public ground close to Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion).
Within reach: La Playa (48 miles), Margoso (51 miles) and De Campo (57 miles).
How do I apply for a drawn hunt at Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
Yes: Pronghorn. Catalog code RB. Deadlines span Aug 15, 2026 to Aug 15, 2026.
How late can I hunt deer at Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
A half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset for deer, turkey and quail; doves and waterfowl stop at sunset.
Do I need hunter education to hunt Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
Yes, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971; Texas sets 9 as the minimum age to take the course.
What do Texas hunting licenses cost this year?
$25 resident, $315 nonresident general, $7 youth.
What is Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
National grassland, under U.S. Forest Service (Cibola NF and National Grasslands). Program: National Forest System lands; TPWD drawn pronghorn hunt.
What size is Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
It covers 77,366 acres on the record.
Is Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion) open with just a hunting license?
A drawn special permit from TPWD.
What animals are hunted on Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)?
The listing names pronghorn.
Last checks for Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion)
The managing agency has the final word on Rita Blanca National Grassland (Texas portion). Check its page and the TPWD county listing the week of your hunt.
Other photos on this page: Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CC BY 2.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0); Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0); BaronBrian (CC BY 2.0).