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TPWD Austin/Waco region

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge hunting

Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for whitetails, turkey, feral hogs and doves, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.

Species and dates Permits needed Map and towns

27,841Acres

BurnetMain county

4Game listed

504Unit

Photo: Mark Bonica (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to know Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program in Burnet County, Travis County and Williamson County, listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its 27,841 acres rank 9th of 16 national wildlife refuges with a published acreage. Look southeast of Burnet (the closest town we cover), about 21 miles out.

27,841Acres on record

BurnetCounty

Austin/WacoTPWD area

Wildlife refugeListing type

504Unit no.

UBDrawn code

4Game types

GameSeason windows4 game groups listed AccessWhat to carryQuoted from the source

Read the agency access rules in the permits section.

Managing agency page

From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.

Zone calendar for Balcones Canyonlands NWR species

This area lists whitetails, turkey, feral hogs and doves; the zone that holds Burnet County sets each date.

North Zonewhite-tailed deer zone

Fallturkey zone

Central Zonedove zone

Species	Season	TPWD zone	From	To	Daily bag
White-tailed deer	Archery Only	North Zone	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026	5 deer
White-tailed deer	Youth-Only	North Zone	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026	5 deer
White-tailed deer	General Season	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027	5 deer
White-tailed deer	Special Late	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	5 deer
White-tailed deer	Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	5 deer
Turkey	Fall Archery Only	North Zone	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026	County rule
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026	County rule
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	County rule
Turkey	Fall season	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027	County rule
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	Mar 27, 2027	Mar 28, 2027	County rule
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	May 22, 2027	May 23, 2027	County rule
Turkey	Spring season	North Zone	Apr 3, 2027	May 16, 2027	County rule
Dove	Regular Season	Central Zone	Sep 1, 2026	Oct 25, 2026	15 a day
Dove	Regular Season	Central Zone	Dec 11, 2026	Jan 14, 2027	15 a day
Dove	Falconry	Central Zone	Nov 13, 2026	Nov 29, 2026	3 a day
Feral hogs	Area rules	—	—	—	—

Treat the table as the widest window allowed. The area itself may close earlier, limit days of the week or hunt only by drawing.

Texas sets no season for hogs, exotics, rabbits or predators on private property. Public ground sets its own limits, so the table says area rules.

Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Burnet County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.

Buck and doe limits for Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Whitetail rules here start from the Burnet County line in the Outdoor Annual.

County deer listing

Official listing

5Whitetails

2Buck limit

Deer seasons in the county

Season	From	To	Area
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
Special Late	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	Countywide
Youth-Only	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	Countywide

Edwards PlateauHabitat region

995 sq miArea

BurnetSeat of county

55,722Residents

23Deer mgmt unit

3Public ground

What to carry at Balcones Canyonlands NWR: permits and orange

Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.

Public hunting permit

TPWD source

$48Permit price

173Item code

$12LPU permit

Buy a season hunting license first; the APH permit rides on it and covers adults 17 and older. 180+ areas and over 1 million acres come with it. Youth under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult 18 or older.

Managing agency rules

Agency source

Big game hunts by TPWD state lottery only, including a youth hunt; up to five white-tailed deer and one turkey plus unlimited feral hogs. 2026 dove hunt Sept. 1-4 with a $20 cash permit. Also listed in TPWD's APH booklet (unit 504) for E-Postcard archery deer.

License checklist

TPWD license page

$25Resident

$315Out of state

$7Hunters under 17

$7Migratory

$7Upland

$7Archery endorsement

A Texas hunting license comes first ($25 resident, $315 nonresident general). Add the migratory bird endorsement plus free HIP certification, the upland game bird endorsement and the archery endorsement during archery-only seasons. The hunter education rule starts with birth dates of September 2, 1971.

Orange requirement

TPWD

400 sq inTotal orange

144 sq inPer side

Must be orangeHeadgear

Wear daylight fluorescent orange in daylight hours while firearm hunting is permitted. Exemptions: turkey, migratory birds, alligators, and anyone in a vehicle, camp, parking lot, boat launch or check station.

Map of Balcones Canyonlands NWR and nearby public ground

Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is Balcones Canyonlands NWR.

Base towns with guides: Burnet northwest, 21 miles; Lampasas north, 40 miles; Llano northwest, 42 miles.

State parkDrawn

Pedernales Falls State Park (19 miles southwest)

Blanco County, 19 miles away (southwest).

Corps lakeDrawn

Lake Georgetown (21 miles northeast)

Williamson County, 21 miles away (northeast). 3,000 ac.

State parkDrawn

Pedernales Falls State Park Annex (21 miles southwest)

The Central Texas region, 21 miles away (southwest).

State parkDrawn

Inks Lake State Park / Longhorn Cavern State Park (26 miles northwest)

Burnet County, 26 miles away (northwest).

Public hunting landDrawn

Granger Public Hunting Lands (41 miles east)

Williamson County, 41 miles away (east). 10,888 ac.

APH lease

Holland Road (43 miles northeast)

Bell County, 43 miles away (northeast). 128 ac.

State parkDrawn

Post Oak Ridge State Park (43 miles northwest)

Burnet County and Lampasas County, 43 miles away (northwest).

Corps lake

Stillhouse Hollow Lake (44 miles northeast)

Bell County, 44 miles away (northeast). 4,451 ac.

GuideAll of Burnet CountyDeer bag and zones MapThe full mapPins for every area

Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.

Events at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

1 upcoming date on file. Types: youth hunts.

Dates ahead

On	What	Where	Register
Nov 13-15, 2026	National Refuge Youth Deer – Balcones Canyonlands NWR · drawn youth-only hunt	Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Travis County	Drawing page

Texas events calendar Youth Hunts

Running a contest close by? Put it on the list.

Every 2026-27 season that covers Burnet County

TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Burnet County.

Game	Season	Zone	Opens	Closes
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	Special Late	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
White-tailed deer	Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
Turkey	Fall Archery Only	North Zone	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
Turkey	Fall season	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	Mar 27, 2027	Mar 28, 2027
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	May 22, 2027	May 23, 2027
Turkey	Spring season	North Zone	Apr 3, 2027	May 16, 2027
Squirrel	General Season	All Other Counties	Sep 1, 2026	Aug 31, 2027
Quail	Regular Season	Statewide	Nov 1, 2026	Feb 28, 2027
Dove	Regular Season	Central Zone	Sep 1, 2026	Oct 25, 2026
Dove	Regular Season	Central Zone	Dec 11, 2026	Jan 14, 2027
Dove	Falconry	Central Zone	Nov 13, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
September teal	September teal	Statewide	Sep 19, 2026	Sep 27, 2026
Ducks	Youth-Only	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Nov 8, 2026
Ducks	Veterans and military	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Nov 8, 2026
Ducks	Regular Season	North Zone	Nov 14, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
Ducks	Regular Season	North Zone	Dec 5, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Ducks	Dusky Duck	North Zone	Nov 19, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
Ducks	Dusky Duck	North Zone	Dec 5, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Ducks	Falconry	North Zone	Feb 1, 2027	Feb 21, 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 B	Nov 27, 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.

First and last legal light at Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Whitetails, turkeys and quail can be taken from a half hour before sunup until a half hour after sundown. Migratory birds close at sundown.

Times worked out for Balcones Canyonlands NWR 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.

Stocking up for Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Each button runs a live Amazon search, so prices are current.

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

Box blind

Most Texas deer are hunted from elevated box blinds over senderos and feeders.

Search on Amazon

Deer feeder

Texas allows feeders on private land, but not for turkey in the East Zone or for migratory birds.

Search on Amazon

Rangefinder

Checks the distance down a sendero before the shot.

Search on Amazon

Field dressing kit

Gloves, blades and a saw in one kit.

Search on Amazon

Compare models Gear for every hunt

Local help for Balcones Canyonlands NWR hunters

In-county first, then the next ring out.

Sassy Doe's Deer Processing game processing

Spicewood, Burnet County · about 7 mi away

(512) 431-7261 Map Site

Riata Hunting Ranches guide service

Lakeway, Travis County · about 11 mi away

(512) 261-2400 Map Site

Academy Sports + Outdoors sporting goods

Cedar Park, Williamson County · about 13 mi away

(512) 259-6200 Map Site

Ripley's Wildlife Studio taxidermy

Liberty Hill, Williamson County · about 13 mi away

(512) 778-5511 Map Site

Hunting the World sporting goods

Marble Falls, Burnet County · about 14 mi away

(801) 210-1533 Map Site

Rods, Barrels, & Strings sporting goods

Marble Falls, Burnet County · about 16 mi away

(830) 693-7520 Map Site

Wildlife Designs Taxidermy taxidermy

Marble Falls, Burnet County · about 16 mi away

(512) 632-1139 Map Site

Austin Archery Club sporting goods

Austin, Travis County · about 16 mi away

(512) 431-7592 Map Site

For a game warden, try Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters in Austin, 28 miles from the area.

Search processing Taxidermy search

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.

Balcones Canyonlands NWR questions, answered

How early can I shoot at Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

See the seven-day table above. Migratory birds quit at sunset, everything else 30 minutes later.

Can a hunter without hunter education go to Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Only with the one-time $10 deferral (17 and older) and an accompanying qualified hunter; the rule covers birth dates from September 2, 1971.

Is there a cheaper license for seniors?

Texas residents 65 and older pay $7 for the senior resident hunting license.

Who counts as a youth hunter?

Licensed hunters 16 or younger. Youth license (Type 169, $7) valid all license year.

What kind of public land is Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

It is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Program on record: National Wildlife Refuge hunt program.

How many acres does Balcones Canyonlands NWR hold for hunters?

About 27,841 acres (USFWS Annual Report of Lands as of 9/30/2025 (total refuge acres in Texas)).

What paperwork opens Balcones Canyonlands NWR to hunting?

Yes: the Annual Public Hunting permit at $48, plus your license.

Are Balcones Canyonlands NWR hunts first come or drawn?

Hunter numbers are capped for some hunts. Big game hunts by TPWD state lottery only, including a youth hunt; up to five white-tailed deer and one turkey plus unlimited feral hogs. 2026 dove hunt Sept. 1-4 with a $20 cash permit. Also listed in TPWD's APH booklet (unit 504) for E-Postcard archery deer.

Which species are allowed on Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Listed game: whitetails, turkey, feral hogs and doves.

What are the dove dates for Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Zone dates for Burnet County (Central Zone): Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026. The area can trim that.

Balcones Canyonlands NWR: ready to go

Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck Balcones Canyonlands NWR on the agency page before you go.

Public tract map Every area APH explained Hunting Burnet County Area page

Other photos on this page: rutlo (CC BY 2.0); Mark Bonica (CC BY 2.0); Mark Bonica (CC BY 2.0); TexasExplorer98 (CC BY 2.0).