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Cameron County · San Antonio/Corpus Christi
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge hunting
Everything we could verify about Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge: access, acreage, game list, season dates and the ground nearby.
Photo: VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0)
Laguna Atascosa NWR in brief, for hunters
In Texas, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. At 99,390 acres it is the 3rd largest of the 16 national wildlife refuges that report a size. Of the towns with a guide on this site, Raymondville is closest: the map point is about 32 miles southeast of it. The area divides into 1 hunt units. Because the record has no county, this page reads zones from Cameron County, whose center is closest.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets the access rules; they are quoted in full in the permit section below.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Game and season dates at Laguna Atascosa NWR
The source lists whitetails, feral hogs, exotics and alligators for this ground. Dates follow the Cameron County zones.
| Game | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Bag | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | South Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | South Zone | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| Alligator | General Season | Non-core | Apr 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 | 1 a year | |
| Feral hogs | Set by area | — | — | — | — | |
| Exotics | Set by area | — | — | — | — |
Laguna Atascosa NWR sets its own calendar inside these dates; some seasons may be shorter or by permit only.
Rows marked area rules are species with no statewide season on private land; the managing agency decides on public ground. Cameron County is an estimate by distance, so check the zone map.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Cameron County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
How Laguna Atascosa NWR fits with nearby units
Each row links to that unit’s own page; miles are straight-line.
Unit list
| Unit | Where | Acres | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Atascosa NWR, Bahia Grande Unit refuge unit | — | 21,700 | UR | 18 mi |
Laguna Atascosa NWR permit, license and orange rules
What you need in your pocket, card by card.
Lottery hunts
Expect a lottery or permit cap, as described in the agency rules.
Agency requirements
Archery and firearm hunts for white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope and feral hogs and alligator hunts, all by selection through the TPWD Public Hunt Drawing; incidental take of feral hogs, nilgai and other exotic ungulates allowed.
Base license and add-ons
The base is a hunting license, $25 for Texans. Also plan on an archery endorsement for bow seasons. Hunter ed is required from the September 2, 1971 birth date forward.
Wear orange
The orange rule runs during daylight when firearms are allowed on the area. It does not apply to turkey, waterfowl and dove, or alligator hunters.
Cameron County deer listing for Laguna Atascosa NWR hunters
Texas sets deer bags county by county; this is the Cameron County version that applies around Laguna Atascosa NWR.
Cameron County deer bag
Cameron County deer segments
| Hunt | Begins | Ends | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | All |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | All |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | All |
| Special Late | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | All |
Youth hunts, banquets and contests in Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Listed as of October 11, 2026: 1 upcoming date.
Upcoming here
| When | Event | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15-17, 2027 | National Refuge Youth Deer – Laguna Atascosa NWR · drawn youth-only hunt | Laguna Atascosa NWR, Cameron County | Drawing page |
Public tracts within 60 miles of Laguna Atascosa NWR
8 more public areas lie within 60 miles; the orange pin is Laguna Atascosa NWR.
Covered towns within reach: Raymondville (32 miles to the northwest); Falfurrias (85 miles to the northwest); Rio Grande City (92 miles to the west).
Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (5 miles south)
Wildlife refuge, 5 miles south, the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region. 101,700 ac.
Las Palomas WMA, Arroyo Colorado Unit (12 miles northwest)
WMA unit, 12 miles northwest, Cameron County.
Las Palomas WMA, Carricitos Unit (15 miles west)
WMA unit, 15 miles west, Cameron County. 118 ac.
Laguna Atascosa NWR, Bahia Grande Unit (18 miles southeast)
Refuge unit, 18 miles southeast, the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region. 21,700 ac.
Resaca de la Palma State Park (21 miles southwest)
State park, 21 miles southwest, Cameron County.
Las Palomas WMA, Tucker Unit (24 miles southwest)
WMA unit, 24 miles southwest, Cameron County. 175 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
After the hunt at Laguna Atascosa NWR: processors and taxidermy
Nearest first within each county.
The TPWD office nearest the area is TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Brownsville) in Brownsville, about 19 miles out.
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.
Laguna Atascosa NWR hunting kit
Prices change; the buttons search Amazon at the moment you click.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Field dressing kit
Knife, saw and gloves in one pouch for the first job after the shot.
Laguna Atascosa NWR: seven days of hunting hours
The TPWD window runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset, except for migratory game birds, which end right at sunset.
Times worked out for Laguna Atascosa 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.
Hunters ask about Laguna Atascosa NWR
Who manages Laguna Atascosa NWR?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The ground is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. It runs under: National Wildlife Refuge hunt program.
Do youth-only deer seasons apply here?
Statewide youth deer dates are Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone); area rules decide whether they apply on this ground.
Which permits cover Laguna Atascosa NWR?
Archery and firearm hunts for white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope and feral hogs and alligator hunts, all by selection through the TPWD Public Hunt Drawing; incidental take of feral hogs, nilgai and other exotic ungulates allowed.
What is the acreage of Laguna Atascosa NWR?
The listed figure is 99,390 acres.
Which game does the listing name for Laguna Atascosa NWR?
Per the source, whitetails, feral hogs, exotics and alligators.
Does Laguna Atascosa NWR cap the number of hunters?
Some hunts go by drawing or permit cap. Archery and firearm hunts for white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope and feral hogs and alligator hunts, all by selection through the TPWD Public Hunt Drawing; incidental take of feral hogs, nilgai and other exotic ungulates allowed.
What does Cameron County allow for whitetails?
Cameron County: 5 deer, 3 bucks max. No 13 inch rule here. Drawn hunts and area rules can be stricter.
When can I hunt whitetails at Laguna Atascosa NWR?
In the South Zone, general season runs Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027; confirm area dates.
Which of our town guides is closest to Laguna Atascosa NWR?
Start from Raymondville; the area is 32 miles southeast. Or Falfurrias, 85 miles away.
Is orange mandatory when gun hunting Laguna Atascosa NWR?
Yes, when firearms are allowed: at least 400 sq in of orange, 144 front and back, and orange headwear. Exceptions include turkey, migratory birds and alligators. See the agency rules too.
Laguna Atascosa NWR send-off notes
Every area writes its own fine print. Read the Laguna Atascosa NWR page at the agency and carry your permits.
Other photos on this page: gailhampshire (CC BY 2.0); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0); aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0).