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Dallas/Ft. Worth region
Cooper WMA hunting
Public hunting on Cooper WMA (14,480 acres): whitetails, feral hogs, doves and ducks and geese, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: Jeff Pang (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of Cooper WMA
Type of ground: wildlife management area run by TPWD. Manager: TPWD. Counties: Delta, Hopkins. The 14,480 acre figure places it 14th among 36 wildlife management areas with known acreage. From Cooper, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 6 miles to the southwest.
Access is through the TPWD Annual Public Hunting permit. The area carries youth-only seasons too. TPWD runs 2 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section).
The WMA office is at 829 CR 4795, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482-0402.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at Cooper WMA, and when
Whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits and snipe, woodcock and rails are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Delta County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | North Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 a day | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Falconry | North Zone | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | 3 a day | |
| Geese | Early Canada geese | Eastern Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 5 Canada a day | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 5 dark a day | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 19, 2027 | 5 light a day | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | Youth-Only | East Texas | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 10 a day or none | |
| Woodcock | Regular Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 a day | |
| Woodcock | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | — | |
| Snipe | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 8 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | — | |
| Feral hogs | Area sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of Cooper WMA can trim these seasons or limit them to drawn permits.
For hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators, the private-land rule is no season and no limit; public areas write their own.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Delta County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near Cooper WMA
Deer limits for Delta County, the county this page uses for Cooper WMA.
Delta County buck and doe rules
TPWD restricts bucks in this county to spikes and other unbranched bucks or a 13 inch inside spread, one wide branched buck at most. Nov. 7-29: antlerless with a tag from the hunting license.
2026-27 deer dates, Delta County
| Season | Open | Close | Part of county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | All areas |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | All areas |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
Around Cooper WMA: towns and public areas
The map shows Cooper WMA in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: Cooper (6 miles northeast, pop. 2,082); Sulphur Springs (13 miles southeast, pop. 16,891); Paris (28 miles northeast, pop. 25,037).
Cooper Lake State Park (5 miles east)
Delta County and Hopkins County; 5 miles east.
Caddo National Grasslands WMA, Ladonia Unit (18 miles northwest)
Fannin County; 18 miles northwest.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Licenses and permits that cover Cooper WMA
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
The APH permit
The APH permit is required for adults 17 and older on TPWD public hunting lands, and you must hold a season hunting license to buy it. It is good on 180+ areas totaling over 1 million acres. A permitted adult 18 or older can bring hunters under 17 at no charge.
TPWD drawing
| Drawn hunt | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|
| Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 1, 2026 |
Apply through the TPWD drawing system before the category deadline; youth apply free.
License and endorsements
License first: $25 for a resident, $7 for youth. For the game listed here, add free HIP plus the migratory bird endorsement and a federal duck stamp for waterfowl hunters 16 and older. Born September 2, 1971 or later? Hunter education is required.
Orange on public land
When guns are allowed in daylight, wear the orange; turkey, migratory birds and alligator are the exceptions.
On the hunt area
Take deer directly to the check station; hunting from vehicles is off limits; dogs only for squirrel, rabbits, hares and birds other than turkey.
Hunting events tied to Cooper WMA
1 upcoming date (youth hunts), retrieved October 11, 2026.
On the way
| Date | Event | Place | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-8, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Cooper WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Cooper WMA, Delta County | Drawing page |
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for Cooper WMA
Morning legal light comes 30 minutes before sunrise for every game species. In the evening, migratory birds stop at sunset and everything else 30 minutes later.
Times worked out for Cooper WMA 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.
Outfitting a hunt in Cooper WMA
Items matched to the species listed for this place.
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Deer feeder
Feeders are legal for deer on private land; public areas set their own rules.
Who handles game killed at Cooper WMA
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Mount Pleasant) in Mount Pleasant, about 46 miles away.
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.
Quick answers on Cooper WMA
Which agency runs Cooper WMA?
TPWD runs it as a wildlife management area run by TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
When are the youth-only deer days?
Deer: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone).
Does Cooper WMA call for a permit beyond the license?
An APH permit ($48) on top of a Texas hunting license; under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult.
Is Cooper WMA a large area?
Roughly 14,480 acres.
When does doves season open at Cooper WMA?
Regular season, Sep 1 to Nov 8, 2026, under the North Zone (Delta County). Area rules can be shorter.
What is on the game list for Cooper WMA?
The area lists whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits and snipe, woodcock and rails.
Do I need hunter orange at Cooper WMA?
The public land rule is 400 sq in, 144 on both chest and back, orange on the head, whenever guns are in season. It does not apply to turkey, migratory bird or alligator hunting.
What is the deer bag near Cooper WMA?
4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max in Delta County. Antler restrictions are in force. The area can set a lower limit.
If Cooper WMA is crowded, where else can I go?
Closest on the TPWD and federal lists: Cooper Lake State Park (5 miles), Cooper Lake State Park, South Sulphur Unit (5 miles) and FM 1530 (6 miles).
Which town makes a base for Cooper WMA?
Cooper sits 6 miles away (the area is southwest of it). Sulphur Springs is next at 13 miles.
Cooper WMA trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at Cooper WMA can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0); greg westfall. (CC BY 2.0); US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public domain).