Home › Texas › Public land › Buffalo Lake NWR
Panhandle region
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge hunting
Public hunting on Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (7,664 acres): whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs and doves, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: aspidoscelis (CC0)
The basics of Buffalo Lake NWR
Type of ground: national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. Manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,664 acre figure places it 14th among 16 national wildlife refuges with known acreage. From Canyon, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 12 miles to the southwest. Without a listed county we fall back to Randall County, the nearest county center to the mapped point.
Access is set by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; see the permit section for the exact wording.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at Buffalo Lake NWR, and when
Whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs, doves, quail and pheasants are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Randall County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 3 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 3 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 3 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 3 deer | |
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | — | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Panhandle | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | — | |
| 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 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Pheasant | General Season | Panhandle | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 3 a day | |
| Feral hogs | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of Buffalo Lake NWR 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. County chosen by distance (Randall); zones can change at county lines.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Randall County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near Buffalo Lake NWR
Deer limits for Randall County, the county this page uses for Buffalo Lake NWR.
Randall County buck and doe rules
Muleys
Panhandle applies to mule deer. A legal buck needs a 20 inch outside spread.
2026-27 deer dates, Randall 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 |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
Around Buffalo Lake NWR: towns and public areas
The map shows Buffalo Lake NWR in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: Canyon (12 miles northeast, pop. 16,457); Claude (44 miles east, pop. 1,175); Muleshoe (59 miles southwest, pop. 5,218).
Palo Duro Canyon State Park (27 miles east)
Randall County and Armstrong County; 27 miles east.
Playa Lakes WMA, Dimmitt Unit (30 miles southwest)
Castro County; 30 miles southwest. 422 ac.
Cross Bar Management Area (36 miles north)
Potter County; 36 miles north. 11,883 ac.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (52 miles northeast)
The Panhandle region; 52 miles northeast.
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 Buffalo Lake NWR
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
Limited or lottery hunts
A quota, cap or lottery applies to at least some hunts.
What the agency requires
Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: youth rifle hunts for white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hogs (three weekends Nov.-Jan.), plus drawn dove, quail and pheasant hunts (Dec. 20 – Jan. 5).
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 upland game bird endorsement. 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.
Hunting events tied to Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
3 upcoming dates (youth hunts), retrieved October 11, 2026.
On the way
| Date | Event | Place | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-8, 2026 | National Refuge Youth Deer – Buffalo Lake NWR · drawn youth-only hunt | Buffalo Lake NWR, Randall County | Drawing page |
| Dec 5-6, 2026 | National Refuge Youth Deer – Buffalo Lake NWR · drawn youth-only hunt | Buffalo Lake NWR, Randall County | Drawing page |
| Jan 16-17, 2027 | National Refuge Youth Deer – Buffalo Lake NWR · drawn youth-only hunt | Buffalo Lake NWR, Randall County | Drawing page |
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for Buffalo Lake NWR
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 Buffalo Lake 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.
Outfitting a hunt in Buffalo Lake NWR
Items matched to the species listed for this place.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Deer feeder
Feeders are legal for deer on private land; public areas set their own rules.
Who handles game killed at Buffalo Lake NWR
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Amarillo) in Amarillo, about 25 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 Buffalo Lake NWR
What time does legal light start at Buffalo Lake NWR?
From 30 minutes before sunrise. Game animals and upland birds run to 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds stop at sunset. Daily times are in the table above.
If Buffalo Lake NWR is crowded, where else can I go?
Closest on the TPWD and federal lists: Palo Duro Canyon State Park (27 miles), Playa Lakes WMA, Dimmitt Unit (30 miles) and Cross Bar Management Area (36 miles).
What license do I need for Buffalo Lake NWR?
A Texas hunting license: $25 for residents, $315 for the nonresident general license, $7 for hunters under 17.
Can I put off hunter education?
Hunters 17 and older can buy a one-time $10 deferral, good to the end of the license year, and hunt accompanied.
Which agency runs Buffalo Lake NWR?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service runs it as a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. Program: National Wildlife Refuge hunt program.
When are the youth-only deer days?
Deer: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone).
Does Buffalo Lake NWR call for a permit beyond the license?
Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: youth rifle hunts for white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hogs (three weekends Nov.-Jan.), plus drawn dove, quail and pheasant hunts (Dec. 20 – Jan. 5).
Is Buffalo Lake NWR a large area?
Roughly 7,664 acres.
What is on the game list for Buffalo Lake NWR?
The area lists whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs, doves, quail and pheasants.
Is there a drawing for Buffalo Lake NWR?
Yes, for at least part of the season. Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: youth rifle hunts for white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hogs (three weekends Nov.-Jan.), plus drawn dove, quail and pheasant hunts (Dec. 20 – Jan. 5).
Buffalo Lake NWR trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at Buffalo Lake NWR can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: aspidoscelis (CC0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); objectfox (CC BY 2.0); Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0).