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2026-27 · Wildlife refuge
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge hunting
11,320 acres of wildlife refuge ground in Grayson County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0)
About the Hagerman NWR ground
Think of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge as a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets its rules. With 11,320 acres, it is number 10 by size among 16 national wildlife refuges. Among our town guides, Bonham is closest; the area lies 18 miles southwest in a straight line. Hunting is split across 1 listed unit, each with its own page. The source does not name a county. Grayson County has the closest county center to the map point, so its zones are used below.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules govern access, quoted below with the permits.
Refuge is an overlay of the Big Mineral arm of Lake Texoma.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Hagerman NWR
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
Hunts by lottery
Some or all hunts here are limited by drawing, lottery or a permit cap; the agency rules card says which.
Federal or Corps rules
Limited quota archery deer (Nov.-Dec.), spring turkey and feral hog hunts by TPWD drawing; dove (Sept. 1-30) and squirrel and rabbit (Sept. 1-30, Jan. 1 – Feb. 28) open to the general public without a drawn permit in designated areas.
Licenses for this ground
Start with a Texas hunting license: $25 for residents. This area’s game list calls for HIP certification (free) and the migratory endorsement for doves and waterfowl, an upland endorsement and the archery endorsement. Hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 must pass hunter education or use the deferral.
Blaze orange rule
On public hunting lands this rule applies in daylight whenever firearm hunting is allowed. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt, as are people in vehicles, campgrounds, parking areas, boat ramps and check stations.
Hagerman NWR: species list with zone dates
For Grayson County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (whitetails, feral hogs, turkey, doves, squirrels and rabbits).
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| Turkey | Spring season | East Zone | Apr 22, 2027 | May 14, 2027 | 1 gobbler | |
| 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 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Feral hogs | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Hagerman NWR included, often open fewer days or only by permit.
Feral hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators have no state season or bag on private land; on public areas the area’s own rules decide. Zone rows assume Grayson County, the nearest county center.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Grayson County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Hagerman NWR and its neighboring units
Click a unit for its page; miles are direct.
Where the hunting happens
| Name | County | Size (ac) | Unit/code | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerman NWR, Nocona Unit refuge unit | Montague | 822 | 513 | 84 mi |
Hagerman NWR deer rules from the Grayson County listing
Hagerman NWR uses the Grayson County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Grayson County whitetail line
Under the antler restriction, two bucks are allowed, only one branched with a 13 inch or wider spread. Antlerless by MLDP or hunting license tag. This county requires a harvest report within 24 hours. During youth and general seasons lawful means are restricted to lawful archery equipment and crossbows only, including MLDP properties. During archery-only season, crossbows are unlawful except for individuals with a physician-certified, upper-limb disability as defined in the means and methods section.
Whitetail dates by segment
| Deer season | Start | End | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Whole county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
Mapping Hagerman NWR and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Hagerman NWR: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Bonham 18 miles, northeast; Pottsboro 26 miles, northwest; Gainesville 42 miles, west.
Bois d'Arc Lake Public Hunting Lands (25 miles northeast)
Head northeast 25 miles to reach it, in Fannin County. 5,305 ac.
Caddo National Grasslands WMA, Ladonia Unit (25 miles east)
Head east 25 miles to reach it, in Fannin County.
Black Branch (28 miles southeast)
Head southeast 28 miles to reach it, in Hunt County. 200 ac.
East FM 1570 (30 miles southeast)
Head southeast 30 miles to reach it, in Hunt County. 230 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Hagerman NWR: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Mesquite) in Mesquite is the closest warden office, roughly 44 miles off.
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.
Daily shooting window around Hagerman NWR
Texas opens game animals and upland birds 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes them 30 minutes after sunset; doves, ducks, geese and cranes quit at sunset.
Times worked out for Hagerman 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.
Shopping list for Hagerman NWR
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
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Hagerman NWR: the short answers
Can a nonresident hunt Hagerman NWR?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
Who needs hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born September 2, 1971 or later, residents and nonresidents alike.
Who sets the rules on Hagerman NWR?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages this national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. Listed program: National Wildlife Refuge hunt program.
When is youth-only turkey season?
Turkey: Fall: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 plus Jan. 4-17 (North) / Jan. 18-31 (South), 2027.
How do I get access to hunt Hagerman NWR?
Limited quota archery deer (Nov.-Dec.), spring turkey and feral hog hunts by TPWD drawing; dove (Sept. 1-30) and squirrel and rabbit (Sept. 1-30, Jan. 1 – Feb. 28) open to the general public without a drawn permit in designated areas.
What footprint does Hagerman NWR have on the map?
11,320 acres per USFWS Annual Report of Lands as of 9/30/2025 (total refuge acres in Texas).
What can I hunt at Hagerman NWR?
Whitetails, feral hogs, turkey, doves, squirrels and rabbits.
Is hunting at Hagerman NWR limited by lottery?
At least some hunts are limited. Limited quota archery deer (Nov.-Dec.), spring turkey and feral hog hunts by TPWD drawing; dove (Sept. 1-30) and squirrel and rabbit (Sept. 1-30, Jan. 1 – Feb. 28) open to the general public without a drawn permit in designated areas.
Which county deer rules apply to Hagerman NWR?
Grayson County sets 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Antler restrictions apply. Check the area for tighter limits.
When is dove season near Hagerman NWR?
Sep 1 to Nov 8, 2026 for the regular season in the North Zone, which covers Grayson County.
Final word on Hagerman NWR
Before the drive to Hagerman NWR, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0); daveynin (CC BY 2.0); greg westfall. (CC BY 2.0).