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Wildlife refuge · Bailey County
Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge hunting
Who runs it, what it costs to hunt, which seasons apply for whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs and doves, and where the closest public tracts and towns are.
Photo: TexasExplorer98 (CC BY 2.0)
Muleshoe NWR: size, manager and access
Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge falls in the TPWD Panhandle hunting region and is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. By acreage (6,449) it sits at number 15 of 16 national wildlife refuges in the data. Nearest town guide: Muleshoe, 18 miles off; the area is south of there. Bailey County, nearest by its center point, stands in for the missing county field.
Full agency access wording sits in the permits band.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Season windows for Muleshoe NWR game
Listed game here runs to 5 groups: whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs, doves and quail. Texas zones split many of these, so the rows are for Bailey County.
| Species | Segment | Zone | Starts | Ends | Limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Feral hogs | Area rules | — | — | — | — |
These are statewide zone dates. Muleshoe NWR can run shorter seasons, fewer days or drawn-only hunts, so check the area rules before opening day.
No statewide season exists on private land for hogs, exotics, rabbits or predators, so check the area rules. Using Bailey County by proximity; verify the zone on the TPWD map.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Bailey County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Where Muleshoe NWR sits, with neighbors
4 public tracts within a 60 mile radius, plus Muleshoe NWR itself in orange.
Closest towns we cover: Muleshoe 18 miles north, 5,218 people; Canyon 85 miles northeast, 16,457 people; Post 95 miles southeast, 3,594 people.
Playa Lakes WMA, Dimmitt Unit (46 miles northeast)
WMA 46 miles off to the northeast. 422 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Muleshoe NWR: permits, endorsements and blaze orange
Card by card: permits, licenses, orange.
Quota hunts
Not every hunt is open entry; read the agency rules card.
Agency permit rules
Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: archery white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hog (Oct.-Jan.); drawn quail (Oct. 26 – Nov. 8) and dove hunts.
What to buy first
Every hunter needs a Texas hunting license ($25 resident). Given the species here, also carry migratory endorsement and HIP, the upland stamp and an archery stamp for bow-only hunts. Hunter education covers every hunter born from September 2, 1971 on.
Hunter orange
This applies whenever firearm hunting is permitted in daylight, with turkey, migratory birds and alligators exempt.
Deer bag for the Bailey County side of Muleshoe NWR
County deer rules from TPWD for Bailey County, with county facts for context.
Deer rules for Bailey County
Mule deer rules
Mule deer zone: Panhandle. Bucks must reach 20 inches outside spread.
County whitetail segments
| Segment | Opens | Closes | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
Game seasons that reach Bailey County
15 speciess have a 2026-27 season here. Texas splits most of them into zones, and this table keeps only the zones that include Bailey County.
| Species | Season type | Area | Begins | Ends | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Panhandle | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Pronghorn | Regular Season | Open counties | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | General Season | Panhandle | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | North Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 30, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains MMU | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 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 A | Oct 31, 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.
Muleshoe NWR: what goes in the truck
Click any item for current listings and prices.
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Muleshoe NWR legal hunting light, next seven days
Shooting time for deer, javelina, turkey and quail is sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Dove and waterfowl hunters stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Muleshoe 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.
Shops and processors serving Muleshoe NWR
County listings lead; neighbors follow.
Game wardens closest to this area work out of TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Amarillo) in Amarillo (100 miles).
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.
What people want to know about Muleshoe NWR
Is Muleshoe NWR open with just a hunting license?
Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: archery white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hog (Oct.-Jan.); drawn quail (Oct. 26 – Nov. 8) and dove hunts.
Can anyone walk on and hunt Muleshoe NWR?
Some slots are limited. Hunting only through TPWD limited draw: archery white-tailed deer, mule deer and incidental feral hog (Oct.-Jan.); drawn quail (Oct. 26 – Nov. 8) and dove hunts.
What animals are hunted on Muleshoe NWR?
The listing names whitetails, mule deer, feral hogs, doves and quail.
What 2026-27 dates apply to doves at Muleshoe NWR?
The North Zone sets it: Sep 1 to Nov 8, 2026 (regular season). Check the area for any shorter dates.
How many deer can I take around Muleshoe NWR?
County bag (Bailey): 3 deer, 1 buck max, 2 antlerless max. No spread rule. Hunts here may carry their own limits.
Is blaze orange required on Muleshoe NWR?
Wear 400 square inches of orange, including 144 on chest and back, plus headwear, during firearm hunting hours. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt. The federal manager may add rules.
Which covered town sits nearest Muleshoe NWR?
Base in Muleshoe, 18 miles off to the south. Also near: Canyon (85 miles).
Name some public ground close to Muleshoe NWR.
Within reach: Yoakum Dunes WMA (41 miles), Ramsey Place (44 miles) and Playa Lakes WMA, Dimmitt Unit (46 miles).
How late can I hunt deer at Muleshoe NWR?
A half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset for deer, turkey and quail; doves and waterfowl stop at sunset.
Do I need hunter education to hunt Muleshoe NWR?
Yes, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971; Texas sets 9 as the minimum age to take the course.
Last checks for Muleshoe NWR
The managing agency has the final word on Muleshoe NWR. Check its page and the TPWD county listing the week of your hunt.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0); objectfox (CC BY 2.0); BaronBrian (CC BY 2.0).