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TPWD San Antonio/Corpus Christi region

Guadalupe Delta WMA hunting

Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for feral hogs, alligators, doves and ducks and geese, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.

Species and datesPermits neededMap and towns
—Acres
CalhounMain county
8Game listed
GUHunt code

Photo: aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to know Guadalupe Delta WMA

Guadalupe Delta WMA is a wildlife management area run by TPWD in Calhoun County, Refugio County and Victoria County, listed by TPWD. Look southwest of Port Lavaca (the closest town we cover), about 15 miles out. 4 separate units carry the hunting, linked below.

UnpublishedAcres on record
CalhounCounty
San Antonio/Corpus ChristiTPWD area
WMAListing type
GUDrawn code
8Game types
GameSeason windows8 game groups listedAccessWhat to carryQuoted from the source

3 special-permit categories come through the TPWD drawing.

WMA page: Mission Lake Unit 4,447.62 ac, Hynes Bay Unit 1,007.72 ac, Guadalupe River Unit 1,138 ac, San Antonio Unit 818 ac.

Area headquarters: 13815 S Hwy 35, Port Lavaca, TX 77979.

Managing agency page

From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.

Related tracts for Guadalupe Delta WMA

Distances are straight-line from this area’s map point.

Its separate units

TractCountyAcresBooklet no.Straight line
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit WMA unitCalhoun4,4487200 mi
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River Unit WMA unitRefugio1,1387233 mi
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Hynes Bay Unit WMA unitRefugio1,0087244 mi
Guadalupe Delta WMA, San Antonio River Unit WMA unitRefugio, Victoria8187606 mi

Zone calendar for Guadalupe Delta WMA species

This area lists feral hogs, alligators, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails; the zone that holds Calhoun County sets each date.

Corealligator zone
South Zonedove zone
StatewideSeptember teal zone
South Zoneducks zone
Eastern Zonegeese zone
All Other Countiessquirrel zone
SpeciesSeasonTPWD zoneFromToDaily bagOpen?
AlligatorGeneral SeasonCoreSep 10, 2026Sep 30, 20261 per tag
DoveRegular SeasonSouth ZoneSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 202615 a day
DoveRegular SeasonSouth ZoneDec 18, 2026Jan 21, 202715 a day
DoveFalconrySouth ZoneNov 13, 2026Nov 29, 20263 a day
September tealSeptember tealStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 20266 a day
DucksYouth-OnlySouth ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20266 a day
DucksVeterans and militarySouth ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20266 a day
DucksRegular SeasonSouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 29, 20266 a day
DucksRegular SeasonSouth ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 20276 a day
DucksDusky DuckSouth ZoneNov 12, 2026Nov 29, 20266 a day
DucksDusky DuckSouth ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 20276 a day
DucksFalconrySouth ZoneFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 20273 a day
GeeseEarly Canada geeseEastern ZoneSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 20265 Canada a day
GeeseDark GeeseEastern ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 31, 20275 dark a day
GeeseLight GeeseEastern ZoneNov 7, 2026Feb 19, 20275 light a day
SquirrelGeneral SeasonAll Other CountiesSep 1, 2026Aug 31, 202710 a day or none
WoodcockRegular SeasonStatewideDec 18, 2026Jan 31, 20273 a day
WoodcockFalconryStatewideFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 2027—
SnipeRegular SeasonStatewideNov 7, 2026Feb 21, 20278 a day
Rails and gallinulesRegular SeasonStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 202615 a day
Rails and gallinulesRegular SeasonStatewideNov 7, 2026Jan 6, 202715 a day
Rails and gallinulesFalconryStatewideFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 2027—
Feral hogsArea rules————
Rabbits and haresArea rules————
Predators and furbearersArea rules————

Treat the table as the widest window allowed. The area itself may close earlier, limit days of the week or hunt only by drawing.

Texas sets no season for hogs, exotics, rabbits or predators on private property. Public ground sets its own limits, so the table says area rules.

Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Calhoun County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.

Buck and doe limits for Guadalupe Delta WMA

Whitetail rules here start from the Calhoun County line in the Outdoor Annual.

County deer listing

Official listing

5Whitetails
3Buck limit

Deer seasons in the county

SeasonFromToArea
Archery OnlyOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026Countywide
Youth-OnlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026Countywide
General SeasonNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027Countywide
Special LateJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027Countywide
Gulf Prairies and MarshesHabitat region
507 sq miArea
Port LavacaSeat of county
19,942Residents
9Deer mgmt unit
6Public ground

What to carry at Guadalupe Delta WMA: permits and orange

Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.

Hunts by drawing

Public hunt drawing

$3To apply
$80Standard permit
$1304-5 day permit
CategoryCloses
AlligatorAug 1, 2026
E-Postcard Multi-SpeciesSep 15, 2026
Feral HogNov 1, 2026

Each category has its own deadline. Apply online; drawings run the business day after.

License checklist

TPWD license page

$25Resident
$315Out of state
$7Hunters under 17
$7Migratory
$25+Federal stamp

A Texas hunting license comes first ($25 resident, $315 nonresident general). Add the migratory bird endorsement plus free HIP certification and the duck stamp for waterfowl, ages 16 and up. The hunter education rule starts with birth dates of September 2, 1971.

Orange requirement

TPWD

400 sq inTotal orange
144 sq inPer side
Must be orangeHeadgear

Wear daylight fluorescent orange in daylight hours while firearm hunting is permitted. Exemptions: turkey, migratory birds, alligators, and anyone in a vehicle, camp, parking lot, boat launch or check station.

Rules on drawn hunts

Source

Statewide means apply unless a hunt says otherwise. Vehicles are not hunting platforms, buckshot needs specific approval, and deer go to the check station.

Map of Guadalupe Delta WMA and nearby public ground

Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is Guadalupe Delta WMA.

Base towns with guides: Port Lavaca northeast, 15 miles; Victoria northwest, 25 miles; Refugio southwest, 30 miles.

WMA unit

Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit (0 miles south)

Calhoun County, 0 miles away (south). 4,448 ac.

WMA unit

Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River Unit (3 miles south)

Refugio County, 3 miles away (south). 1,138 ac.

WMA unit

Guadalupe Delta WMA, Hynes Bay Unit (4 miles southwest)

Refugio County, 4 miles away (southwest). 1,008 ac.

WMA unitDrawn

Guadalupe Delta WMA, San Antonio River Unit (6 miles west)

Refugio County and Victoria County, 6 miles away (west). 818 ac.

WMA

Welder Flats WMA (15 miles southeast)

Calhoun County, 15 miles away (southeast). 1,480 ac.

Wildlife refugeDrawn

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (17 miles south)

The San Antonio/Corpus Christi region, 17 miles away (south). 115,324 ac.

WMADrawn

Powderhorn WMA (20 miles east)

Calhoun County, 20 miles away (east). 15,093 ac.

WMADrawn

Matagorda Island WMA (21 miles southeast)

Calhoun County, 21 miles away (southeast). 56,688 ac.

GuideAll of Calhoun CountyDeer bag and zonesMapThe full mapPins for every area

Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.

Every 2026-27 season that covers Calhoun County

TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Calhoun County.

GameSeasonZoneOpensClosesNow
White-tailed deerArchery OnlySouth ZoneOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026
White-tailed deerYouth-OnlySouth ZoneOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026
White-tailed deerGeneral SeasonSouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027
White-tailed deerSpecial LateSouth ZoneJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027
TurkeyFall Archery OnlySouth ZoneOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 2026
TurkeyFall Youth-OnlySouth ZoneOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 2026
TurkeyFall Youth-OnlySouth ZoneJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 2027
TurkeyFall seasonSouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 2027
TurkeySpring Youth-OnlySouth ZoneMar 13, 2027Mar 14, 2027
TurkeySpring Youth-OnlySouth ZoneMay 8, 2027May 9, 2027
TurkeySpring seasonSouth ZoneMar 20, 2027May 2, 2027
JavelinaRegular SeasonNorthernOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelGeneral SeasonAll Other CountiesSep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027
QuailRegular SeasonStatewideNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
DoveRegular SeasonSouth ZoneSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 2026
DoveRegular SeasonSouth ZoneDec 18, 2026Jan 21, 2027
DoveFalconrySouth ZoneNov 13, 2026Nov 29, 2026
September tealSeptember tealStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksYouth-OnlySouth ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026
DucksVeterans and militarySouth ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026
DucksRegular SeasonSouth ZoneNov 7, 2026Nov 29, 2026
DucksRegular SeasonSouth ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027
DucksDusky DuckSouth ZoneNov 12, 2026Nov 29, 2026
DucksDusky DuckSouth ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027
DucksFalconrySouth ZoneFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 2027
GeeseEarly Canada geeseEastern ZoneSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 2026
GeeseDark GeeseEastern ZoneNov 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027
GeeseLight GeeseEastern ZoneNov 7, 2026Feb 19, 2027
Sandhill craneRegular SeasonZone C (North of US 87 and north of SH 35 only)Dec 12, 2026Jan 17, 2027
AlligatorGeneral SeasonCoreSep 10, 2026Sep 30, 2026
WoodcockRegular SeasonStatewideDec 18, 2026Jan 31, 2027
WoodcockFalconryStatewideFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 2027
SnipeRegular SeasonStatewideNov 7, 2026Feb 21, 2027
Rails and gallinulesRegular SeasonStatewideSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 2026
Rails and gallinulesRegular SeasonStatewideNov 7, 2026Jan 6, 2027
Rails and gallinulesFalconryStatewideFeb 1, 2027Feb 21, 2027

From the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 county and species pages, checked October 11, 2026.

First and last legal light at Guadalupe Delta WMA

Whitetails, turkeys and quail can be taken from a half hour before sunup until a half hour after sundown. Migratory birds close at sundown.

Times worked out for Guadalupe Delta 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.

Stocking up for Guadalupe Delta WMA

Each button runs a live Amazon search, so prices are current.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Thermal scope

Hogs feed at night; night hunting on private land is legal.

Search on Amazon

Hog light

Green or red lights for feeders after dark.

Search on Amazon

Trail camera

Find when hogs hit a feeder.

Search on Amazon

Game cart

Moves a big boar to the truck.

Search on Amazon

Compare modelsGear for every hunt

Local help for Guadalupe Delta WMA hunters

In-county first, then the next ring out.

Taylor's Taxidermy taxidermy

Port Lavaca, Calhoun County · about 13 mi away

(361) 552-8803MapSite
J&J Archery sporting goods

Port Lavaca, Calhoun County · about 15 mi away

(361) 552-9027MapSite
L & L Hunting Service guide service

Victoria, Victoria County · about 24 mi away

(361) 573-6813MapSite
Saski's Taxidermy & Hunting Service taxidermy

Victoria, Victoria County · about 28 mi away

(361) 578-0230MapSite
Academy Sports + Outdoors sporting goods

Victoria, Victoria County · about 29 mi away

(361) 582-5200MapSite
Refugio Wild Game Processing game processing

Refugio, Refugio County · about 31 mi away

(361) 526-9118MapSite
Wind Water Woods Wildlife Studio taxidermy

Victoria, Victoria County · about 31 mi away

(361) 541-5200MapSite
Harwell's Custom Processing game processing

Victoria, Victoria County · about 32 mi away

(361) 575-5120MapSite

For a game warden, try TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Victoria) in Victoria, 26 miles from the area.

Search processingTaxidermy search

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.

Guadalupe Delta WMA questions, answered

How early can I shoot at Guadalupe Delta WMA?

See the seven-day table above. Migratory birds quit at sunset, everything else 30 minutes later.

Can a hunter without hunter education go to Guadalupe Delta WMA?

Only with the one-time $10 deferral (17 and older) and an accompanying qualified hunter; the rule covers birth dates from September 2, 1971.

Is there a cheaper license for seniors?

Texas residents 65 and older pay $7 for the senior resident hunting license.

Who counts as a youth hunter?

Licensed hunters 16 or younger. Youth license (Type 169, $7) valid all license year.

What kind of public land is Guadalupe Delta WMA?

It is a wildlife management area run by TPWD, managed by TPWD. Program on record: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.

How many acres does Guadalupe Delta WMA hold for hunters?

The sources do not give an acreage.

What paperwork opens Guadalupe Delta WMA to hunting?

Apply in the TPWD drawing; winners get the permit.

Which species are allowed on Guadalupe Delta WMA?

Listed game: feral hogs, alligators, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails.

What are the dove dates for Guadalupe Delta WMA?

Zone dates for Calhoun County (South Zone): Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026. The area can trim that.

Is there an antler restriction at Guadalupe Delta WMA?

Per the Calhoun County page, 5 deer, 3 bucks max. No antler rule. Permits may set their own bag.

Guadalupe Delta WMA: ready to go

Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck Guadalupe Delta WMA on the agency page before you go.

Public tract mapEvery areaAPH explainedHunting Calhoun CountyArea page

Other photos on this page: U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); lasjuly (CC BY 2.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0).