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Houston/Beaumont region
Mad Island WMA hunting
Public hunting on Mad Island WMA (7,714 acres): whitetails, feral hogs, alligators and doves, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of Mad Island WMA
Type of ground: wildlife management area run by TPWD. Manager: TPWD. Counties: Matagorda. The 7,714 acre figure places it 22nd among 36 wildlife management areas with known acreage. From Palacios, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 11 miles to the east.
Access is through the TPWD Annual Public Hunting permit. A few hunts go by E-Postcard drawing for APH holders. The area carries youth-only seasons too. TPWD runs 4 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section).
The WMA office is at 1102 CR 374, Collegeport, TX 77465.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at Mad Island WMA, and when
Whitetails, feral hogs, alligators, doves, ducks and geese, sandhill cranes, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Matagorda 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 | |
| Alligator | General Season | Core | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 1 per tag | |
| Dove | Regular Season | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | South Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 21, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | South 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 | South Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | South Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | South Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | South Zone | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | South Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Falconry | South 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | 2 a day | |
| 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 | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of Mad Island 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 Matagorda County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near Mad Island WMA
Deer limits for Matagorda County, the county this page uses for Mad Island WMA.
Matagorda 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, Matagorda 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 Mad Island WMA: towns and public areas
The map shows Mad Island WMA in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: Palacios (11 miles west, pop. 4,373); Bay City (22 miles north, pop. 17,471); Port Lavaca (36 miles west, pop. 11,299).
Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (18 miles east)
Matagorda County; 18 miles east. 4,526 ac.
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (29 miles northeast)
The Houston/Beaumont region; 29 miles northeast. 75,019 ac.
Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA (32 miles northeast)
Brazoria County; 32 miles northeast. 3,666 ac.
Justin Hurst WMA, North Stringfellow Pasture (43 miles northeast)
Brazoria County; 43 miles northeast. 1,409 ac.
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 Mad Island 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 |
|---|---|
| Alligator | Aug 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Youth Archery Deer | Sep 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Youth Deer | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Feral Hog | Nov 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, a federal duck stamp for waterfowl hunters 16 and older, a free sandhill crane permit and archery endorsement in archery season. 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 Mad Island WMA
2 upcoming dates (youth hunts), retrieved October 11, 2026.
On the way
| Date | Event | Place | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10-11, 2026 | E-Postcard Youth Archery Deer – Mad Island WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Mad Island WMA, Matagorda County | Drawing page |
| Oct 17-18, 2026 | E-Postcard Youth Deer – Mad Island WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Mad Island WMA, Matagorda County | Drawing page |
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for Mad Island 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 Mad Island 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 Mad Island 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 Mad Island WMA
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Victoria) in Victoria, about 58 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 Mad Island WMA
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.
What time does legal light start at Mad Island WMA?
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.
When are the youth-only deer days?
Deer: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone).
What license do I need for Mad Island WMA?
A Texas hunting license: $25 for residents, $315 for the nonresident general license, $7 for hunters under 17.
Is Mad Island WMA a large area?
Roughly 7,714 acres.
Which agency runs Mad Island WMA?
TPWD runs it as a wildlife management area run by TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What is on the game list for Mad Island WMA?
The area lists whitetails, feral hogs, alligators, doves, ducks and geese, sandhill cranes, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails.
Does Mad Island 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.
What is the deer bag near Mad Island WMA?
4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max in Matagorda County. Antler restrictions are in force. The area can set a lower limit.
When does doves season open at Mad Island WMA?
Regular season, Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026, under the South Zone (Matagorda County). Area rules can be shorter.
Mad Island WMA trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at Mad Island WMA can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0).