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Tawakoni WMA hunting
Who runs it, what it costs to hunt, which seasons apply for whitetails, feral hogs, doves and ducks and geese, and where the closest public tracts and towns are.
Photo: sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0)
Tawakoni WMA: size, manager and access
Tawakoni WMA falls in the TPWD Dallas/Ft. Worth hunting region and is a wildlife management area run by TPWD in Hunt County and Van Zandt County. By acreage (2,335) it sits at number 30 of 36 wildlife management areas in the data. Nearest town guide: Sulphur Springs, 27 miles off; the area is southwest of there.
This is APH ground: buy the $48 permit before you go. Look for youth-only hunts in the TPWD listing.
WMA page 2,335 acres (1,561 owned by Sabine River Authority); APH GIS layer lists 38,745 deed acres for unit 708, which appears to include lake surface.
Check-in office: 21187 CR 4106, Lindale, TX 75771.
From the source record and 6 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Season windows for Tawakoni WMA game
Listed game here runs to 8 groups: whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails. Texas zones split many of these, so the rows are for Hunt County.
| Species | Segment | Zone | Starts | Ends | Limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone (North of IH 30) | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone (North of IH 30) | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | North Zone (North of IH 30) | 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 | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Falconry | North 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 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | Youth-Only | East Texas | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 10 a day or none | |
| 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 rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area rules | — | — | — | — |
These are statewide zone dates. Tawakoni WMA 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.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Hunt County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Where Tawakoni WMA sits, with neighbors
8 public tracts within a 60 mile radius, plus Tawakoni WMA itself in orange.
Closest towns we cover: Sulphur Springs 27 miles northeast, 16,891 people; Cooper 35 miles northeast, 2,082 people; Bonham 45 miles north, 11,115 people.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Tawakoni WMA: permits, endorsements and blaze orange
Card by card: permits, licenses, orange.
Annual Public Hunting (APH)
Anyone 17 or older needs the APH permit on these lands; it can only be bought with a season hunting license. Statewide it reaches 180-plus areas and over 1 million acres. Hunters younger than 17 go free alongside a permitted adult (18+).
What to buy first
Every hunter needs a Texas hunting license ($25 resident). Given the species here, also carry migratory endorsement and HIP and the federal duck stamp (16 and up) for ducks and geese. 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.
Drawn hunt rules
Deer must go straight to the check station. Buckshot only where allowed. No shooting from vehicles. Dogs for small game and birds except turkey.
Deer bag for the Hunt County side of Tawakoni WMA
County deer rules from TPWD for Hunt County, with county facts for context.
Deer rules for Hunt County
Measure before you shoot: 13 inches inside spread or an unbranched antler, with a single wide branched buck allowed. Antlerless harvest runs Nov. 7-29 using a license tag.
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 |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
Game seasons that reach Hunt County
11 speciess have a 2026-27 season here. Texas splits most of them into zones, and this table keeps only the zones that include Hunt 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 | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Youth-Only | East Texas | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone (South of IH 30) | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone (North of IH 30) | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone (North of IH 30) | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | North Zone (North of IH 30) | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Falconry | North Zone | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Geese | Early Canada geese | Eastern Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 19, 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.
Tawakoni WMA: what goes in the truck
Click any item for current listings and prices.
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Tawakoni WMA 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 Tawakoni 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.
Shops and processors serving Tawakoni WMA
County listings lead; neighbors follow.
Game wardens closest to this area work out of TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Mesquite) in Mesquite (34 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 Tawakoni WMA
How late can I hunt deer at Tawakoni WMA?
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 Tawakoni WMA?
Yes, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971; Texas sets 9 as the minimum age to take the course.
What do Texas hunting licenses cost this year?
$25 resident, $315 nonresident general, $7 youth.
Do youth-only deer seasons apply here?
Statewide youth deer dates are Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone); area rules decide whether they apply on this ground.
What is Tawakoni WMA?
Wildlife management area run by TPWD, under TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What size is Tawakoni WMA?
It covers 2,335 acres on the record.
Is Tawakoni WMA open with just a hunting license?
You need the APH permit ($48) and a hunting license.
What animals are hunted on Tawakoni WMA?
The listing names whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails.
What 2026-27 dates apply to doves at Tawakoni WMA?
The Central Zone sets it: Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026 (regular season). Check the area for any shorter dates.
How many deer can I take around Tawakoni WMA?
County bag (Hunt): 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Spread rules apply to bucks. Hunts here may carry their own limits.
Last checks for Tawakoni WMA
The managing agency has the final word on Tawakoni WMA. Check its page and the TPWD county listing the week of your hunt.
Other photos on this page: Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain); greg westfall. (CC BY 2.0); Jeff Pang (CC BY 2.0).