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WMA · San Antonio/Corpus Christi
Welder Flats WMA hunting
A hunter’s summary of Welder Flats WMA in Calhoun County: permits, zone dates, legal light and local services.
Photo: aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0)
What Welder Flats WMA is and who runs it
TPWD oversees Welder Flats WMA, a wildlife management area run by TPWD covering ground in Calhoun County. Size on record: 1,480 acres, 35th in a field of 36 wildlife management areas. Port Lavaca is the nearest of our town guides, roughly 20 miles away (the area lies south of it).
TPWD says the WMA is submerged coastal wetland in San Antonio Bay reached only by boat, open year-round for duck hunting, and no permit is needed to enter.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Paperwork for hunting Welder Flats WMA
Fees are TPWD figures for the license year.
Licensing
You need a hunting license; residents pay $25. On top of that, bring a migratory endorsement and HIP certification and the federal duck stamp, 16 and over. Hunter education applies to anyone born on or after September 2, 1971.
Hunter orange rule
TPWD requires orange on public hunting lands while firearm seasons are on, except for turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunting.
Welder Flats WMA species and 2026-27 dates
Game named for the area: ducks and geese. Each row uses the zone that covers Calhoun County.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | Opening | Closing | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Area rules can be narrower than the county zone: fewer days, drawn hunts only or restricted weapons.
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.
Welder Flats WMA plotted with nearby tracts
Orange marks Welder Flats WMA. Within 60 miles: 8 other public areas.
Nearest town guides: Port Lavaca 20 miles out, north; Rockport 31 miles out, southwest; Palacios 37 miles out, northeast.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (13 miles southwest)
13 miles to the southwest (the San Antonio/Corpus Christi region). 115,324 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River Unit (14 miles northwest)
14 miles to the northwest (Refugio County). 1,138 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Hynes Bay Unit (14 miles northwest)
14 miles to the northwest (Refugio County). 1,008 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit (15 miles northwest)
15 miles to the northwest (Calhoun County). 4,448 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA (15 miles northwest)
15 miles to the northwest (Calhoun County and Refugio County).
Powderhorn State Park (16 miles northeast)
16 miles to the northeast (Calhoun County).
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Calhoun County deer rules around Welder Flats WMA
The county bag below is the ceiling; drawn hunts and area rules can be stricter.
Whitetail limit, Calhoun County
Deer calendar for the county
| Segment | First | Last | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Entire county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Entire county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | Entire county |
| Special Late | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Entire county |
Zone-by-zone dates for Calhoun County
Sort through 14 game speciess with seasons in Calhoun County; the status column turns green when a season is open.
| Animal | Season | Zone or area | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | South Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | South Zone | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall Archery Only | South Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | South Zone | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | South Zone | Mar 13, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | South Zone | May 8, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring season | South Zone | Mar 20, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Northern | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | South Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 21, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | South Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | South Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | South Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | South Zone | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | South Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Falconry | South 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone C (North of US 87 and north of SH 35 only) | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Alligator | General Season | Core | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| 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.
How long you can hunt each day near Welder Flats WMA
Big game and upland birds get a half hour of light on each end of the day. Waterfowl, doves and cranes get the morning half hour but stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Welder Flats 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.
Processing, taxidermy and supplies near Welder Flats WMA
Calhoun County listings first, then bordering counties.
Closest warden office on file: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Rockport) in Rockport, 32 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.
Loading up for Welder Flats WMA
Four items picked for the game hunted here, each with a live search.
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Welder Flats WMA: common questions
What permit do I need to hunt Welder Flats WMA?
TPWD says the WMA is submerged coastal wetland in San Antonio Bay reached only by boat, open year-round for duck hunting, and no permit is needed to enter.
What game does Welder Flats WMA list?
1 group: ducks and geese.
Which zone covers Welder Flats WMA for ducks and geese?
Calhoun County is in the South Zone for ducks and geese: regular season Nov 7 to Nov 29, 2026. The area may allow fewer days.
What are the buck rules near Welder Flats WMA?
The Calhoun County listing allows 5 deer, 3 bucks max. Antler restrictions do not apply. Area rules may be tighter.
Does the orange rule apply at Welder Flats WMA?
400 square inches minimum with 144 each on chest and back and an orange cap, during daylight firearm hunting. Turkey, waterfowl, dove and alligator hunters are exempt.
How far is Welder Flats WMA from Port Lavaca?
Straight-line, 20 miles south from Port Lavaca. Rockport is 31 miles out.
What is the closest public area to Welder Flats WMA?
Matagorda Island WMA (7 miles), Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (13 miles) and Powderhorn WMA (14 miles).
Can I hunt doves until sunset at Welder Flats WMA?
Legal light: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, except doves and waterfowl, which end at sunset.
How young can a child hunt in Texas?
Children under 9 may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed adult 17 or older who has passed hunter education or is exempt.
What does a youth license cost?
$7 for anyone under 17 at purchase, resident or not, valid the whole license year.
Wrapping up Welder Flats WMA
Double-check Welder Flats WMA with its manager: open days, check-in and any drawn-hunt rules.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0); aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0).