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TPWD Central Texas region
Kerr WMA hunting
Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for whitetails, exotics, turkey and predators, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.
Photo: sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to know Kerr WMA
Kerr WMA is a wildlife management area run by TPWD in Kerr County, listed by TPWD. Its 6,459 acres rank 23rd of 36 wildlife management areas with a published acreage. Look west of Kerrville (the closest town we cover), about 23 miles out.
5 special-permit categories come through the TPWD drawing. TPWD: hunting is not allowed except through Public Drawn System hunts.
Area headquarters: 2625 FM 1340, Hunt, TX 78024.
From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Zone calendar for Kerr WMA species
This area lists whitetails, exotics, turkey and predators; the zone that holds Kerr County sets each date.
| Species | Season | TPWD zone | From | To | Daily bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| Turkey | Fall Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Fall season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | Mar 27, 2027 | Mar 28, 2027 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | May 22, 2027 | May 23, 2027 | County rule | |
| Turkey | Spring season | North Zone | Apr 3, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | County rule | |
| Exotics | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area 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 Kerr County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Buck and doe limits for Kerr WMA
Whitetail rules here start from the Kerr County line in the Outdoor Annual.
County deer listing
Deer seasons in the county
| Season | From | To | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Special Late | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
What to carry at Kerr WMA: permits and orange
Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.
Hunts by drawing
| Category | Closes |
|---|---|
| Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Management | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Spring Turkey | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Youth Only Spring Turkey | Nov 1, 2026 |
Each category has its own deadline. Apply online; drawings run the business day after.
License checklist
A Texas hunting license comes first ($25 resident, $315 nonresident general). Add the upland game bird endorsement. The hunter education rule starts with birth dates of September 2, 1971.
Orange requirement
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
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 Kerr WMA and nearby public ground
Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is Kerr WMA.
Base towns with guides: Kerrville east, 23 miles; Leakey southwest, 29 miles; Junction northwest, 32 miles.
Lost Maples State Natural Area (19 miles south)
Bandera County and Real County, 19 miles away (south).
South Llano River State Park (30 miles northwest)
Kimble County, 30 miles away (northwest).
Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area (36 miles west)
Edwards County, 36 miles away (west).
Hill Country State Natural Area (37 miles southeast)
Bandera County and Medina County, 37 miles away (southeast).
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (51 miles northeast)
Llano County and Gillespie County, 51 miles away (northeast).
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Events at Kerr WMA
2 upcoming dates on file. Types: youth hunts.
Dates ahead
| On | What | Where | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23-25, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Kerr WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Kerr WMA, Kerr County | Drawing page |
| Mar 27-28, 2027 | Youth Only Spring Turkey – Kerr WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Kerr WMA, Kerr County | Drawing page |
Every 2026-27 season that covers Kerr County
TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Kerr County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | 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 | Special Late | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | Mar 27, 2027 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | May 22, 2027 | May 23, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring season | North Zone | Apr 3, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Southern | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 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 | Central Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone | 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 | 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 (Southwest of IH 10) | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone B (Northeast of IH 10) | Nov 27, 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.
First and last legal light at Kerr 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 Kerr 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 Kerr WMA
Each button runs a live Amazon search, so prices are current.
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Box blind
Most Texas deer are hunted from elevated box blinds over senderos and feeders.
Deer feeder
Texas allows feeders on private land, but not for turkey in the East Zone or for migratory birds.
Local help for Kerr WMA hunters
In-county first, then the next ring out.
For a game warden, try TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Kerrville) in Kerrville, 22 miles from the area.
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.
Kerr WMA questions, answered
What paperwork opens Kerr WMA to hunting?
Apply in the TPWD drawing; winners get the permit.
Which species are allowed on Kerr WMA?
Listed game: whitetails, exotics, turkey and predators.
What are the white-tailed deer dates for Kerr WMA?
Zone dates for Kerr County (North Zone): Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The area can trim that.
Is there an antler restriction at Kerr WMA?
Per the Kerr County page, 5 deer, 2 bucks max. No antler rule. Permits may set their own bag.
What is the hunter orange rule for Kerr WMA?
On TPWD public hunting lands, 400 square inches of daylight orange (144 on chest and back) plus an orange hat when firearm hunting is allowed. Not needed for turkey, migratory birds or alligator.
How do I find Kerr WMA on a Texas road map?
Kerrville is closest, roughly 23 miles away; the area lies west of town. Second closest: Leakey, 29 miles.
Is there more public ground close to Kerr WMA?
Try Lost Maples State Natural Area (19 miles), Los Rincones (20 miles) and South Llano River State Park (30 miles).
What is the drawn hunt code for Kerr WMA?
Categories include Gun Deer – Either Sex, Gun Deer – Management, Spring Turkey, Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex and Youth Only Spring Turkey. Use code KE. Deadlines: Sep 1, 2026 through Nov 1, 2026.
How early can I shoot at Kerr 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 Kerr 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.
Kerr WMA: ready to go
Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck Kerr WMA on the agency page before you go.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); greg westfall. (CC BY 2.0); daveynin (CC BY 2.0).