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2026-27 · WMA
Matador WMA hunting
28,183 acres of WMA ground in Cottle County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: objectfox (CC BY 2.0)
About the Matador WMA ground
Think of Matador WMA as a wildlife management area run by TPWD; TPWD sets its rules, and it sits in Cottle County. With 28,183 acres, it is number 4 by size among 36 wildlife management areas. Among our town guides, Paducah is closest; the area lies 11 miles northwest in a straight line.
TPWD lists it in the Annual Public Hunting program, so the APH permit applies. TPWD fills some hunts here by E-Postcard drawing. Young hunters get their own seasons here. The TPWD drawing covers 9 hunt types at this site.
Office on file: 3036 FM 3256, Paducah, TX 79248.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Matador WMA
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
APH access
TPWD sells the APH permit only to holders of a season hunting license, and every hunter 17 and up on this ground needs one. Coverage: more than 180 areas, over 1 million acres. No permit for under-17 hunters accompanied by a permitted adult.
Drawn categories
| Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Archery Deer | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Archery Mule Deer | Aug 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Predator | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Feral Hog | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Gun Mule Deer | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Spring Turkey | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Youth Only Feral Hog | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Youth Only Spring Turkey | Nov 1, 2026 |
TPWD takes drawn-hunt applications online, with deadlines on the 1st and the 15th; winners have 10 days to claim.
Licenses for this ground
Start with a Texas hunting license: $25 for residents. This area’s game list calls for HIP certification (free) and the migratory endorsement for doves and waterfowl, a federal duck stamp if you are 16 or older, an upland endorsement and the archery endorsement. Hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 must pass hunter education or use the deferral.
Blaze orange rule
On public hunting lands this rule applies in daylight whenever firearm hunting is allowed. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt, as are people in vehicles, campgrounds, parking areas, boat ramps and check stations.
Public hunt rules
No hunting from vehicles; dogs only for squirrel, rabbit, hare and game birds other than turkey; no buckshot unless allowed; deer go straight to the check station.
Matador WMA: species list with zone dates
For Cottle County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (mule deer, whitetails, feral hogs, turkey, doves, ducks and geese, quail, rabbits and predators).
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | — | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Panhandle | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | — | |
| 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 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | North 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 | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 30, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains MMU | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 5 dark a day | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 5 light a day | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Feral hogs | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Matador WMA included, often open fewer days or only by permit.
Feral hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators have no state season or bag on private land; on public areas the area’s own rules decide.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Cottle County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Matador WMA deer rules from the Cottle County listing
Matador WMA uses the Cottle County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Cottle County whitetail line
Mule deer here
Panhandle sets mule deer dates. The 20 inch rule is in force.
Whitetail dates by segment
| Deer season | Start | End | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Whole county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Whole county |
| Special Late | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
Mapping Matador WMA and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Matador WMA: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Paducah 11 miles, southeast; Childress 22 miles, north; Matador 24 miles, west.
Teacup Mountain WMA (34 miles east)
Head east 34 miles to reach it, in Foard County and Hardeman County. 11,091 ac.
Copper Breaks State Park (39 miles east)
Head east 39 miles to reach it, in Hardeman County.
Caprock Canyons State Park (42 miles northwest)
Head northwest 42 miles to reach it, in Briscoe County.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
What is scheduled in Matador WMA
Retrieved October 11, 2026: 2 upcoming dates, covering youth hunts.
Scheduled
| Dates | Event | Where | Tickets or entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6-7, 2027 | Youth Only Feral Hog – Matador WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Matador WMA, Cottle County | Drawing page |
| Apr 24-25, 2027 | Youth Only Spring Turkey – Matador WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Matador WMA, Cottle County | Drawing page |
Matador WMA: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Amarillo) in Amarillo is the closest warden office, roughly 109 miles off.
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.
Daily shooting window around Matador WMA
Texas opens game animals and upland birds 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes them 30 minutes after sunset; doves, ducks, geese and cranes quit at sunset.
Times worked out for Matador 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.
Shopping list for Matador WMA
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
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Matador WMA: the short answers
Are there youth-only waterfowl days?
Youth waterfowl: HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026.
Can a nonresident hunt Matador WMA?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
What footprint does Matador WMA have on the map?
28,183 acres per TPWD WMA page.
Who sets the rules on Matador WMA?
TPWD manages this wildlife management area run by TPWD. Listed program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What can I hunt at Matador WMA?
Mule deer, whitetails, feral hogs, turkey, doves, ducks and geese, quail, rabbits and predators.
How do I get access to hunt Matador WMA?
APH permit, $48, for adults; a season hunting license is required to buy it.
Which county deer rules apply to Matador WMA?
Cottle County sets 5 deer, 1 buck max. Not an antler restriction county. Check the area for tighter limits.
When is dove season near Matador WMA?
Sep 1 to Nov 8, 2026 for the regular season in the North Zone, which covers Cottle County.
From which town do hunters reach Matador WMA?
About 11 miles northwest of Paducah, in Cottle County. Childress, 22 miles, is the second closest.
How much orange must I wear at Matador WMA?
Yes in firearm seasons: 400 sq in total, 144 front and back, orange headwear. Exempt: turkey, doves and waterfowl, alligator.
Final word on Matador WMA
Before the drive to Matador WMA, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); BaronBrian (CC BY 2.0); Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0).