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TPWD San Antonio/Corpus Christi region
Matagorda Island WMA hunting
Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for whitetails, feral hogs and ducks and geese, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.
Photo: aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to know Matagorda Island WMA
Matagorda Island WMA is a wildlife management area run by TPWD in Calhoun County, listed by TPWD. Its 56,688 acres rank 3rd of 36 wildlife management areas with a published acreage. Look south of Port Lavaca (the closest town we cover), about 26 miles out.
Walk-in hunting here runs on the APH permit. 2 special-permit categories come through the TPWD drawing.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Zone calendar for Matagorda Island WMA species
This area lists whitetails, feral hogs and ducks and geese; the zone that holds Calhoun County sets each date.
| Species | Season | TPWD zone | From | To | Daily bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | South Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | South Zone | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| 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 | |
| Feral hogs | 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 Calhoun County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Buck and doe limits for Matagorda Island WMA
Whitetail rules here start from the Calhoun 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 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Special Late | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Countywide |
What to carry at Matagorda Island WMA: permits and orange
Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.
Public hunting permit
Buy a season hunting license first; the APH permit rides on it and covers adults 17 and older. 180+ areas and over 1 million acres come with it. Youth under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult 18 or older.
Hunts by drawing
| Category | Closes |
|---|---|
| Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 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 migratory bird endorsement plus free HIP certification and the duck stamp for waterfowl, ages 16 and up. 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 Matagorda Island WMA and nearby public ground
Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is Matagorda Island WMA.
Base towns with guides: Port Lavaca north, 26 miles; Rockport southwest, 28 miles; Refugio west, 39 miles.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (14 miles west)
The San Antonio/Corpus Christi region, 14 miles away (west). 115,324 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Hynes Bay Unit (19 miles northwest)
Refugio County, 19 miles away (northwest). 1,008 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River Unit (19 miles northwest)
Refugio County, 19 miles away (northwest). 1,138 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit (21 miles northwest)
Calhoun County, 21 miles away (northwest). 4,448 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA (21 miles northwest)
Calhoun County and Refugio County, 21 miles away (northwest).
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Events at Matagorda Island WMA
2 upcoming dates on file. Types: youth hunts.
Dates ahead
| On | What | Where | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19-21, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Matagorda Island WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Matagorda Island WMA, Calhoun County | Drawing page |
| Dec 28-30, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Matagorda Island WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Matagorda Island WMA, Calhoun County | Drawing page |
Every 2026-27 season that covers Calhoun County
TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Calhoun County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
First and last legal light at Matagorda Island 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 Matagorda 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.
Stocking up for Matagorda Island WMA
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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 Matagorda Island WMA hunters
In-county first, then the next ring out.
For a game warden, try TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Rockport) in Rockport, 30 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.
Matagorda Island WMA questions, answered
When can young hunters shoot ducks before the regular season?
HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026, by zone.
What kind of public land is Matagorda Island WMA?
It is a wildlife management area run by TPWD, managed by TPWD. Program on record: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
How many acres does Matagorda Island WMA hold for hunters?
About 56,688 acres (TPWD WMA page).
What paperwork opens Matagorda Island WMA to hunting?
Yes: the Annual Public Hunting permit at $48, plus your license.
Which species are allowed on Matagorda Island WMA?
Listed game: whitetails, feral hogs and ducks and geese.
What are the white-tailed deer dates for Matagorda Island WMA?
Zone dates for Calhoun County (South Zone): Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027. The area can trim that.
Is there an antler restriction at Matagorda Island WMA?
Per the Calhoun County page, 5 deer, 3 bucks max. No antler rule. Permits may set their own bag.
What is the hunter orange rule for Matagorda Island 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 Matagorda Island WMA on a Texas road map?
Port Lavaca is closest, roughly 26 miles away; the area lies south of town. Second closest: Rockport, 28 miles.
Is there more public ground close to Matagorda Island WMA?
Try Welder Flats WMA (7 miles), Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (14 miles) and Powderhorn WMA (18 miles).
Matagorda Island WMA: ready to go
Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck Matagorda Island WMA on the agency page before you go.
Other photos on this page: FieldsportsChannel.tv (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); lasjuly (CC BY 2.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0).