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2026-27 · WMA
Powderhorn WMA hunting
15,093 acres of WMA ground in Calhoun County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: aulbarnes08 (CC BY 2.0)
About the Powderhorn WMA ground
Think of Powderhorn WMA as a wildlife management area run by TPWD; TPWD sets its rules, and it sits in Calhoun County. With 15,093 acres, it is number 12 by size among 36 wildlife management areas. Among our town guides, Port Lavaca is closest; the area lies 14 miles southeast in a straight line.
The TPWD drawing covers 3 hunt types at this site.
Office on file: 10769 FM 1289, Port O'Connor, TX 77982.
From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Powderhorn WMA
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
Drawn categories
| Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Exotic | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 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. 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.
Powderhorn WMA: species list with zone dates
For Calhoun County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (whitetails, feral hogs and exotics).
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Feral hogs | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Exotics | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Powderhorn 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 Calhoun County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Powderhorn WMA deer rules from the Calhoun County listing
Powderhorn WMA uses the Calhoun County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Calhoun County whitetail line
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 17, 2027 | Whole county |
| Special Late | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Whole county |
Mapping Powderhorn WMA and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Powderhorn WMA: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Port Lavaca 14 miles, northwest; Palacios 24 miles, northeast; Victoria 40 miles, northwest.
Powderhorn State Park (3 miles northeast)
Head northeast 3 miles to reach it, in Calhoun County.
Welder Flats WMA (14 miles southwest)
Head southwest 14 miles to reach it, in Calhoun County. 1,480 ac.
Matagorda Island WMA (18 miles southwest)
Head southwest 18 miles to reach it, in Calhoun County. 56,688 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit (20 miles west)
Head west 20 miles to reach it, in Calhoun County. 4,448 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA (20 miles west)
Head west 20 miles to reach it, in Calhoun County and Refugio County.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River Unit (21 miles west)
Head west 21 miles to reach it, in Refugio County. 1,138 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Hynes Bay Unit (22 miles west)
Head west 22 miles to reach it, in Refugio County. 1,008 ac.
Guadalupe Delta WMA, San Antonio River Unit (26 miles west)
Head west 26 miles to reach it, in Refugio County and Victoria County. 818 ac.
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 Powderhorn WMA
Retrieved October 11, 2026: 2 upcoming dates, covering youth hunts.
Scheduled
| Dates | Event | Where | Tickets or entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21-23, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Powderhorn WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Powderhorn WMA, Calhoun County | Drawing page |
| Jan 2-3, 2027 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Powderhorn WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Powderhorn WMA, Calhoun County | Drawing page |
Powderhorn WMA: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Victoria) in Victoria is the closest warden office, roughly 40 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 Powderhorn 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 Powderhorn 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 Powderhorn WMA
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
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Powderhorn WMA: the short answers
How much orange must I wear at Powderhorn WMA?
Yes in firearm seasons: 400 sq in total, 144 front and back, orange headwear. Exempt: turkey, doves and waterfowl, alligator.
Which county deer rules apply to Powderhorn WMA?
Calhoun County sets 5 deer, 3 bucks max. Not an antler restriction county. Check the area for tighter limits.
Which other tracts sit within a drive of Powderhorn WMA?
Nearest: Powderhorn State Park (3 miles), Welder Flats WMA (14 miles) and Matagorda Island WMA (18 miles).
From which town do hunters reach Powderhorn WMA?
About 14 miles southeast of Port Lavaca, in Calhoun County. Palacios, 24 miles, is the second closest.
What are legal shooting hours at Powderhorn WMA?
Sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for game animals and upland birds; migratory birds end at sunset.
Which drawn hunts does TPWD hold at Powderhorn WMA?
TPWD lists Exotic, Gun Deer – Either Sex and Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex. Area code PE. First deadline Sep 1, 2026, last Oct 15, 2026.
Can a nonresident hunt Powderhorn WMA?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
Who needs hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born September 2, 1971 or later, residents and nonresidents alike.
Who sets the rules on Powderhorn WMA?
TPWD manages this wildlife management area run by TPWD. Listed program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
Who counts as a youth hunter?
Licensed hunters 16 or younger. Youth license (Type 169, $7) valid all license year.
Final word on Powderhorn WMA
Before the drive to Powderhorn WMA, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: NPS Photo (Public domain); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0); lasjuly (CC BY 2.0); Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0).