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TPWD Houston/Beaumont region
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge hunting
Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for ducks and geese, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.
Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public domain)
Getting to know San Bernard NWR
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program, listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its 75,019 acres rank 4th of 16 national wildlife refuges with a published acreage. Look east of Bay City (the closest town we cover), about 12 miles out. No county appears on the record; zone and deer tables use Brazoria County, nearest by county center.
Read the agency access rules in the permits section.
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Zone calendar for San Bernard NWR species
This area lists ducks and geese; the zone that holds Brazoria County sets each date.
| Species | Season | TPWD zone | From | To | Daily bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Treat the table as the widest window allowed. The area itself may close earlier, limit days of the week or hunt only by drawing.
If the area crosses into another county, its zone may differ from Brazoria County.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Brazoria County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Buck and doe limits for San Bernard NWR
Whitetail rules here start from the Brazoria County line in the Outdoor Annual.
County deer listing
A 13 inch inside spread or one unbranched antler is the test for a legal buck in this county. Doe days Nov. 7-29, on the license tags.
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 |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
What to carry at San Bernard NWR: permits and orange
Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.
Limited entry
Hunts are limited in number; the agency card explains how permits are given out.
Managing agency rules
General waterfowl hunt areas reachable only by boat, plus the walk-in Sargent Unit permit hunt (lottery application by email Sept. 1-30, 2026; 80 permits, $45, Saturday and Wednesday mornings from Nov. 7, 2026).
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
The TPWD orange rule is written for public hunting lands. Check the federal manager’s rules for this area.
Map of San Bernard NWR and nearby public ground
Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is San Bernard NWR.
Base towns with guides: Bay City west, 12 miles; Angleton northeast, 22 miles; El Campo west, 33 miles.
Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA (9 miles southeast)
Brazoria County, 9 miles away (southeast). 3,666 ac.
Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (20 miles south)
Matagorda County, 20 miles away (south). 4,526 ac.
Justin Hurst WMA, North Stringfellow Pasture (22 miles east)
Brazoria County, 22 miles away (east). 1,409 ac.
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (29 miles east)
The Houston/Beaumont region, 29 miles away (east). 46,057 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Every 2026-27 season that covers Brazoria County
TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Brazoria 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 | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 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 | 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 San Bernard NWR
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 San Bernard NWR 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 San Bernard NWR
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Local help for San Bernard NWR hunters
In-county first, then the next ring out.
For a game warden, try TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Houston South) in Houston, 47 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.
San Bernard NWR questions, answered
Which species are allowed on San Bernard NWR?
Listed game: ducks and geese.
What are the ducks dates for San Bernard NWR?
Zone dates for Brazoria County (South Zone): Nov 7 to Nov 29, 2026. The area can trim that.
Is there an antler restriction at San Bernard NWR?
Per the Brazoria County page, 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. It is an antler restriction county. Permits may set their own bag.
What is the hunter orange rule for San Bernard NWR?
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. Federal rules can add to it.
How do I find San Bernard NWR on a Texas road map?
Bay City is closest, roughly 12 miles away; the area lies east of town. Second closest: Angleton, 22 miles.
Is there more public ground close to San Bernard NWR?
Try Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA (9 miles), Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (20 miles) and Justin Hurst WMA (20 miles).
How early can I shoot at San Bernard NWR?
See the seven-day table above. Migratory birds quit at sunset, everything else 30 minutes later.
Can a hunter without hunter education go to San Bernard NWR?
Only with the one-time $10 deferral (17 and older) and an accompanying qualified hunter; the rule covers birth dates from September 2, 1971.
Is there a cheaper license for seniors?
Texas residents 65 and older pay $7 for the senior resident hunting license.
Are there youth-only waterfowl days?
Youth waterfowl: HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026.
San Bernard NWR: ready to go
Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck San Bernard NWR on the agency page before you go.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public domain); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0); Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0).