Hidalgo County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Hidalgo County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (Las Palomas WMA, 943 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Hidalgo County runs Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027, after archery only Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Bag limit: 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Public land: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map and 2026-27 booklet.
Public hunting area in Hidalgo CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Edinburg |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | Las Palomas WMA |
| Dove and small game leases | None |
| White-tailed deer zone | South Zone |
| Deer general season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 |
| Deer bag limit | 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks. |
| Antler restrictions | No |
| Dove zone | South Zone |
Where can you hunt public land in Hidalgo County?
Hidalgo County holds 1 place on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit. Acres are the part inside the county, measured from TPWD's boundaries:
| Area | Acres in the county | Legal game listed (TPWD) |
|---|---|---|
| Las Palomas WMA | 943 | Dove, Quail, Chachalaca and Rabbits & Hares |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Hidalgo County like for a hunter?
Hidalgo County covers 1,571 square miles of land and 12 of water, 0.1% of it in the public hunting areas above. Its towns include McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Weslaco and San Juan. Highways: US 281 (117 miles in the county), US 83 (95 miles in the county), I-2 (75 miles in the county), TX 107 (59 miles in the county) and TX 495 (18 miles in the county). Water: Llano Grande Lake and Donna Reservoirs.
TPWD white-tailed deer management units: U Valley (47% of the county), 09 (33% of the county) and 08 East (20% of the county). Neighboring counties: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Starr and Willacy.
Public hunting closest to Hidalgo County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Hidalgo County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR La Casita East | Starr | 34 |
| Resaca de la Palma State Park | Cameron | 48 |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA | McMullen and Live Oak | 145 |
| Chaparral WMA | Dimmit and La Salle | 152 |
| Matagorda Island WMA | Calhoun | 158 |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA | Calhoun and Refugio | 166 |
Deer on Hidalgo County's public hunting areas
Each area sets its own deer season, often shorter than the county's. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet, area by area:
| Area | Deer in the booklet |
|---|---|
| Las Palomas WMA | No deer season for walk-in hunters in TPWD's booklet |
Land, water, towns and highways: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Deer units: TPWD.
When are the big game seasons in Hidalgo County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Hidalgo County puts the county in the white-tailed deer South Zone. The seasons and limits it lists:
| Species | Season or limit | Dates or limit |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Bag Limit | 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks. |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Early Youth-Only Season | Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | Jan. 18 - 31, 2027 |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027 |
| Javelina | Bag Limit | 2 per license year. |
When are dove, duck and goose seasons in Hidalgo County?
| Species | Zone | Regular season |
|---|---|---|
| Dove | South Zone | Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 21, 2027 |
| Duck | South Zone | Nov. 7 - 29, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Goose | Eastern Zone | Dark Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027; Light Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 19, 2027 |
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual, Hidalgo County, 2026-27. Public hunting areas can set shorter seasons; each area's page has its own dates.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in Hidalgo County in 2026-27?
By TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, white-tailed deer archery only runs Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 and the general season Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 in Hidalgo County. The bag limit is 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks.
Is there public hunting land in Hidalgo County?
Yes. Las Palomas WMA (943 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 943 acres.
Does Hidalgo County have antler restrictions?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual does not list antler restrictions for white-tailed deer in Hidalgo County.
What is the county seat of Hidalgo County?
Edinburg, by TPWD's county page.
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Where these numbers come from
- Seasons and bag limits: TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27, seasons by county.
- Public hunting land and leases: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map; TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet.
- County boundary: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.