Montague County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Montague County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (Hagerman NWR Nocona Unit, 822 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Montague County runs Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027, after archery only Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Bag limit: 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. The county has TPWD's antler restrictions.
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 Montague CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Montague |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | Hagerman NWR Nocona Unit |
| Dove and small game leases | None |
| White-tailed deer zone | North Zone |
| Deer general season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Deer bag limit | 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. |
| Antler restrictions | Yes |
| Dove zone | North Zone |
Where can you hunt public land in Montague County?
Montague 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerman NWR Nocona Unit | 822 | Dove, White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Squirrel, Rabbit and Hares and Spring Turkey |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Montague County like for a hunter?
Montague County covers 931 square miles of land and 7 of water, 0.1% of it in the public hunting areas above. Its towns include Bowie, Nocona and St. Jo. Highways: TX 59 (60 miles in the county), US 82 (45 miles in the county), US 81 (44 miles in the county), US 287 (37 miles in the county) and TX 101 (10 miles in the county). Water: Lake Amon G Carter, Bowie Lake and Lake Nocona.
TPWD white-tailed deer management units: 24 (51% of the county), 26 (33% of the county), 25 (10% of the county) and 22 (5% of the county). Neighboring counties: Clay, Cooke, Jack and Wise.
Public hunting closest to Montague County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Montague County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Roger R. Fawcett WMA | Palo Pinto | 85 |
| Bois d'Arc Lake Public Hunting Land | Fannin | 95 |
| Caddo National Grasslands WMA | Fannin | 100 |
| Tawakoni WMA | Hunt and Van Zandt | 112 |
| Pat Mayse WMA | Lamar | 118 |
| Cooper WMA | Delta and Hopkins | 118 |
Deer on Montague 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 |
|---|---|
| Hagerman NWR Nocona Unit | Archery Only White-tailed Deer Season: Each day of the Archery, Early Youth-Only, and General Season for Montague County. Bag limit 1 deer (Buck or Antlerless) all seasons combined. |
Land, water, towns and highways: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Deer units: TPWD.
When are the big game seasons in Montague County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Montague County puts the county in the white-tailed deer North Zone. The seasons and limits it lists:
| Species | Season or limit | Dates or limit |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Bag Limit | 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Early Youth-Only Season | Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | Late Youth-Only Season | Jan. 4 - 17, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | Jan. 4 - 17, 2027 |
| Javelina | No open season |
When are dove, duck and goose seasons in Montague County?
| Species | Zone | Regular season |
|---|---|---|
| Dove | North Zone | Sept. 1 - Nov. 8, 2026 and Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 7, 2027 |
| Duck | North Zone | Nov. 14 - 29, 2026 and Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 |
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual, Montague 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 Montague 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. 3, 2027 in Montague County. The bag limit is 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined.
Is there public hunting land in Montague County?
Yes. Hagerman NWR Nocona Unit (822 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 822 acres.
Does Montague County have antler restrictions?
Yes, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual: in Montague County a legal white-tailed buck needs an unbranched antler or a 13-inch inside spread.
What is the county seat of Montague County?
Montague, 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.